The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 156

With the day trip to the spa scheduled, I decided it was time to start packing, though my mind was weighed down by the heavy tension that had enveloped our apartment. Aria had been avoiding me ever since our fight, and I couldn’t help but feel like i was walking on eggshells.

I began folding clothes and carefully selecting toiletries to take with me when I heard a sharp knock at my bedroom door. Before I could answer, Aria barged in, a sheet of paper clutched tightly in her hand. The look on her face was a mixture of concern and anger, a storm brewing behind her eyes.

“What’s this?” Aria demanded, thrusting the paper toward me. I took it from her and my heart sank as I realized what it was the protective order Stella had filed against me.

–

“What are you doing with this?” I asked, my voice betraying my unease.

Aria’s voice was tight with frustration as she replied, “I found it on the kitchen counter, Evie. Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

I sighed, frustration bubbling up inside me. “It’s nothing. Aria. I didn’t want to bother you with my messy life anymore.”

Aria’s eyebrows furrowed as she studied me, clearly not buying my dismissive attitude. “It doesn’t look like ‘nothing. Evie. Stella filed a protective order against you. You should have told me.”

I turned away from her, feeling a mix of embarrassment and guilt. “I didn’t want to burden you with my problems, Aria, Besides, what could you have done about it?”

Aria’s voice grew exasperated. “What could I have done? Well, for starters, I could have been there for you, supported you. We’re supposed to be friends, Evie!”

I clenched my fists, my anger building. “Look, it’s my problem to deal with.”

Aria’s frustration boiled over, and she took a step closer to me, her voice rising. “I spoke to Lucas about the trip, and he told me that Stella had threatened you. You got him involved, but not me?

I threw my hands up in exasperation. “I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I thought I could handle it on my own.

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Aria’s anger flared, and she practically shouted, “Well, you can’t handle it on your own! Stella is clearly dangerous!”

I was at my breaking point, exhausted from the constant turmoil that had my life. “Aria, I’m not in the mood to fight with you right now.”

consumed

Aria’s eyes bore into mine, but there was a hint of hurt in her voice when she spoke. again. “Is that how it’s going to be, Evie? You’re just not going to speak to me anymore?”

argument. My shoulders slumped, and I admitted defeat. “I just

huff, Aria stormed out of my room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and a heavy sense of guilt. I knew I should have confided in her about the order, but I had been so wrapped up in my own fears and insecurities

aside the nagging worry that gnawed at me. I finished packing, double–checking that I had everything I needed for the spa trip. It was supposed to be a day of relaxation and rejuvenation, but it felt like an impossible task with the weight of my problems hanging

trip. I had arranged to meet Penny for a late–night breakfast at the nearby diner.

scent of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee enveloped me. Penny sat in a corner booth. nursing a cup of coffee, her expression peaceful. As I slid into the booth across from her, I could already sense that the

my appetite had vanished beneath the weight of my worries.

looked at me intently, her bright eyes filled with curiosity. “Spill it, Evie. What’s

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the surface. “Stella framed me for tearing up her wedding dress, Penny. She made it look like I did it and then filed a protective order

face twisted into a scowl, her anger mirroring my own. “That

weight on my chest.

enemies over the years. She’s not exactly the most

considering Penny’s words. “But who would hate her enough to go to such lengths? Tear up her

sister Scarlett hates her right? And she was at the Hayes mansion that day when the dress was torn, and might have been there

heart race. Scarlett’s sudden appearance had always struck me as odd. She had shown up and asked for my help specifically while also nursing

in my stomach. “I would hope

had something to do with it? She might have a vendetta against Stella, and this would be

Accusing her of something so serious without

replied, my

frustration evident in her eyes. “Classy people are usually the messiest behind

she would hate the woman marrying Timothy. She hated

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Chapter 156

rapidly, seeming

surface sticky with the residue of countless meals. I stabbed at my hash browns with a fork, more out of habit than hunger, while Penny sipped her black coffee, her eyes darting around as if searching

began, breaking the silence, “I’ve

glanced up from her coffee, her eyebrows furrowing in concern.

of speaking the words aloud would make them all too real.

against the saucer as she set it down,

cut her off, leaning toward her. “Keeping it to ourselves isn’t helping anyone, and looks so miserable. I can’t let him go through with that knowing that

sympathy and concern. “Evie, are you sure you want to do this? I mean, telling Timothy… it’s