Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: But I don’t want anything to happen to you
[Penthouse]

After attending to his calls, Kalix returned and resumed his work. He purposely avoided conversation, even though he was well aware that Winter was paying close attention to him.

He could feel her gaze on him the entire time. Curious, questioning, waiting.

‘Should I just ask him what’s going on? Or should I let it go?’ Winter pondered, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone. But in truth, her focus was entirely on him.

Suddenly, an idea struck her. Tossing her phone aside, she stretched her arms lazily and sighed.

“I’m hungry,” she announced, finally catching Kalix’s attention.

He looked at her and immediately reached for his phone. “I’ll inform Butler James to bring lunch to the room.”

But Winter stopped him. “No need. I’ll have it in my room or, better yet, at the dining table. Sitting here doing nothing is annoying.”

She turned, attempting to climb down from the bed, but Kalix was quick to stop her.

“Wait, let me carry you,” he said, already moving toward her.

Winter frowned. “No, I don’t need your help. You can go back to work,” she insisted, trying to walk past him.

But Kalix grabbed her arm, stopping her in place.

“Are you upset?” he asked, his gaze turning serious.

Winter arched a brow and glanced down at where he was holding her.

“Should I be?” She replied, feigning ignorance as if she had no idea what he meant.

Kalix noticed how she tried to brush past his words, pretending as if nothing was wrong. But he wasn’t fooled and he knew she was upset.

“You shouldn’t worry about me if you don’t mean it,” Winter said, pulling her hand free from his grasp. She turned to face him directly, her gaze unwavering. “Why pretend to care when you don’t even trust the person you’re concerned about?”

His brows furrowed at her harsh remark. “You think I’m pretending?” he asked, clearly taken aback by her words and by how easily she spoke them without hesitation.

“Obviously,” she shot back, her tone sharp. “Because if you actually cared, you wouldn’t be avoiding me.”

Winter stood her ground, her eyes serious. She wanted answers.

She wanted to know what was in that message, the one he had snatched away before she could see it. She wanted to know why he had called Sean so urgently, only to avoid her afterward. It was clear he was hiding something, and she was done pretending not to notice.

Kalix clenched his jaw, his displeasure evident in the tension radiating from him. “It’s nothing,” he said finally. “I’m just busy with work. That’s all.”

Winter felt her patience wearing thin. He was being stubborn, keeping her at arm’s length when all she wanted was the truth.

“So be it,” she said curtly. “And don’t bother me.”

She turned to leave, her steps unsteady from her injury. But before she could make it far, Kalix exhaled sharply, snapping.

“Okay, fine!” His voice carried the weight of frustration. “What do you want to know?”

Winter halted mid-step, turning back to face him.

The way he stared at her helplessly, conflicted, made her want to run to him, to wrap her arms around him and tell him she was here for him. But she refrained. She was still upset, and she needed answers before she could offer comfort.

Instead, she softened.

“Everything,” she said, her voice low and gentle.

She stepped closer, reaching for his hand, her touch easing the tension in his grip. A silent reassurance. A silent plea for honesty.

***

“So you’ve been getting threats, and after this message, it confirms that the person who tried to abduct me was one of them?” Winter’s sharp gaze was locked onto Kalix, studying his reaction. He seemed composed, but the flicker of unease in his eyes betrayed him.

She had no idea who these people were or why they were threatening him. But the fact that he was trying so hard to conceal it made her believe this was something deeply personal, something he didn’t want to share.

“Who are they? And why are they after you?” she asked skeptically. Then, as if a thought had struck her, her eyes widened.

“Is it because you’re helping my grandfather? Are they threatening you because of that?” Worry crept into her voice, her concern evident in the way she searched his face for answers.

Kalix shook his head. “No. They’re not connected to that.” His words were meant to ease her fears, but Winter still couldn’t fully relax.

She wanted to press him for more, to demand every answer, but the tension in his aura made her pause. He was already carrying too much.

