The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 177

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Back in the apartment, the air seemed lighter after my conversation with Timothy. I couldn’t help but smile as I saw Olive as she bounced her legs on the couch. Once she spotted me, she sat up and ran to my side.

“I can’t believe Uncle Timothy lives right next to you!” she said, her excitement evident.

I suppose they’d never had the chance to be properly introduced until now. Regardless, she seemed to have instantly taken a liking to him. “Can I see him again?” she asked innocently..

I hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words. “Another time,” I replied gently, not wanting to delve into the complexities of Timothy and. I’s situation.

Olive’s gaze returned to the window, her mind seemingly racing with questions. It was a weekday, and the persistent ticking of the antique wall clock reminded me of her obligations.

“Shouldn’t you be in school?” I inquired.

“I’ve always been homeschooled,” Olive admitted. “I do have homework to do later.”

Homeschooled. I considered the implications of that as I glanced around the apartment. A flicker of sympathy welled up within me, because I was hardly as good of a distraction for her as her potential peers could’ve been.

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I rose from the couch, moved toward the television set, and switched it on. The screen flickered to life and I began flipping through channels until a children’s program came on the screen. As I walked off, my mind began to wander to a time when my own life had been marked by the absence of a

mother.

Mia, my mother, had left when I was just ten years old. Her departure coincided with my father’s growing dependence on alcohol, and I still remembered the tears in her eyes as she reminisced about the life she could have had if I had never been born. Her words had etched themselves into my memory, carving out a deep wound that never truly healed.

Scarlett was not the type of mother to abandon her child. Her departure was the kind that only happened through

abruptly interrupted by the jarring ring of my phone. Glancing at the caller ID, my heart clenched with a mixture of dread and anticipation. It was Timothy. With a quick glance at Olive, I stepped away to answer

other end. “The hospital just called. Scarlett still hasn’t

as I listened to the uncertainty in his voice. That could’ve meant a lot of things. At

felt a tug at the corner of my shirt and peered down to see Olive by my side. I hadn’t even noticed she’d moved from the

she asked, peering

muffle Timothy’s voice. “Um, I’m going to have

said. “Talk to you

only. Chapter

“The doctors are doing everything they can,” I told her gently, wishing I could promise more. “We just have to keep

her gaze filled with a wisdom that far exceeded her years. She brushed a lock of her auburn hair behind her ear

of her birthday tugged at my heartstrings. “When is your birthday, Olive?”

her voice soft and

altogether. My thoughts. wandered to the things I had missed out on, the moments my own mother

“We’ll celebrate your birthday, Olive,” I said with conviction. “We’ll make it special, and then you can

hope flickered in Olive’s eyes, and a smile graced her lips. “Can I invite my friends over for a

excitement.

had revolved around work and personal struggles.

with a

apprehension. “We’ll plan

Emergency calls only

Chapter 177

with joy, and her small arms enveloped me in

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spent the day gathering supplies for her upcoming birthday sleepover, filling the small living space with balloons, streamers, and the unmistakable excitement of an impending celebration.

the front door swung open and Aria entered. Her movements were sluggish as she threw her

greeted her with

after me,