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Lahat ng Kabanata ng Ex-Hockey Star Regret: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

205 Kabanata

Chapter 71- Nicole rescued.

Nicole’s POVThe room where I was forced in on Brad mum's order, smelled of dust and something metallic. My wrists burned where the rope bit in as my hands were still tied to my back while they made me sit in one of the seats here. And now every minute felt like an hour as I kept my eyes open because I was even too scared to close them for a second.“Still breathing,” one of the guys that were assigned to watch over me said. His tone had teeth in it.I tried to make my voice small. “Please… don’t… help me.” But it came out like a whisper that probably sounded like nothing.The bigger one crouched in front of me and then he leaned close enough that I could see the spit in the corner of his mouth. “Where’s your boyfriend now?” He smiled like he expected me to cry.I didn’t answer but then, the sound of his boots on the floor made my chest tighten.“Boss said we should wait for the signal,” another voice called from the doorway. “No touch until then.”“Lucky you,” the other sneered, stra

Chapter 72 – Safe, but shaken.

Nicole’s POVThe house felt different the moment we stepped in as the police team brought us home. Although not because anything inside had changed, but because I had. I just feel that every corner suddenly felt louder, brighter, and sharper. Maybe that was what fear did — leave little fingerprints everywhere even after you tried washing it off.Brad led me straight inside the house without asking a single question and honestly he didn't have to. My legs were already jelly, and honestly, the only thing that kept me from collapsing was the steady warmth of his hand around mine. We showered quietly and it wasn’t even the usual playful kind of quiet we sometimes had. This one felt soft and careful like one wrong sound would break something in the air.By the time we got to the bedroom, my body was clean but my chest still felt heavy. Brad sat first and tugged me gently until my head rested on his chest. His arms wrapped around me like they were made for it. His fingers slid into my hair,

Chapter 73 — After the storm

Brad’s POVMorning light came slowly, like it was apologizing for all that happened the previous day.Nicole was at the table with a paper cup of tea, one hand wrapped around it as she gave me a small, tired smile when I came in. “You are just waking up,” she said, as if it were a discovery.“Yesh, baby.” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “Too many things to think about and you know, I slept very late last night while making sure that I watched over your sleeping head.”She shrugged, eyes soft. “Awnnnnnnn. Thank you for the sacrifice, my love. We’ll cross the rest later. Eat.” She pushed a plate toward me. “You must be hungry just like I was, right?”“Not really, but then it wouldn't be a bad idea if I join you anyway.”*****We moved through the day carefully and deliberately, just the way people do after a storm. I made a meal for her later during the day, you know, home made food tastes sweetest and I made her favorite Alfredo pasta for her. She unpacked the remaining things fro

Chapter 74- The boy is mine?

Brad's POVAt first it was the laugh I heard which all seemed sharp to get any one's attention. And then a flash of a small leather bag which she flipped over her shoulder. Bianca.I should have felt shocked. Instead it was a slow, cold drop. She'd always known how to stand in a space and make it all about her. She looked the same, having the same tilt of chin and the same careless smile but time had done small things: a new line at the corner of her mouth and also a different cut of dress that suggested who she hoped to be now but that would be impossible as I have someone in my life that I love and cherish with everything in me. Honestly, if I had seen Nicole all the while I was searching for her, I wouldn't have had anything to do with Bianca in the first place.“Bianca,” I said before I could stop myself.She turned as if she’d been waiting. “Brad.” Her voice was soft, like she’d repeated the scene over and over again in her head. “You look… tired.”“I could say the same,” I repli

Chapter 75 — The past arrives right before me.

Brad’s POVMy hands wouldn’t stop shaking even after the third deep breath. I’d rehearsed what I’d say a dozen ways on the drive to the café and none of them had stuck in my head. The photo in my wallet burned like a coal against my thigh every time I shifted. I hated that I was nervous… I hated that the past could still make my stomach turn like this. But there was something else under the nerves: a raw, protective edge. I had a life now. I had Nicole. I wasn’t going to let ghosts ram their way through without answers.In no time, I got to the cafe where she had texted me that she was waiting for me so we could have a discussion. And not just that, she has threatened to show up at my place unannounced anytime soon, if I ignore her invitation. And so, the best I could do was to make some excuses to Nicole and find my way to grace Bianca’s invitation. You know, I am trying so hard to keep this away from Nicole until I get to know the whole truth. I parked my car in the parking space

