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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Chapter 156

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?”

slumped, and I admitted

and a heavy sense of guilt. I knew I should have confided in her about the order, but I had been so

I had everything I needed for the spa trip. It was supposed to be a day of relaxation and rejuvenation, but it felt like

as I made my way through the dimly lit streets of downtown. After packing my suitcase for the spa trip. I had arranged to meet Penny for a late–night breakfast at

above the diner’s door tinkled as I stepped inside, and the 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 conversation ahead wouldn’t

a menu, but my appetite had vanished beneath the weight of my worries. “You won’t believe what happened today.”

at me intently, her bright eyes filled with curiosity. “Spill it, Evie.

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

anger mirroring my own. “That conniving witch!

my chest. “May have something to do

on the table, deep in thought. “You know, Evie, Stella has made a lot of enemies over the years. She’s not exactly the most liked person in

to such lengths? Tear up her dress, have her frame me, and then file a protective order?

in thought. “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 earlier to

of Scarlett made my heart race. Scarlett’s sudden appearance had always struck me as odd. She had

sinking feeling settling in my stomach. “I would hope it’s not

leaned in, her voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. “What if Scarlett had something to do with it? She might have a vendetta against Stella,

idea sent shivers down my spine. Accusing her of something so serious without concrete evidence

my

the messiest behind

name I’d heard in a while. “Linda…I guess she would

3/5

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Chapter 156

rapidly, seeming more drawn to that

Formica 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

breaking the silence, “I’ve

up from her coffee, her eyebrows furrowing in concern.

hesitated for a moment, as if the very act of speaking the words aloud would make them all

as she set it down, her eyes, widening in

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

a mixture of sympathy and concern. “Evie, are you sure you want to do this? I mean, telling Timothy… it’s a big step. You could be tearing