로그인CHAPTER SIXTY Six – The First CrackJaxon’s POVThe file had been sitting on the passenger seat ever since my assistant called that morning.I hadn’t opened it.Not because I wasn’t curious.Because I wasn’t sure I was ready for whatever it contained.The conversation with Stella in the canteen refused to leave my mind.Her words echoed over and over again.“Which part of that contract have you been honoring?”I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.No matter how many times I replayed the conversation, I couldn’t find an answer that justified my actions.When I reached the office building, my assistant was already waiting for me.He stood as soon as I stepped inside.“Good afternoon, Captain.”I gave him a brief nod.“You sounded concerned on the phone.”“I am.”He gestured toward the conference room.“I thought it would be better to discuss this in private.”Without another word, I followed him inside.The room was quiet.A thick folder rested neatly in the middle of the table.He
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR – The ContractJaxon’s POVI barely tasted my food.The conversation at my table faded into meaningless noise as my attention remained fixed on the opposite side of the canteen.Stella was still sitting with Adrian.The tablet between them had been forgotten for the moment as Adrian said something that made her laugh again.It wasn’t a loud laugh,bIt wasn’t dramatic, It was genuine.I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen her smile with so much ease.One of my teammates followed my gaze before nudging my arm.“Isn’t that the new coach?”I looked away.“Yeah.”“He seems easy to get along with.”I didn’t respond.Another teammate stood and picked up his tray.“We’ve got another class in fifteen minutes.”He looked at me.m“You coming?”I glanced toward Stella once more.n“You guys go ahead.”“We’ll save you a seat.”I nodded absentmindedly.The two of them left, leaving me alone at the table.Across the room, Adrian’s phone vibrated.He checked the screen before lo
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE – The Smile He MissedStella’s POVBy the time training ended, every muscle in my body ached.Coach’s whistle echoed across the rink one final time, signaling the end of another demanding session as the players slowly skated toward the benches. Some complained about how intense the drills had been, while others laughed as they teased each other about missed passes and sloppy shots.I pulled off my helmet and wiped the sweat from my forehead.I was exhausted, but for the first time in weeks, it was the satisfying kind of exhaustion. It reminded me that I was improving and that every extra hour I had spent on the ice was finally beginning to show.As I packed my gloves into my hockey bag, I replayed the training session in my mind.There had been mistakes, as there always were, but this time they no longer felt like failures. They felt like lessons. My timing had improved, my skating felt lighter, and even Coach had nodded in approval more than once.A small smile fo
CHAPTER SIXTY Four – A Storm Is Coming (2)Jaxon’s POVThe room was unusually quiet.The silence settled around me like a heavy blanket, making the study feel far larger than it really was. The only sound came from the ticking clock hanging on the wall and the occasional crackling of the fireplace burning in the corner.I sat behind my desk without moving.In front of me rested a small black velvet box.I had opened it more times than I could remember since returning from the auction, yet every time I looked inside, I found myself asking the same question.Why?I slowly lifted the lid.The silver necklace lay neatly inside, its pendant reflecting the warm light from the lamp beside me. It was beautiful, elegant, and undoubtedly valuable.But somehow…It felt heavier than any piece of jewelry should.My fingers brushed gently against the pendant before I lifted it into my palm.The cold metal rested against my skin, but instead of admiring it, my mind wandered back to the auction.Not
CHAPTER SIXTY three – A Storm Is ComingStella’s POVThe sharp sound of Coach’s whistle echoed across the rink.“That’s enough for today.”His voice carried across the ice, and almost immediately the tension that had filled the arena began to fade. Players laughed as they skated toward the benches. Some complained about how demanding the drills had been, while others joked about barely being able to feel their legs anymore.I slowly skated toward the exit.The moment my skates touched the rubber flooring, every part of my body reminded me how hard we had trained.My legs felt heavy.My shoulders ached.Even my hands were sore from gripping my stick for hours.Yet despite all of that…I smiled.Not because training had been easy.Because it hadn’t.It had pushed me to my limits.But for the first time in weeks, I felt exhausted for the right reason.Not because I had spent the entire day carrying pain.Not because I had been running from memories.Not because I had allowed myself to d
CHAPTER SIXTY Two – The ChallengeStella’s POVThe closer the championship got, the harder training became.Every day, the arena felt different.There was no more time for mistakes.No more time for excuses.Everyone knew what was coming.The National Championship was not just another competition.It was the moment every player had been preparing for.For some of us, it was a chance to prove ourselves.For others, it was a chance to protect the reputation we had built.For me…It was a chance to remember who I was.I had spent too much time thinking about everything except hockey.I had allowed my pain to become louder than my passion.But every time I stepped onto the ice now, I reminded myself of one thing.I was here because I loved this game.Not because of Jaxon, not because of Amber, not because I needed anyone to choose me.I was here because I chose myself.I tightened the laces on my skates and looked across the rink.The team was already gathered.Coach stood in front of eve







