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?”

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

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

for the spa trip. It was

I had

a corner booth. nursing a cup of coffee, her expression peaceful. As I

appetite had vanished beneath the weight of my worries. “You won’t believe what happened

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

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

face twisted into a scowl, her anger mirroring my own. “That conniving witch! Why would she do something like

feeling a heavy weight on my chest. “May have something to

Stella has made a lot of enemies over the years. She’s not exactly the most

such lengths? Tear up her dress, have her frame me, and

And she was at the Hayes mansion that day when the dress was torn,

sudden appearance had always struck me as odd. She had shown up and asked for my help specifically while also nursing an intense dislike of

sinking feeling settling in my stomach. “I would

“What if Scarlett had something to do with it? She might have a vendetta

idea sent shivers down my spine. Accusing her of something

my voice uncertain. “She seems

are usually the messiest behind closed doors,

wasn’t a name I’d heard in a while. “Linda…I guess she would hate the

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Chapter 156

Penny nodded rapidly, seeming

meals. I stabbed at my hash browns with a fork, more out of habit than hunger, while Penny sipped

I began, breaking the silence, “I’ve

from her coffee, her eyebrows furrowing in concern.

the very act of speaking the words aloud would make them all too real. “He needs to know about Stella

clattered against the saucer as she set it down,

anyone, and looks so miserable. I can’t let him go through with that knowing that that woman doesn’t value

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