"Hayes, please continue looking for her," Winter begged.
She couldn't handle the notion of anything happening to her daughter, especially since she knew no one in this part of the city.
Hayes was already surveying the entire hotel when something caught his attention, causing his steps to halt.
"I believe I've found her," he stated abruptly before Winter could hang up.
Winter immediately informed Kalix to drive them to the hotel where they were currently staying.
It only took them twenty minutes to get to the parking lot, and Winter leaped out of the car and sprinted to the location where Hayes had instructed her to go.
Kalix followed her, his expression devoid of emotion, yet the dark atmosphere enveloping him made him unapproachable.
Winter's pulse raced as she entered the elevator with Kalix, and they soon arrived at the cafeteria.
Upon seeing familiar faces, Kalix frowned, but his most trusted assistant stood out the most.
As soon as their eyes locked, he felt him wince, and then his sight shifted to the entrance, where he discovered his daughter with his grandfather.
Sylvester Andreas, chairman of JK International and former leader of The Black Ledger organization, was enjoying a friendly conversation with his great-granddaughter.
The old man, who had a cold, aloof demeanor, was playing with the small girl sitting on his lap.
Someone who has always seen him expressionless had the most frightening experience of their life.
Winter stood still on the porch, watching the lovely spectacle unfold in front of her, but she was more concerned with her daughter than with the man.
"Star," she called, interrupting their pleasant contact.
"Mommy, look who I met." Seren struggled to get out of Sylvester's lap and was about to dash towards her mother when her eyes caught sight of the towering man strolling straight behind her and her face chimed.
"Daddy..." The little girl disregarded her mother and raced towards the man, who bent slightly and took her up in his arm.
Winter froze with insight. Her daughter simply ignored and went straight to...
She turned around and observed as the two held each other, leaving her in disarray as everything unfolded in front of her.
'What in the world is going on, and who is this man?' She looked at the elderly man who rose up.
His once-smiling countenance went gloomy as he directed his gaze at the man behind her.
"Are you my daddy?" Seren's joyful voice interrupted her thoughts, and she turned back to them.
Kalix was still startled, but as he held the small bundle of joy in his arms, he couldn't help but confirm it.
"Eh..." Seren smiled and hugged him, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Oh Mommy, see, I finally found my daddy."
Winter's lips trembled, but she refused to answer. She was curious about the situation and the reason Seren was spending time with this elderly man.
"Excuse me, but can I have my daughter back?" Her motherly instinct kicked in as she remembered Kalix's warning and rushed to get Seren back.
Seren pouted as Winter forced her to stand on her feet and scrunch slightly to her level.
"Star, what is all of this? I told you not to leave the room. You promised Mommy you wouldn't until she returned, so why did you do that?"
Winter would be a wonderful mother, giving her daughter the world, but if something went wrong, she would want to make it obvious.
Seren stared down, her cheeks flushing scarlet with dejection.
"It is not her fault, woman. I was the one who brought her here." Winter halted as he heard the old man finally speak.
"And who gave you the right to do so?" Winter straightened and turned to face the old man.
She had no idea who the man was, but based on her observations, she concluded Kalix knew him.
Sylvester found it offensive when someone talked down to him, and the woman in front of him was excessively arrogant.
"I have full rights over my great-granddaughter," he stated, leaving Winter stunned.
She was about to argue whenshe
"Lolo, I can explain," Kalix interjected before the argument escalated.
Sylvester cast chilly glances at his grandson. "Indeed, you have so much to tell me about."
Winter, sensing the tension between the two, backed off.
"Please keep us out of it, especially my daughter," she added, taking Seren's hand before turning to go.
Sylvester was ready to interrupt her, but Kalix stepped in.
As much as he wanted to be near his daughter, he understood there were some topics they needed to discuss.
Hayes was amused as he stood outdoors watching Winter. It wasn't the first time he'd seen it, but Sylvester Andreas wasn't the kind to offend, and his little miss willingly did so, and with a straight face.
They soon made their way to the room.
"I'd like you to look for an alternative. I don't want to do anything with those people."
Winter was furious. She despised it when someone attempted to claim her daughter. Did she ever beg for it? No!
Then why did everyone suddenly want to take her away?
Hayes pursed his lips in doubt and nodded. He knew the conclusion, yet he still wanted to try.
Following Hayes's departure, Winter went back to her room and discovered Seren hunched down on the bed.
Winter would have chastised her for following through on her vow, but she was only four. Moreover, she didn't have the heart to hurt her daughter when she was already low-spirited.
"That old arrogant man, how could he lure my daughter like that?"
Winter cursed herself as she carefully approached her daughter.
Sitting next to her, she inquired. "What happened? Are you not content with your mother?"
Seren had always been an obedient child who rarely expressed her feelings, but the things she said made Winter realize what she had been overlooking all along.
"I want Daddy," her eyes welled with tears as she voiced her most sincere wish, leaving Winter astonished.
****
Meanwhile, inside the Rosewood estate, the entire family was in disarray.
"What did you say? Kalix already has a child." Rita, the eldest daughter-in-law in the house, spoke.
"And you are telling us now?" Roger, his brother confronted him.
Rita's gaze flew to the girl seated next to her. Her eyes were filled with wrath, despite her silence.
"So what about Dianna? We were all looking forward to seeing you two marry." Rita consoled her sister as she expressed her disappointment.
Rita always felt that Kalix was the right man for her sister and when Dianna confirmed liking him, she did everything to convince the old man.
Kalix didn't enjoy family discussions, especially when they forced him to think about something he wasn't ready for.
"It wasn't me, but you, who arranged for your sister to marry me. I never said yes," Kalix retorted, silencing Rita.
"Brother, when are we going to meet Seren and grandpa, why didn't you tell me" Lilac, the youngest daughter in the family, protested.
Sylvester had remained silent the entire time. He was simply gawking at his grandson, who had been keeping such a big secret from them. He would not have discovered anything if he hadn't dug deeper into the matter.
"I want you to bring my great-granddaughter. She will live with us," he declared unexpectedly, leaving Rita and Dianna stunned.
"Grandpa, but—"
"Not only her, but also her mother. As I stated, I shall marry Winter."
Rita and Dianna exchanged a worried glance, while the other members remained silent.
"And what if I refuse?" Sylvester said, looking directly into Kalix's eyes.
"I don't care because I've already made up my mind or else forget if you will ever see Seren." Kalix left no room for argument and walked away.