Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 197

Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Exposed
“Show us,” Helms’s voice cut through the tense silence, drawing Winter’s attention.

Winter’s gaze settled on the man, her expression calm but her words laced with a sharp edge. “Before we proceed, Mr. Helms, I have a question. Is there any possibility that you met with Mr. Greyson? Any form of meeting?”

Helms’s face tightened, his jaw working as if fighting with words. “Yes… we did meet. He approached me, trying to convince me to drop the project with J&K and join his venture instead.”

A slight smile played at Winter’s lips. “Then, I must say, Mr. Helms, that is precisely where you went wrong. That single step of yours became the reason for your current predicament.”

A murmur rippled through the silent meeting hall, curiosity sparking in every gaze directed at Helms, who now looked visibly uncomfortable.

“What are you implying?” Helms’s voice rose defensively. “How does my meeting with Greyson have anything to do with this disaster? I refused his offer—I have always stood by my principles in business. Betraying J&K International was never an option.”

Winter shared a brief glance with Sean. That was his cue.

Sean stepped forward, his expression firm as he placed a series of photographs on the screen. “These images clearly show your assistant, Gavin, meeting with Mr. Greyson—after you declined the offer. The meeting took place in the same hotel you were in.”

Gasps and hushed whispers swept through the room like a wave. All eyes turned to Helms, who looked utterly blindsided, and then to his assistant, Gavin, who sat rigid, sweat pooling on his forehead.

“S-Sir, I didn’t—” Gavin stammered, his face drained of color.

“Oh, you did.” Winter’s voice was ice. “And if these pictures aren’t enough, I have something else to present.”

She unlocked her phone, her fingers moving with precision, and then the room filled with the crackling sound of an audio recording.

Greyson’s voice came first, smooth and persuasive. “So, once Mr. Helms refuses, you’ll ensure the deal with J&K falls through. I’ll make it worth your while.”

Gavin’s hesitant voice followed. “I… I’ll do it. But I need your assurance.”

The murmurs swelled into a roar. Helms’s face turned ashen, disbelief warring with anger as he stared at Gavin.

“You… you betrayed me?” Helms’s voice was a whisper, the weight of the realization crushing.

Gavin’s trembling hands clutched the edge of the table. “Sir, please… I—”

“Save it.” Winter’s voice cut through Gavin’s pleas. “The evidence is undeniable. J&K International will not tolerate betrayal, and we expect those responsible to face the consequences.”

Silence fell, but it was the silence of a brewing storm. The room’s air thickened with tension, and all that remained was the fallout.

Dianna, seated among the executives, felt a cold sweat trickle down her spine. Her eyes darted nervously, and a silent fear tightened her grip on the arms of her chair, making her shift uncomfortably.

Winter didn’t miss Dianna’s discomfort. A knowing smirk touched her lips. She had deliberately spared Dianna—for now. But when the time came, Winter would ensure her downfall was absolute.

Kalix, standing beside Winter, watched her with quiet admiration, pride gleaming in his dark eyes.

“Now that Mrs. Winter has successfully cleared her name,” Kalix’s deep, commanding voice broke through the tension, drawing every gaze to him as he rose to his full height. “I would like to make an announcement.”

All eyes turned to him, the air thick with anticipation.

“Since the designs we believed were stolen from our company have been proven to be the result of betrayal by Mr. Helms’s assistant,” Kalix continued, his gaze unwavering, “we will maintain our partnership with Mr. Helms’s company, provided they take immediate action against the involved party.”

Helms’s face was a portrait of shame, his shoulders slumped under the weight of humiliation. Though he wasn’t directly responsible for the betrayal, the actions of his assistant had cast a shadow over his integrity.

“Thank you, Mr. Andreas… and I would like to sincerely apologize to you, Mrs. Kalix.” His voice was steady, but the guilt was unmistakable. Despite his pride, Helms didn’t allow it to stand in the way of his apology.

“I trusted my team, and that trust was misplaced. But I assure you, immediate action will be taken against those responsible.”

Kalix gave Helms a curt nod, a silent gesture of understanding.

As the meeting concluded, the room emptied, the tension lingering like a storm’s aftermath. But just as Dianna reached the door, Winter’s voice sliced through the quiet.

“Be grateful I didn’t humiliate you, Dianna.”

Dianna froze, her face draining of color. Her fingers tightened on the strap of her handbag, and she turned, forcing a brittle smile. “W-What nonsense are you talking about? How could this blunder possibly be connected to me?”

Winter’s eyes gleamed with a dangerous, almost playful glint. Beneath her poised exterior was a streak of ruthlessness that sent a chill down Dianna’s spine.

