Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 251

Chapter 251: Chapter 251: I shouldn’t be bothering you

[Penthouse]

After dinner, Kalix decided to spend some quiet time with Selene, indulging in the rare stillness the evening offered. She was a comforting presence—soft, warm, and wholly innocent. But even as he watched her doodle on her sketchpad beside him, Sean’s words buzzed like static at the back of his mind.

He hadn’t reacted earlier, hadn’t questioned Sean too much. But the truth was—he wanted to know. Needed to know.

What had Stanley found?

Just days ago, Sean had returned with a solid lead on the man behind the digital erasure of Alexander’s records. It had taken months, but eventually, they uncovered a name: Reeve.

A once-renowned hacker, Reeve’s fall from grace had been swift. Accused of bribery, he’d been blacklisted from every major cyber security firm. But instead of vanishing, he’d been scooped up by Alexander and disappeared into the shadows.

From then on, he became a ghost.

Reeve’s expertise was terrifying—he wiped entire identities without leaving a digital fingerprint. Even the dark web came up empty when Kalix first ordered the dig. But one mistake changed everything.

A single vulnerability in his code. A traceable breadcrumb.

Sean’s team pounced on it, unraveling enough data to confirm the hacker’s identity and connections. It was enough for Kalix to issue a directive: Intimidate him. Scare him into the open.

But somewhere along the way, Stanley got involved.

Kalix hadn’t asked him to. Hadn’t even informed him. Yet now Stanley had taken the lead, chasing after Reeve with a purpose Kalix didn’t understand.

And if Stanley was doing this on his own… it meant there was something he wasn’t saying.

Kalix’s jaw tightened as he glanced down at the little girl curled against his side.

Then—

“Daddy, why did you stop?”

Selene’s soft voice pulled him out of his storming thoughts.

He looked over to find her sitting up, tiny brows drawn in a thoughtful frown as she studied him.

“Is Mommy still mad at you?” she asked, tilting her head. The question caught him off guard.

Kalix blinked. “Where’d you learn that word, hmm?”

Selene grinned, sliding onto his lap as he pulled her close.

“Uncle James taught me.” She shrugged innocently. “But that’s not important right now. Did my tickling trick not work? I tried everything!”

Kalix chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. For all her mischief, Selene was heartbreakingly perceptive. She’d noticed the shift between her parents, even if she didn’t understand it fully.

What she saw as ‘Mommy being mad’ wasn’t entirely wrong—there was tension, cold silences, sidelong glances. But it wasn’t Winter he was preoccupied with tonight.

Still, how could he explain that to a five-year-old?

She looked up at him with big, determined eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “I won’t let Mommy be upset with you.”

Kalix arched a brow. “Oh really?”

She nodded, standing up on the couch now, her little hands firm on her waist like a miniature warrior. “You’re too nice to be sad, Daddy. Mommy just needs reminding. And I will remind her. Every. Day.”

Kalix couldn’t help but laugh then, a deep and genuine sound that warmed the cold unease in his chest. He kissed her temple. “You’re on my side, huh?”

“Always.” She grinned proudly. “Team Daddy forever.”

“Team Daddy,” he repeated, the knot in his chest loosening for a moment.

But even as he embraced the warmth of her loyalty, that nagging feeling returned—quiet, insistent.

Because Winter’s silence wasn’t the problem right now.

Reeve was.

And if Stanley had gone rogue in pursuit of him…

Then someone was about to uncover something the rest of them weren’t ready for.

After spending some more time with Selene and tucking her into bed, Kalix finally retreated to his bedroom.

But his mind was far from at ease.

The weight of unanswered questions pressed heavily against his chest—Stanley’s sudden involvement, Reeve’s elusive trail, the feeling that something dangerous was unraveling just beyond his reach.

Yet all of it vanished the moment he stepped into the room.

His thoughts short-circuited. His breath hitched.

Because there, standing by the window with the soft moonlight brushing over her skin, was Winter—his wife.

Wearing that nightgown.

The silky black one that clung to her body in all the right places, dipping low at the chest and slitting high at the thighs. She wasn’t even trying to hide what she was doing. The way she angled herself, the way her hair fell over one shoulder, exposing just enough of her back—it was deliberate. Designed to tease. And it worked like a damn charm.

Kalix leaned against the doorframe, momentarily forgetting everything else.

He’d almost forgotten she was still mad at him—cold, distant, impossible to win over lately no matter how many times he tried. And yet, here she was… looking like temptation itself, knowing full well the effect she had on him.

