Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 211

Chapter 211: Chapter 211: You did your part angel
Meanwhile, on the open balcony, Winter leaned against the railing, her gaze fixed on the glittering cityscape. Yet her mind was far from still, caught in the whirlwind of Diana’s desperate request.

“What if this is all part of her plan? Can I really trust her?”

The question echoed in her thoughts, over and over. No matter how earnestly Diana had begged for a meeting, something didn’t sit right with Winter. Her heart wasn’t convinced.

Diana had even pushed her—pressing for the truth Winter herself had been chasing. And that one statement, so pointed and deliberate, was enough to stir everything Winter thought she had buried.

Still, even with that clarity, hesitation lingered.

Dianna’s past wasn’t exactly a foundation of trust. And after losing Sylvester’s support, it wasn’t far-fetched to believe she was only seeking an advantage—using her vulnerability to get what she wanted.

Winter felt confused—drained, even. After everything, nothing had come of it. No answers. No clarity. Just more questions clouding her already burdened mind.

“So here you are,” came a low, familiar voice, brushing past her ear like a warm breeze. Kalix. “After searching for me, you decided to hide out here?”

His breath was hot against her skin, sending a subtle shiver down her spine as it yanked her from the spiral of her thoughts.

“James said you were looking for me,” he continued, his voice laced with curiosity. “Then how come you’re out here and not in the study?”

Winter blinked, masking the caution in her expression with a soft smile as she slowly turned to face him.

“He said you were busy with some work,” she replied, watching the way his eyes lit up—not with suspicion, but with something gentler. Something like love.

“But I’m always free for my wife,” Kalix said, stepping closer. “You should’ve just walked in. No need for permission.”

The weight in Winter’s chest began to lift, the confusion dulling slightly in the comfort of his presence. And yet… deep down, uncertainty lingered. She hadn’t told him about Diana’s call. A part of her still wasn’t sure she should.

“You say you’re always free for your wife,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around him as she leaned in, their chests pressing together, the warmth between them growing. “But she missed seeing you the moment she opened her eyes this morning.”

Kalix’s hand slid to the small of her back, holding her closer, and for a moment, the world and its complications faded away.

“Is she upset? Is that why she didn’t come to see me?” Kalix asked, his voice laced with concern, the usual spark in his eyes dulled by guilt.

Winter shook her head gently and reached up to cup his face, her thumb brushing along his cheek.

“She could never be upset with you,” she whispered. “Because she knows this man would never leave her.”

Color returned to Kalix’s face, the tension slowly melting from his features at her reassurance. Her words filled the cracks he hadn’t realized were forming inside him.

Without another word, he leaned in and kissed her—slow, full of emotion, a silent thank-you wrapped in affection.

“I love you,” Kalix murmured as he pulled back, his forehead resting lightly against hers.

“And I love you,” Winter replied, her voice soft but certain.

They stayed wrapped in each other for a while, letting the silence speak, letting the warmth between them ease the ache that had been threatening to grow.

But eventually, Winter tilted her head, curiosity nudging her again.

“Is there some emergency at the company?” she asked. “You were already working the moment you woke up.”

Kalix stilled. Sean’s words echoed in his mind like a warning bell.

‘Don’t wait too long to tell her.’

“Angel… There’s something I need to tell you.”

Those simple words shifted the atmosphere in an instant. The air between them thickened, charged with an uneasy tension. The affection in Kalix’s eyes was replaced by a grim seriousness that made Winter’s heart tighten.

She stepped back slightly, her brows furrowing. “Go on,” she said quietly. “I’m all ears.”

Curiosity flared within her, the anticipation already setting her pulse racing. Whatever it was, she needed to hear it—needed him to say it, before the unknown could twist itself into fear.

“Eric is Alexander’s son,” Kalix said, his voice low and firm. “And now, I’m certain he entered your life with that purpose.”

He didn’t want to keep anything from Winter—not even his suspicions. Eric’s identity confirmed too many things that could no longer be seen as coincidence. The pieces were aligning, and the picture they formed was clear.

Yet despite the revelation, Eric hadn’t made any overt move to attack. Not yet. Which only made Kalix more cautious.

Winter froze, his words echoing through her mind like a sharp gust of wind, stealing her breath. One by one, the memories began to rearrange themselves in a more sinister light.