Instead, she changed her approach.

“Is that why you came home drunk that night?” she asked suddenly, catching him off guard.

Kalix’s eyes flicked to her in surprise.

Winter was always observant, always quick to connect the dots. But he hadn’t expected her to figure this out.

A slow nod was his only response.

She stiffened, her expression turning rigid.

“I was misled,” he admitted, his voice quieter now. “I ended up getting drugged that night. Luckily, Sean was there. He was able to sober me up at least enough to get me home.”

Shame flickered in his expression, something rare for him.

Kalix was a man who never let his vulnerabilities show. Yet here he was, sharing something that made him feel exposed.

And Winter… she wasn’t sure how to feel.

Kalix noticed her silence, and his heart twisted painfully. He hadn’t wanted to burden her with his problems as she already had enough on her plate. But now, he regretted agreeing to tell her anything because he could already sense the shift in her aura.

Before she could jump to any conclusions, he spoke.

“But don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you or Seren. I will protect you both with my life.”

Winter’s breath caught.

His unwavering protectiveness always left her speechless, forcing her to confront her own behavior toward him. He had been nothing but transparent about his feelings, yet she continued to doubt him.

Was she being too hard on him… or on herself?

She looked away, unable to hold his gaze, embarrassment creeping in.

“You can’t risk your life like this,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kalix frowned. In an instant, he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him, forcing her to meet his gaze.

Winter gasped, her breath hitching as she stared into the intensity of his eyes brimming with unshakable determination.

“You both are my everything,” he said, his voice deep and firm. “Protecting you two with my life isn’t a choice. It’s my duty.”

Winter’s heart skipped a beat.

A strange, unfamiliar sensation crawled through her, tightening her chest and making her pulse race. His words hit her in a place she hadn’t been prepared for.

Before she could stop herself, words tumbled from her lips—words that left both of them frozen.

“But I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Silence.

Kalix stilled.

For a moment, he felt as if he’d been struck by a force stronger than any enemy. His heart pounded erratically, heat rushing through his veins, leaving him stunned.

Winter had no idea what she had just done.

But Kalix did.

She had cracked open the door she had so desperately kept closed.

And now… there was no turning back.

“What I mean to say is… you should focus on finding the people after you,” Winter blurted out, desperate to change the subject.

Embarrassment colored her voice, and Kalix narrowed his eyes, catching the shift.

Her sudden deflection left him perplexed, his earlier thoughts wavering. But when he caught sight of the blush dusting her cheeks, something inside him flipped.

Without warning, Winter tried to step away, but Kalix was quicker. He pulled her back—this time onto his lap.

“Kalix! What are you doing?” She gasped, panic lacing her voice as memories of their past kisses rushed through her mind. Those kisses had always turned wild, uncontrollable, making her lose herself completely.

“Tell me something, Angel,” Kalix murmured, his grip firm yet gentle. “Do I intimidate you?”

Winter’s brows furrowed. “N-No! Why would you even ask that?” She lied, her voice slightly unsteady.

Kalix smirked. He reached up, gently poking her flushed cheek. “Liar,” he accused playfully. “Because every time you get flustered, your cheeks turn pink. And it only happens when I’m around.”

Winter blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his observation.

Even she hadn’t realized how easily he affected her.

‘God… what am I even thinking?’

The old Winter—the one before Kalix—would have kicked his ass for being this upfront, for daring to push her buttons. But something had changed between them.

Not just now.

It had been shifting from the very first moment she encountered him.

They had always shared physical familiarity, but now, they were starting to understand each other emotionally.

Something she had never had with Eric.

Something she had never had with anyone.

‘Does this mean… I’m having a change of heart?’

Winter’s eyes fluttered as she watched Kalix smile at her—genuine, unguarded—and her heart skipped a beat.

She was speechless and the realization unsettled her, yet she couldn’t bring herself to look away.