Finally, the horseback ride came to an abrupt end, with Winter and her daughter sitting on the couch and Kalix across from them in the chair.
The stare game between them was so intense that Winter withdrew first.
"Mr. Kalix Andreas, you cannot come to my house without my permission," she commenced.
Seren looked at her and quickly shook her head, denying her words.
"Daddy did not arrive on his own. I called him," she said.
Winter gave Seren an exaggerated glance, and she grinned back, cheekily showcasing her crooked teeth.
If this snowball hadn't been so cute, she would have reprimanded her. But wasn't her daughter proficient at playing her sweet card that always stopped her from scolding her?
"You—you called him?" Winter asked, feeling crushed by her assertion as she glanced at the man seated across from her. Her face contorted in embarrassment.
Kalix placed one leg over the other and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. His eyes were playfully teasing her, and he did it again.
Wink~
Winter gaped at his audacious response.
"And how did you call me Star?" Tell your mommy," he added gently, shifting his attention to Seren.
Winter could already tell she was losing her position to this man.
Her once-daughter was now showing off her gorgeous smile and sparkling eyes to a man she had only met yesterday.
'What about her?' Winter exclaimed.
Seren, like the obedient child she was, withdrew the card from her pocket and handed it to Winter.
"Lolo gave me this and I simply asked room service to call on it," she answered, winking at her father back.
Winter felt as though someone had thrown a large boulder at her. She could immediately notice similarities between them, not to mention how they teamed together and sidelined her.
'Someone help me...'
Kalix had been wondering how to approach Winter, but when Sean informed him of Seren's call, he rushed to meet her, bringing all the dolls and dresses of her liking.
Winter's hold on the card tightened, and she sprang abruptly to her feet.
"Get out," she snarled, shocking both Seren and Kalix.
"Come again?" He asked with self-doubt, and Winter repeated.
"I said get out," she said, only to see him chuckle in response.
Kalix towered over her with his six-foot-four-inch frame, making her look like a cornered rabbit and said, "Never."
Winter felt every cell in her body blazing with wrath, but Kalix cupped her face before she could snap.
"What happened to your face?" he inquired, taking her by surprise.
Winter glanced at him with wide eyes, his face near to hers as he examined her cheek. There was something dark lingering in her eyes as he looked at her and she couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth seep into her heart.
"Did someone slap you?" he inquired, and Seren swiftly clambered up the chair to look at her mother, followed by her father's words.
"Mommy, who did that to you?" she asked, her cheeks flushed with rage.
Winter's attention moved between the father and daughter pair. Their likeness shocked her repeatedly. They looked like a wolf and cub, ready to attack the person offending her.
'Someone, please help me.'
Her eyes wet uncontrollably, but before she could think of an excuse, a knock on the door interrupted them.
Kalix turned and went to open the door. His eyes went chilly as he observed Sean's solemn expression.
"Boss," he continued, showing Kalix something that changed his entire demeanor.
Seren tugged her hand, interrupting her thoughts as she watched the two men conversing by the door.
"Mommy, come let me apply some ice on your cheek."
Winter was astonished to see Seren already holding an ice pack in her hand. The way her eyes regretfully stared at her made her forget all her disappointment and she let her daughter walk her back to the couch.
Sitting, she picked up Seren and made her sit in her lap, silently watching her tentatively apply the cold pack to her cheek. Her lips pursed at her awkward attempt to soothe Winter's heart.
Winter had no idea the smack David gave her was severe enough to leave a mark on her face. What's even worse is that it has already garnered significant attention.
"You know what to do," Kalix replied dismissively to Sean, who swiftly left.
When he turned back, a heartwarming scene stopped him, but soon a pang of jealousy hit him.
Kalix wished to be the one to look after Winter, but her whole focus was on their daughter.
Kalix quickly dismissed his thoughts and moved to the couch, sitting next to Winter.
"Star, can you bring the first-aid kit for me?"
Seren nodded, passed the ice pack to Kalix, and then jumped down Winter's lap. He saw her enter a room and then turned to face Winter, who took the ice pack from his hand.
"You should reconsider coming here next time," she urged, but Kalix merely ignored her comments, taking the ice pack back and holding her chin up, forcing her to gaze directly into him.
"Do you want to know how your and Star's photos were leaked?" His remarks left her absolutely perplexed.
She didn't expect him to know about it, but he did have resources. But then his words struck her, and her eyes grew icy in expectation of someone doing it on purpose.
"Your sister. She hired someone to do it for her," he murmured, gently assisting her wounded cheek.
Winter clenched her jaw and fisted her palm into her lap. She had already begun to question the intentional sharing of information about her daughter and herself. Few people knew anything about her, as she had always kept her life as private as possible. However, her sudden recognition came with unfavorable consequences.
"That little bitch," she sneered, muttering under her breath, but her rage was short-lived when Kalix spoke up.
"Don't worry, I've already taken down the article, but I'll let you deal with the person who exposed my precious ones."
"..."
"Daddy, your first aid kit," Seren said, emerging from the room with a little box in hand and standing in front of her father.
Kalix let go of Winter's chin and grabbed the box from Seren.
"Good girl," Kalix then patted her head and promptly selected an ointment to relieve the redness on her face.
"Look left," he whispered, prompting Winter to blink in uncertainty, but she eventually complied.
"I know you're capable of handling everything, but give me a chance to protect you." Winter looked at Kalix, only to have him stare at her with the most sincere eyes.
"Marry me," he added, making her heart skip a beat.
Kalix wanted nothing but to be around them. He might have lost his chance before, but not again. This time he would make her his.
Winter's lips parted a little, and her gaze went to his lips. The impulse to kiss him surged again, but before she could act, a phone call halted her.
Winter drew back and pushed her hand into her pocket to get the phone out.
Her heart was still racing, but the name flashing on the screen soothed all of her anxiety.
"Yes, Hayes, have you found anyone?" she inquired, answering the phone.
"No, Miss; however, something occurred in the hospital. I request that you come here as soon as possible. Winter's face paled at the idea of something bad happening to her grandfather, so she dropped everything and decided to leave.
"I am on my way."