Eric had approached her seemingly by chance—but nothing about it had been accidental. Then, after she walked away from everything, he quietly began seeing Agnes, worming his way into the family again from another angle.

He had known exactly what he wanted. And he’d played his part perfectly.

Winter swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “He was never after me, not really… He was after my name. My family.”

Kalix nodded, jaw clenched. “He was after a place at the Greyson table. And he’s been planning it for years.”

“But what would be the reason?” Winter asked, her brows knitting together. “Didn’t Grandpa say Alexander was the one who withdrew from the project ages ago? Then why all this secrecy?”

Kalix’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he tried to piece it all together. The logic didn’t fit cleanly, not yet.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice low. “I still can’t make sense of it. If Alexander was the one who stepped back, then what changed? Why hide Eric’s identity for so long?”

He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

“I don’t know what pushed them to come back into our lives now—or why they chose this route. But one thing is clear: Eric didn’t get close to you by chance. He was planted. And whatever their reasons are, they’ve been building toward this for a long time.”

“I just hope Agnes uses her brain this time and doesn’t fall for his lies,” Winter muttered, her voice edged with frustration as she recalled the seed of doubt she had carefully planted in her sister’s mind.

Kalix didn’t respond immediately. A muscle in his jaw ticked as he considered it.

To be honest, he wasn’t convinced Agnes was wise enough to see through Eric—even after Winter had revealed half the truth. Eric was a master manipulator, and if Agnes allowed herself to be swayed by charm and carefully spun stories, then maybe she didn’t want to see the truth at all.

“If she lets it slide again,” Kalix said finally, his tone cool, “then whatever comes next… that’s on her. You did your part, Angel. You warned her.”

Winter sighed, her heart heavy. She wanted to believe Agnes would wake up, but a part of her feared it was already too late.

But as Winter thought about Agnes, another thread tugged at her mind—Diana.

The woman’s sudden plea, the desperation in her voice, and the cryptic things she’d said… it all lingered like a shadow. Winter wasn’t sure what to make of it yet. Her trust was fragile, and Diana had fractured it more than once.

“I think we should get ready and head to work,” Kalix’s voice cut through her thoughts once more, grounding her.

She blinked, then gave him a small, awkward smile and nodded. Wordlessly, they turned and stepped back into the house, heading toward their room.

***

Elsewhere, inside a dimly lit room, Diana paced in tight, anxious circles.

Her hands trembled as she clutched her phone, eyes flicking to the screen every few seconds. No new messages. No returned call. She had left that voice message for Winter with more vulnerability than she had shown in years—and now, all she could do was wait.

Her life had unraveled far too quickly. Every bit of power she once held had been ripped away piece by piece. She had gone from being in control to being discarded, shut out from the very people she once manipulated with ease.

Now, all that remained was uncertainty.

Nothing was going in her favor. She had no cards left to play, no allies to lean on. And for the first time in a long time, Diana Greyson felt cornered.

“There’s no way she’s going to trust you, Dianna. Winter’s too smart for us to manipulate her,” Beatrix said from where she sat curled on the couch, arms crossed as she watched Dianna pace.

Dianna halted mid-step, her jaw tightening at the sound of her sister’s ever-doubtful tone.

She turned sharply, eyes narrowing. “You always doubt me,” she snapped.

Beatrix didn’t flinch. “Because you’re always gambling with what little we have left. And this time? Winter won’t fall for it.”

But Dianna wasn’t listening to Beatrix’s skepticism anymore—not today. This time, she was sure. The desperation in her voice, the timing, the exact truth she had chosen to reveal… It had all been deliberate.

She had pressed the right button.

Winter may not trust her, but curiosity? That would get her through the door. Dianna had seen it in her eyes during their last encounter. The hesitation. The questions. And that was enough.

“She’ll come,” Dianna said with conviction. “She’ll want to know the truth. And when she does, everything changes.”

Beatrix rolled her eyes. “You’re delusional.”

But Dianna ignored her. She had no time for doubt. After Dorothy and David refused to help them bail Rita out, reality had struck like a blow to the chest. For the first time, Dianna understood what her mother had always tried to tell her—blood doesn’t always mean loyalty.

Now, she knew better than to rely on anyone else.

If survival meant manipulating the truth or using guilt to draw Winter in, so be it.

Because this time, failure wasn’t an option.