Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 239

Chapter 239: Chapter 239: Back off

The air around them thickened, charged with defiance as they continued to hold each other’s gaze. Neither blinked, neither backed down—it was a silent battle of unspoken accusations and unresolved resentment.

Then, abruptly, Alexander’s phone rang again, slicing through the tension like a blade.

“Hello?” he answered, voice sharp and clipped.

Gina’s eyes flicked toward the waiter as he arrived and silently placed their food on the table. Still, her attention was rooted to Alexander, her senses alert, straining to catch every word of the conversation.

“There’s a problem, boss,” came a voice thick with panic.

Alexander’s jaw clenched. “Calm down, Reeve. Tell me exactly what happened,” he said, his tone even but taut. A tiny crack in his composure appeared—barely noticeable, but to someone watching as closely as Gina, it was unmistakable.

Reeve.

Gina didn’t know the name, but the effect it had on Alexander told her plenty.

Reeve wasn’t just another employee. He was someone important—someone trusted with secrets. And if he sounded rattled, it couldn’t be good.

Reeve had been Alexander’s shadow for years, the one who managed everything that needed to stay off the record. Calm, calculated, unshakable. Until now.

Alexander ended the call and turned back to the table, but his thoughts were clearly still elsewhere.

Gina raised an eyebrow, lips curled into a sardonic smile. “Another emergency?” she quipped, her voice edged with irony.

He didn’t reply.

Whatever Reeve had said, it was heavy enough to bury his usual composure. The past Alexander had buried so meticulously… was starting to bleed through the cracks.

“I must say,” Gina continued, her tone more probing now, “you’re either the busiest man I’ve ever met… or the most suspicious.”

He looked at her then, his gaze unreadable—steady, calculating, like he was weighing what she already knew against what she might be able to guess.

She leaned forward just slightly, eyes glinting with both curiosity and challenge. “Tell me, Alexander. Are you sure you’re not into something… illegal?”

The question lingered in the space between them, thick as smoke. It wasn’t an accusation—it was an invitation to lie.

But Alexander didn’t flinch.

He simply tilted his head and gave her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“What kind of man would I be if I were clean?” he said, voice low and deliberate. “I have a feeling you’d still find your way to me, Gina.”

The way he said it—it wasn’t flirtation. It was a quiet warning, cloaked in confidence. The chill it sent down her spine wasn’t imagined.

Before she could reply, he rose from his chair.

“Wait for my call, Gina,” he said smoothly, adjusting his coat. “Something tells me you won’t want to miss what comes next.”

And with that, Alexander turned and walked out of the café, leaving a storm of unanswered questions in his wake.

Gina remained seated, her food forgotten, her thoughts churning.

There had been a flicker of something on his face during that call—worry, maybe even fear. And if she wasn’t mistaken, the man on the other end had said something loud enough to catch:

“…they found out… got too close…”

Her brows drew together as she replayed the words in her mind.

“Who is this Reeve,” she murmured under her breath, “and what the hell did he tell Alexander?”

Whatever it was… it had clearly shaken a man who didn’t scare easily.

And that? That unsettled her more than she cared to admit.

***

Meanwhile, outside the café, the moment Alexander stepped through the door, his usually unshakable demeanor faltered. His shoulders tensed, and a fine sheen of sweat broke across his brow.

He had spent years constructing layers of protection—careful manipulation, untraceable moves, and ruthless efficiency. No mistakes. No loose ends.

And yet, someone had found a crack.

He couldn’t fathom how anyone had gotten this close. He had always stayed three steps ahead. But now, even Reeve—his most trusted man—was compromised.

“They’re getting too close,” Reeve had warned, his voice tight with fear. “You need to be careful, Alex. If they find you… it won’t take them long to find the rest of us.”

The warning echoed in his head, looping with eerie clarity.

Alexander took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm inside. His mask of control had slipped—but only for a moment. Panic was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

Whoever was coming for him… had just fired their first shot.

And he needed to strike before they reloaded.

He was just about to leave when his phone rang again.

Assuming it was Reeve, he answered without checking the caller ID.

But the voice that came through the speaker froze him in place.

“Smart… very smart. But not as smart as me, Alexander. You’ve hidden well, I’ll give you that. But if you want to survive… back off. Or else—”

Beep.

The call disconnected.

Alexander stood motionless, the device still pressed to his ear. His pulse thundered in his ears, not from fear—but fury.

The voice was unfamiliar, calm and composed… yet laced with threat. Not a prank. Not a bluff.

It was a warning—personal and calculated.

As he slowly lowered the phone, the message echoed like a ticking clock inside his head.

Whoever it was… they didn’t just know about him.

They knew him.

And they had just declared war.

***

Inside the car, Sean turned to Kalix just as he ended the call.

“It was Hayes,” he said, his tone sharp. “Mr. Greyson left for Country P—something about a sudden meeting. He’s expected back by tomorrow evening.”

Kalix didn’t respond immediately. His gaze stayed fixed out the window for a moment, thoughtful. Then he gave a single nod.

“Then we’ll meet him tomorrow,” he said, his tone final, effectively closing the conversation.

The rest of the drive passed in silence. Within minutes, they pulled up to the company building. Kalix made his way to his office using the private elevator, his expression unreadable.

As the elevator doors slid open, he stepped into the quiet hallway. But the moment he pushed open his office door, he was met with a familiar sight—Winter.

She stood there waiting, her posture poised, her expression serious, though her beauty made it hard to look away.

Kalix paused for a heartbeat, something flickering in his eyes before he composed himself.

“Miss me already?” he murmured, voice low and dry.

But Winter didn’t smile.