His gaze raked down the slope of her back to the curve of her hips, lingering where the silk hugged her body like a second skin. She was barefoot, effortless, and devastatingly gorgeous.

His mouth went dry.

“I thought you were still punishing me,” he said, voice low and rough.

Winter turned slightly, just enough to glance over her shoulder—but not enough to fully face him. Her lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile.

“Maybe I am,” she replied coolly.

Kalix’s eyes narrowed, half amused, half aroused. “This doesn’t feel like punishment.”

Her gaze dropped to the floor briefly before lifting back to meet his. “That depends on how much self-control you have.”

Kalix stepped inside, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. “You know I’ve never had much when it comes to you.”

Winter finally turned to face him completely, and damn—he felt that in his chest.

“I know,” she said, walking slowly toward him. Each step was measured, unhurried, driving him mad. “Which is why this is going to be fun.”

Kalix raised a brow, watching her like a predator would prey—though in this moment, he wasn’t sure who held the upper hand. Her fingers brushed against his chest as she passed him, not stopping, not speaking. Just brushing.

And somehow that was worse than yelling. Worse than silence.

Because she wasn’t indifferent—she was in control.

He turned, catching her by the wrist before she could move too far.

“Winter,” he said quietly, “what are you doing?”

She tilted her head. “Just reminding you what you’re fighting for.”

His grip tightened slightly, not to restrain, but to ground himself. “You think I’ve forgotten?”

“No,” she murmured. “But I think you’ve been too distracted to feel it.”

The statement landed like a punch wrapped in silk.

And she was right.

Between Reeve, Stanley, and the chaos waiting to explode, he had been distracted.

But standing here, holding her wrist, watching her pulse flutter beneath his fingers—this was what he wanted to protect. This was his home. His war. His peace.

Kalix stepped closer, their faces now inches apart.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Winter didn’t respond with words. Instead, she leaned in, her breath brushing his lips, her gaze sharp and unreadable.

She knew Kalix had very little self-control when it came to her. It was something she’d always been able to count on—the way his gaze would darken, the way he’d reach for her like gravity itself pulled him forward.

But now… he just stood there.

Watching her.

Doing nothing.

And suddenly, she felt strange. Off-balance.

“I think you’re right,” he said quietly, breaking the silence. “I shouldn’t be bothering you. You have every right to be mad at me.”

The words hit her like a splash of cold water.

Before she could respond, he took a step back.

And then another.

Without another glance, he turned and walked toward the bed, his shoulders tense but composed, his tone unreadable.

Winter blinked, caught completely off guard. Her lips parted, but no words came.

This wasn’t the reaction she’d expected. Not from him.

She’d been so sure he’d break first—close the distance, pull her in, say something reckless just to win her over. He’d been trying so hard to get her attention these past few days, practically chasing her around the penthouse like some love-starved fool. And truth be told, she’d enjoyed it.

It was childish, maybe—even petty. But still, she had relished the upper hand.

She had long convinced herself that her anger toward Kalix wasn’t entirely fair. Deep down, she knew he always had reasons behind his decisions, reasons rooted in loyalty, protection, strategy. That was who he was.

But what hurt wasn’t the decisions themselves—it was being kept in the dark.

It was not knowing.

It was the silence. The secrets. The way he shut her out under the guise of shielding her.

And now, with him retreating instead of reacting, something in her chest shifted—tightened.

This wasn’t fun anymore.

It felt like a mirror.

She’d pushed too far.

And for the first time… she wasn’t sure he’d keep chasing.

Meanwhile, Kalix had an entirely different plan in mind.

He hadn’t simply retreated—he’d shifted the game.

As he walked away and settled at the edge of the bed, he allowed the silence to stretch, knowing exactly what it would do to her. He wasn’t withdrawing in defeat—he was taking control in a way Winter didn’t expect.

And for that, he silently thanked his daughter.

Selene, with her innocent wisdom and sharp eyes, had unknowingly handed him the key. Her words earlier echoed in his mind: “Mommy just needs reminding.”

Well… she was about to be reminded.

Because sometimes, giving space spoke louder than chasing. And Kalix had spent enough time trying to win Winter back with words and soft pleas.

Now, he’d let the absence of his reaction do the talking.

Let her wonder.

Let her feel what it was like when he stopped trying.

And as he leaned back, pretending to be more invested in adjusting the bedsheets than in the woman still standing stunned across the room, a faint, satisfied smirk ghosted across his lips.

It was working.

And he owed a small part of that victory to a five-year-old matchmaker in princess pajamas.