“Oh, you know exactly what I’m talking about.” Winter’s voice was a silken whisper, laced with quiet menace. “And that knowledge is enough to keep you trembling.”

With that, Winter turned on her heels and strode away, her confident steps echoing down the hallway, leaving Dianna standing alone—cold, pale, and trapped in her own growing fear.

Winter was just about to step into her office when a strong hand seized her wrist, pulling her into a secluded alcove. Her back pressed against the cool wall, and a gasp escaped her lips—only for her breath to catch when she saw who it was.

Kalix.

“Weren’t you supposed to be dealing with Mr. Helms?” She managed, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest.

“They can manage without me,” Kalix’s deep, velvety voice washed over her, a playful warmth in his gaze. “But I needed a moment with my brilliant wife.”

Winter’s lips curved slightly, a hint of a smile. “Did I make you proud?” she asked, her voice soft, searching his eyes for the answer.

Kalix leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek, his touch lingering just enough to make warmth bloom beneath her skin. “Proud doesn’t begin to cover it. I’ve always admired you, Angel. But today, you proved yourself to be more than just capable—you showed everyone your strength, your brilliance.”

His words were a balm, a warmth that spread through her, and for a moment, the weight of the meeting, the tension—everything—melted away.

“Kalix…” she whispered, her heartbeat a wild rhythm beneath her chest.

“Hm?” Kalix’s voice was a low, soothing hum as he leaned closer, their lips just a breath apart, the faintest touch teasing between them.

But Winter’s next words shattered the moment. “What about Mr. David? He’s not backing down. He isn’t stopping anywhere.”

Kalix froze, his warmth replaced by an icy stillness. His expression didn’t change, but the air around them thickened, a suffocating tension radiating from him.

His jaw clenched, and the gentleness in his eyes hardened into something lethal.

“He won’t be a problem for long.” Kalix’s voice was a quiet promise, each word laced with a lethal edge that sent a chill racing down Winter’s spine.

“The rumors about Greyson stealing our designs have already spread like wildfire. His product launch is crumbling—stocks are plummeting, and the backlash is gaining momentum. At this rate, I doubt his company can survive another week.”

Kalix knew they didn’t need to defend themselves—the rumors alone were doing the damage. The results spoke volumes, tearing through David’s reputation faster than any proof they could present.

Now, all that remained was to watch how David would struggle against the inevitable collapse.

***

Meanwhile, David’s world was unraveling. The phone call from Dianna was another blow—her frantic voice confirmed what he feared.

Gavin had been exposed, their carefully laid plan crumbling before their eyes.

As if that wasn’t enough, Kalix had publicly announced his continued partnership with Helms, turning the situation to his advantage.

Not only had he mitigated the loss, but he also revealed plans for a new product launch that promised significant profits for both parties.

A sharp knock on the door snapped David out of his spiraling thoughts.

“Come in,” he barked, his voice tight with frustration.

Eric stepped in, a file in hand, his expression grave. “I have the report on the product we launched a few days ago. And you’re going to want to see this.”

David snatched the file, his eyes scanning the numbers, and his expression darkened. “The market value… it’s plummeted.”

“Not just plummeted—crashed,” Eric confirmed. “Demand has nosedived, and our stocks are bleeding. If this continues, we won’t survive the month.”

David felt like the ground was crumbling beneath him. Just when he thought he had everything under control, Dianna’s frantic call shattered that illusion. Gavin’s exposure had thrown their entire scheme into chaos.

Their company had already been teetering on the edge, barely scraping by. But now, with this catastrophic loss, survival seemed like a distant dream. The numbers didn’t lie—recovery was a fading hope, and David could feel the noose tightening around his ambitions.

“All of my plans are backfiring,” David muttered, his voice a mix of frustration and despair.

Eric’s brow furrowed. “Wait… so the rumors are true? We really stole the designs?”

David’s gaze snapped to him, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “What did you think? That our team had the brilliance to bring something valuable to the table? I had to take them. I had to steal them.”

Eric stared, shock freezing him in place. He had been plotting to rise above the Greysons, to seize control—but now he realized the bitter truth.

David wasn’t just incompetent—he was reckless, a man whose desperation had brought their company to the brink of ruin.

And now, they were all sinking with him.

“Now stop standing there like an idiot and get out. Not a word of this leaves this room!” David’s voice was a sharp bark, his desperation bleeding into anger.

Eric’s jaw tightened, a flicker of resentment in his eyes. For a moment, he considered saying something—calling out David’s recklessness—but the weight of their crumbling situation held him back.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving David alone in the suffocating silence of his self-made disaster.