All Chapters of Rejected By The Hockey Captain, Now He Begs for me: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

42 Chapters

HE IS BACK

~~ARIA~~The cold air of the Silver Eagle arena wrapped around me like an old blanket as I stepped inside. It was barely six in the morning, and the hallways were still serene except for the distant hum of the ice machines. I liked this time best. No curious eyes were watching me, nor was stupid gossip following every step I took. Just me, my work, and the control I had fought so hard to win back.I adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder, my fingers gripping it a little tighter than usual. At twenty-nine, I was the Head of Performance for one of the most aggressive teams, the Silver Eagles” in the NHL. I had earned this position through sleepless nights, endless studying, and pure stubborn will. After everything that had been taken from me three years ago, this job had become my armor. My safe place and I refused to let anyone crack it again.“Morning, Dr. Vance,” one of the assistant trainers greeted me with a nod as I passed.I forced a small, professional smile as I respon

NEVER STOPPED THINKING ABOUT YOU

~~ARIA~~I spent the rest of the morning forcing myself to focus. Every time Ward’s name tried to creep back into my thoughts, I pushed it away with my loaded-up task.By 1:45 PM, the performance center buzzed with quiet energy. Players drifted in for light sessions, laughter echoing from the weight room. I kept my head down, pretending everything was normal. But my pulse hadn’t slowed since I saw that roster. Every second ticked by like a countdown I couldn’t escape.At exactly 2:00, the double doors swung open and he finally walked in.Ward Bennett looked exactly like the man who had once owned my heart, tall, broad-shouldered, with that same confident stride that made the ice feel smaller beneath his skates. His dark hair was slightly longer now, messy from the wind outside, and a light scruff shadowed his jaw. The same sharp blue eyes that used to look at me like I was the only person in the world scanned the room until they landed on me.My breath caught and I felt a rush of he

HIS NEW CONTACT

~~ARIA~~I stayed in the treatment room long after Ward left, trying to pull myself together. My hands still trembled slightly as I wiped down the table. I hated how easily he got under my skin after just two short meetings. Three years of building walls, and one look from those blue eyes threatened to crack them all over again.A soft knock pulled me out of my thoughts.“Aria? Are you there?”The door opened, and my best friend, Lena Harper, poked her head in. Lena was the team’s assistant nutritionist, bubbly, sharp-tongued, and the only person who had stuck by me when everything fell apart three years ago. She had been the one who helped me pack my bags and move to Chicago. She took one look at my face and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. “Oh no. He’s here, isn’t he? I saw the roster this morning and almost spilled my protein shake all over the break room.”I let out a shaky laugh that sounded more like a sob. “Yeah. He’s here. And I just finished his first therapy

UNKNOWN THREAT

~~WARD~~The locker room lights were dimmed low, casting long shadows across the benches. I sat alone, elbows braced on my knees, head bowed so low my forehead nearly touched my clasped hands. The tape on my fingers felt too tight, snipping into my skin, but I didn’t loosen it. Pain was good, it was what kept me grounded when everything else inside me was spinning out of control.I saw her again today after three years. The image wouldn’t leave me, her standing in the hallway with Lena, head tilted back in a real laugh, shoulders relaxed for just a moment. That sound had hit me like a blindside hit. My chest had tightened so hard I couldn’t breathe for a second. She looked different now. More sure of herself. The kind of woman who had rebuilt her life after I had torn it apart and knowing I was the reason she had to rebuild at all made something deep in my gut twist painfully.I rubbed my face with both hands, pressing my palms hard against my eyes until spots danced behind my lid

MAD AT HIM

~~ARIA~~I arrived at the arena even earlier than usual, hoping the quiet would calm the storm in my head. Sleep had been impossible. Ward’s face kept appearing every time I closed my eyes, the regret in his voice, the way his shoulders had tensed when I pushed him away. My chest feels tight at every moment I think about him.By 7:00 AM, I had everything ready in the treatment room. When the door opened, Ward stepped inside.I couldn't help but notice how his exhausted eyes were puffy, with dark circles underneath, like he hadn’t slept at all. His broad shoulders seemed heavier today, and he moved with careful, pained steps toward the table.“Morning Mr Bernett,” I said, keeping my voice professional. “Lie face down. We will start with an ultrasound on the hip.”He obeyed without argument, lowering himself onto the table with a quiet wince. I applied the gel and moved the wand in slow circles, watching the screen. The silence felt thick, but I forced myself to stay focused on my jo

