The Hockey Star And The Widow He Shouldn't Love .
Ann became a widow at thirty-four.
To the world, she had everything. A rich husband, a beautiful life, and a name that opened doors.
But the truth: she was never a wife; she was owned.
On the night she was about to be handed over to another man like property, Ann ran with no plan or safety. Just fear pushing her forward.
Then she crashed into him, Duke Carter, twenty-seven, Hockey superstar.
The kind of man who doesn’t stop for strangers. But he stopped for her.
What started as one night of help turns into something neither of them expected. Because Ann isn’t just running from her past… she’s carrying it. And Duke isn’t supposed to fall for a woman like her. She is older and a widow, bringing secrets that could destroy everything.
When Duke’s family turns against her, and the man she escaped comes back with a vengeance, Ann is forced to fight again… this time not just for her freedom, but for the only love she’s ever known.
Duke was never meant to choose her. But he did, and this time… he’s not letting her go.
Ler
Chapter: CHAPTER 51DUKEI had never forgiven myself for Rose's death, and I doubted I ever would. Rose was one of those hopelessly in love fans who went overboard trying to get my attention. But I always told her, the feeling was never mutual.The trouble was Daniel.He knew about Rose, and knew how much she liked me, knew she’d do anything for me. And yet, he pretended to be me.He slept with her, using my name, and then disappeared like she never existed.The voice note she sent before taking her own life still chills me whenever I think of it.You’d think tragedy would change Daniel.It didn't. If anything, he only got worse.First Rose, then our father's girlfriend, how many others had there been in between?I didn't realise I’d slammed my hand against the table until water splashed across the dining room, startling Lisa."What's wrong? Are you okay? Talk to me," she asked, concerned.I looked away.Across the table, Ann quietly set down her fork without a word, stood up softly, and said, "I'm done,
Última atualização: 2026-06-02
Chapter: CHAPTER 50CHAPTER 50ANN"Why won't I?" I turned to Duk. "With all due respect, I do not appreciate you speaking about me as though I am not standing right here."My nose twitched. He was doing it again, that particular thing where he assumed proximity to me gave him authority over my movements, my choices, my time.Daniel stood a few feet away with both arms crossed, watching the whole thing unfold in front of him with the expression of someone who had paid for a show and found it better than expected."Ann." Duke's jaw tightened. "Can we talk privately?"Daniel straightened slightly, a funny grin passing across his face before it went back into its usual ease."I will be in the room," he said. "Take your time." He glanced at me once before heading back up the stairs.I stood in the living room after his footsteps disappeared.I had not let myself do this when I first walked in, but now, standing here with Duke a few feet away and nowhere immediately to look, the memories of the time spent in
Última atualização: 2026-05-30
Chapter: CHAPTER 49ANNI picked up my glass and drank slowly, letting the champagne settle the sudden dryness in my throat."Okay then.""I move in tomorrow," Daniel said, setting his glass down. "You should come visit. The earlier we are seen together, the faster this moves in the right direction."He poured himself another drink and took a slow sip, his eyes moving around the restaurant with that particular unbothered look."That will look suspicious," I said. "Think about it. You move into a house, and immediately, a woman starts appearing. People ask questions." I set my own glass down. "Here is what makes more sense. I am a hairstylist. We agree that a mutual friend recommended me to you for home service. Clean, and believable, nothing that needs complicated explaining." I looked at him. "We build the story from there."He raised his glass slowly and wiggled his brows."Smart."I picked up my bag, which was enough of a response.He was still smiling at whatever was running through his head as I w
Última atualização: 2026-05-29
Chapter: CHAPTER 48ANN"Look, Harry, you are forgetting one very important thing." I turned to face him properly. "I am a widow. My brother-in-law is probably still looking for me somewhere. I told you all of this. I cannot just go and get married to somebody, real or fake, without that becoming a problem."My body was running hot from everything piling on top of everything else. If I had been given any kind of supernatural ability at that moment, Duke, Louis, and everyone attached to either of them would have been reduced to clean ash."Listen to me, Ann." Harry's voice lost its playfulness and became serious. "This family has played you more than anyone deserved to be played. Today it is the Carters. Tomorrow it will be somebody else entirely, because that is how it works when you keep allowing people to find the soft parts of you." He held my gaze. "You need to be tougher than this. The world isn't nice to weak humans."Nothing about it felt clean or simple, but I kept listening."I know you still
Última atualização: 2026-05-28
Chapter: CHAPTER 47ANN"That was a very dry joke." I almost choked on my drink and quickly signalled one of the waiters to take the glass before I did any actual damage. "You nearly killed me."Daniel did not look even slightly apologetic."It was not a joke." He reached out and lifted another glass from a passing tray with the ease of a man completely unbothered by the weight of what he had just said. "I have been a very bad boy for the longest time. Prodigal son, if you want to call me that, I will accept it fully. Spent money on the wrong things, wrong people, made financial decisions that nearly swallowed me whole."He swirled the drink slowly."My grandmother was the one person in this family who loved me unconditionally. Her favourite grandchild, she used to say." Something moved across his face briefly before the smile covered it again. "When she passed, she willed fifty per cent of her properties and assets to me. Under one clause.""Marriage," I said."One full year of it." He chuckled, but
Última atualização: 2026-05-27
Chapter: CHAPTER 46ANN"Shit."I grabbed my bag from the floor in one motion and slipped into his bathroom, pulling the door almost fully closed behind me. Just enough of a gap to hear everything, not enough for anyone walking in to see me without looking directly for me.I stood with my back against the cold tile wall and pressed my eyes shut for a second.Is this what my life has become? Hiding in a married man's bathroom while his wife stood on the other side of the door. The bedroom door opened.My heartbeat became so loud inside my own ears I was genuinely concerned it could be heard through the wall."What happened?" Duke's voice came unhurried, that same deep baritone completely unbothered. I had to give him that. Nothing in his tone wobbled even slightly. "Shouldn't you be in Los Angeles?""That stupid assistant of mine forgot to tell me the shoot was cancelled." Lisa's voice carried the tone of someone who had been angry the entire drive back. "Could you imagine? She had the nerve to say I s
Última atualização: 2026-05-26
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