Chapter 76 — The secret in my pocket

Brad’s POVWe were folding the last of the towels into the suitcase when Nicole’s voice cut through the quiet room.“Brad,” she said, not angry at first, let's say just tired. “Can we talk?”She’d been watching me all day the way someone watches a storm moving in, in a patient and worried manner, waiting for it to hit. I closed my eyes for a second and tried to breathe like it would make me steadier.“What about?” I asked, keeping my voice light because I could feel how tense she’d been all weekend.She set down her brush and sat on the edge of the bed. “This weekend. You’ve been distant, right from the first night. I kept thinking maybe you were tired, or stressed. I told myself a lot of things but then today—you went out and came back worse. If there’s something you want to tell me, don’t make me pull it out of you.” Her hands folded together, calm but firm. “I won’t pretend like I had the best time if you were somewhere else.”Her words hit a place deeper than my chest. I wanted to

Chapter 77 — The Test.

Chapter 77 — The Test.Brad’s POV“Hey, Brad. You actually got in here before I did.”Bianca walked me in the hospital, shoulders set like she was on some business. Not too long, we signed forms at the reception which included names, birthdates, and consent checks. The woman behind the desk documented everything just the way it should.“You’ll need to fill this consent form,” the receptionist said, pushing a clipboard toward me. “Standard paternity protocol. We need photo IDs, signatures, and clarity on who gets the results.”I fumbled with the pen. My hand was shaking enough that the line I drew under my name looked like a heartbeat.Bianca slid her ID over calmly, as if the whole thing were a grocery list. “Everything is in order,” she told the receptionist without looking at me.We were led into a small room where the lab tech explained the procedure in a short, clinical manner. Just exactly what you’d expect to hear when emotions should have no place in the sentence.“We’ll swab

Chapter 78 — The result is out!; Match detected

Brad’s POVBack at my apartment, I noticed Nicole wasn’t home. I tried calling her again, but there was no luck on my side as she still didn’t pick up. My chest felt hollow and crowded at the same time but I tried to control it from sinking completely.Not long after, my phone rang, then I quickly picked it and placed it right in my ear as this was the right call I was just expecting.“Hi, Brad,” Nicole said softly from the other end. “I just went out to pick something at the supermarket. I’ll be back soon, dear. Sorry for missing your call. Nothing was intentional, trust me.”As soon as we ended the call, I placed the receipt from the space on the kitchen counter. Bianca had been right because honestly, I had no time. Rush was authorized as the clock was going to start ticking whether I wanted it to or not.After then, I dialed Bianca’s contact as my mind had refused to get settled. She picked up on the second ring.“I forgot to ask… I hope you paid?” she said, skipping any form of gr

Chapter 79 — The impromptu reveal.

Brad’s POVBy the time I brought Nicole home, my mind felt like it had been running a marathon it didn’t sign up for. Her absence for the past two days had gnawed at me in ways I couldn’t fully put into words. Every tick of the clock, every silence in the apartment, made my chest tighten. I had made up my mind: she needed to know the truth. Not in fragments or whispers, not after Bianca had a chance to take control. But the truth is that, the longer I waited, the less safe I felt—not for me, but for her.I’d even gone so far as to block Bianca’s number for now. The woman was relentless, practically vibrating with a need to push me into panic. But I couldn’t risk her dictating the story to Nicole. Atleast, not like this…I mean, not when I had to at least try to protect Nicole from this storm I’d created. I had barely even caught my breath since the DNA result came in. Second day, and already Bianca was itching to pull the strings. I clenched my jaw as I was fighting so hard on how bes

Chapter 80 – I will always choose Nicole.

Brad’s POVJust immediately, Bianca walked out of the house without saying anything.I am sure she must have felt fulfilled by letting Nicole know about all of this in this manner.And just then, I saw something off in Nicole's face.With that, I knew the moment Nicole’s face shifted that I was in trouble—real trouble. The kind that doesn’t explode loudly but grows in quiet and painful waves. Besides, anyone in her shoes would be this angry. You know, this was a perfect reason for her to have trust issues with me or whatsoever. She just stood there, staring at me like she wasn’t sure whether to scream, cry, or just walk away entirely.“Nicole…” I tried to touch her arm.She flinched and that one stung more than it should.Her voice came out low. “Brad… you can’t be serious right now.”“I’m trying to explain…”“Explain what?” She snapped, and then she pulled back as if she shocked herself with the volume. She dragged both hands through her hair, pacing once and then twice, before comin

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