The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 76

Panic surged within me, my mind racing through a series of possibilities. Had someone broken in and taken it? Did Aria know what had happened? I fought to keep my thoughts from spiraling into a whirlwind of worst–case scenarios, but the anxiety that gripped me was hard to ignore.

I rushed from room to room, my search growing more frantic with each passing moment. My calls for Aria went unanswered, the only response the haunting echo. of my own voice. Tears stung my eyes as I stood in the center of the living room, the weight of the situation sinking in.

After gaining some fame, there were probably quite a few people who had a personal vendetta against me. Bruce was a given, although his whereabouts were unknown. There was also Stella, who I hadn’t seen since the trial.

The sound of the front door creaking open pulled me from my distressing thoughts, and I turned to see Aria stepping in, a puzzled look on her face. “Hey, Evie, what’s with all the-” Before she could finish her sentence, her eyes landed on the empty velvet box in my hands, and her expression shifted from confusion to concern. “Evie, what happened?”

My voice wavered as I recounted the discovery, my words rushed and trembling with the fear that clung to me. “Aria, I don’t know… The sculpture, it’s gone. I can’t find it anywhere.” Aria’s brow furrowed in genuine worry, and she stepped closer, her hand resting on my arm in a reassuring gesture. “What sculpture?”

“Timothy gave it to me,” I croaked, and it felt like my throat was closing up. “It was his gift, and I lost it somehow.”

“Hey, hey,” Aria whispered into my ear, smoothing back strands of hair that had been pulled out of my ponytail. “We’ll figure this out, Evie. Maybe it fell out by accident or got misplaced.” I shook my head, the anxiety clutching my rib cage. “That can’t be. It was on my dresser, close to the wall, it shouldn’t have fallen or anything.”

She squeezed my arm gently, her voice soft. “I’ll keep an eye out, okay? Maybe we’ll find it tucked away somewhere.”

Her words were meant to be reassuring, but there was a lingering suspicion that had taken root in my mind. She’d made it clear that she was jealous of how close I’d gotten to Timothy, but I wasn’t too sure how deep that went. She wouldn’t go as

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Chapter 76

far as stealing my belongings from him…would she?

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I chastised myself for even entertaining the idea. Aria was my confidante, my partner–in- crime, someone who had stood by me through thick and thin. The thought that she could have taken the statue seemed ludicrous, yet I couldn’t shake the nagging doubt that clawed at the corners of my mind.

“Evie?”

her expression one of sincerity and warmth. Her eyes held no malicious intent, which made me even more regretful. I watched her closely, every

was anything but at ease. “Sorry,

expression understanding. “I get it. But hey, at least we’re

I sighed. “Yeah.”

was reassured, and I wasn’t too sure that I could rest easy

that was causing the ache in my temples. Aria settled beside me, drawing the nearby blanket

smile. “On a brighter note, guess what? I got Timothy to agree to meet up.” Aria’s

we haven’t set a

excitement was contagious, and for a brief moment, the worry and disappointment were pushed to the sidelines. Suddenly, it felt so sill that I had doubted her, even for a second. “Sweet!” She raised her fists and shook them wildly. “This is

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22

Chapter 76

“Hold on.”

air as she looked back over at me. Her expression quickly

asked, descending from her

arms over my chest. “You might already be a taken woman, depending

memory to dawn on her, as if any thought of Timothy temporarily banished the others from existence. She laced her fingers

was something else,”

beans,” I prompted with a grin, giving her a playful slap on the thigh.

she crossed her legs, her lips curving into an

“Now I’m even more curious.

took a deep breath, launching into her tale with animated gestures that brought her words to life. “So, Mike and I decided to meet at this charming Italian, restaurant

“Sounds romantic already.” “Oh, just wait,” Aria chuckled, her eyes sparkling. “So, I get there a little early, and I’m seated at our reserved table. Everything’s going well,

hanging on to

amusement. “And let’s just say, I wasn’t prepared for the… show

eyebrows shot up. “Wardrobe malfunction?

“Well, as he’s making his way over to the table, he accidentally steps on a loose part of the

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