6~ I WON’T BE TRICKED TWICE

~~ARIA~~I drove home with tears burning my eyes. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking on the steering wheel. I kept hearing my own voice shouting at Ward in the parking lot all the pain I had carried for three years pouring out at once. Part of me felt good for finally saying it while another part felt guilty.I had slapped him earlier and I still couldn’t believe I did that. The red mark on his cheek and the tired look in his eyes kept flashing in my mind. He didn’t even get angry, but I had every right to be mad at him; he shouldn’t have been the one sending me that trash.He thinks he could just come and win me back, never falling for that trick twice.When I finally got to my apartment, I locked the door and leaned against it. My legs felt weak. I changed into my comfortable clothes and sat on the couch, staring at the wall. The anonymous flowers, the expensive bandages, why was Ward doing this to me? Why now?I don’t know how many hours I spent sitting there thinking until I heard

7~STRUGGLES

~~WARD~~I couldn’t sleep or be at peace. I sat in my car outside Aria’s apartment building, the seat pushed back, darkness pressing in from all sides. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles hurt.Every few minutes I checked my phone again, trying to track that unknown number, but it was pointless. Whoever this was, they were always one step ahead.Fear sat heavy in my stomach like a rock. What if something happened to her tonight? What if I left and the worst occurred? I rubbed my tired eyes, my chest tight with worry. I had been here for hours, watching her window like a shadow. My body ached from the long day, my hip throbbed, but none of that mattered. Only Aria mattered.Then my phone buzzed and my heart stopped for a second. I opened the message with shaking fingers.The photo hit me like a knife to the chest.Aria was in her bedroom. She was slowly pulling off her dress, the soft fabric sliding down her shoulders and back as she got ready for sleep. She lo

8~THE THREATH

~~ARIA~~The hospital corridor felt endless as my shoes clicked against the shiny floor as I walked toward Ward’s private room, my medical bag heavy on my shoulder. I didn’t want to be here. After yesterday’s crazy act from Ward, the last thing I needed was to see Ward again. But the team’s General Manager had called me personally this morning. Ward had collapsed during a light practice session after pushing his injured hip too hard. They wanted me here immediately because “Mr. Bennett is our most valuable player right now.”I hated how my heart still raced at the thought of him. I hated that a small part of me felt worried after getting the news.I stopped outside his door, took a deep breath, and pushed it open.Ward was sitting up in the hospital bed, shirtless, with monitors attached to his chest. His face was pale, and dark circles sat heavily under his eyes. The bruise on his cheek from where I slapped him yesterday was still visible, a faint red mark that made my stomach twi

9~ TRANSFERRING HIM

~~ARIA~~I stood in the hospital treatment room early that morning, my hands steady even though my mind was not. I had made my decision last night after hours of thinking. I couldn’t keep treating Ward. Not after everything that had happened, I needed a lot of distance from him.Dr. Matthews, one of the senior team physicians, stood beside me as I reviewed Ward’s file.“I am handing Mr. Bennett’s case over to you,” I said clearly. “His hip injury is chronic. Significant inflammation, limited range of motion, and he had been pushing through pain for weeks. He needs daily ultrasound therapy, ice protocols, and some strength exercises. Avoid heavy loading for at least ten days. He also has fresh bruising on his right fist that he refuses to explain. Monitor that closely.”Dr. Matthews nodded, taking the file. “Understood. Any personal notes I should know?”I hesitated for a second. “Just keep it strictly professional. He’s… complicated.”I left the room before Ward arrived for his sessi

10~ WARNINIG HIM

~~WARD~~I sat on the cold treatment table, staring at the white wall in front of me. Dr. Matthews moved around me with his efficiency, applying gel to my hip and pressing the ultrasound wand against my skin. The pressure was exactly what it should be. But everything felt wrong since it wasn’t Aria’s touch.Her hands had always been gentle but firm, knowing exactly where the pain hid. Now, every movement from Dr. Matthews felt foreign. My chest tightened with a deep, aching sadness that made it hard to breathe. I clenched my jaw and looked down at my hands, the fresh bruise on my knuckles still visible from when I had hit the steering wheel last night.“You are responding well, Mr. Bennett,” Dr. Matthews said calmly. “We will continue with the same protocol. Ice it tonight and avoid heavy loading.”I nodded without looking at him. The moment he finished and left the room, I let out a long, shaky breath. I rubbed my face with both hands, pressing my palms hard against my eyes until

1 2 3 4 5

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP