Hated by the Mafia Hockey Star

Vida Moretti's POVIt was almost 10 pm when I finally stepped off the last bus. My legs wobbled from standing on them since morning. I had gone to school, then straight to my shift at the café. My hands were still sticky with syrup, and my shirt clung to my back, damp with sweat and the smell of brewed coffee and exhaustion. I hadn’t eaten since noon. But I didn’t care. I’d made it through today. That was enough.I walked faster through the cracked sidewalks of the old neighborhood, holding my bag close like a shield. Inside was the confirmation slip for my full scholarship exam at Dravik University.Dravik. Just the surname made my heart beat faster.It wasn’t just about the prestige or the education. It was about freedom. A way out. A future I could finally shape with my own hands and because of him.Khaelon Dravik.The school’s heir. The Popular hockey star of Dravik University. I’d first seen him when I was seventeen. His name was everywhere. TV and magazines. Untouchable and powe

My entire body stilled. The Khaelon Dravik. Star hockey player. Heir to the Dravik fortune. Captain of the undefeated Hockey Team. The face on every student poster, the name on every varsity jersey. The one everyone talked about like he was myth wrapped in flesh. Unreachable and my ultimate crush.My first love even if he never knew it.I used to watch his games through a cracked laptop screen, memorizing the sharp angles of his jaw under his helmet, the vicious grace of how he skated across the rink like a storm no one could stop. He didn’t just play, he dominated. And now, here he was.Tall, powerful, and walking through the cafeteria like he owned the oxygen we were all breathing.He wore the Dravik crest on his black varsity jacket like it was a crown. His sleeves were pushed up, revealing lean, veined forearms that flexed as he scrolled through his phone. His hair was a chaotic, perfect mess. And those eyes were cold, unreadable, glacial blue swept over the cafeteria, pausing onl

KHAELON’S POVI couldn’t get her name out of my head.Moretti.The moment Emilia Cruz said it out loud in the cafeteria, it was like someone jammed a knife between my ribs and twisted.It wasn’t just a name. Not to me. Not after everything.I sat in my office in the Dravik University administration wing, the walls cold and quiet, the hum of the central air the only sound. I should’ve been reviewing the weekly training schedule for the hockey team or the list of sponsors for next month. Instead, all I could think about was the girl with wide brown eyes, shaky hands, and a name that made my blood boil.It didn’t make sense. I’d never really liked a woman before. Sure, I’d had my share of attention from girls chasing the Dravik name, the varsity jacket, the money, but none of them caught my attention like she did today. She hadn’t tried to impress me. She hadn’t flirted. She just sat there, looking like she didn’t belong, and somehow made me want to know why.I liked her.I actually like

“I’m sorry,” I whispered softly while avoiding his eyes.Jacob frowned immediately as if my apology annoyed him even more. His sharp gaze stayed on me, making my chest tighten painfully.He looked like he wanted to say something.But before he could even speak.....“Jacob! Sweetheart!”A feminine voice suddenly echoed behind me.I froze slightly before turning around.A beautiful woman wearing expensive clothes walked toward us confidently. Her long curled hair bounced perfectly behind her while the students around us immediately stared in admiration.Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Jacob’s neck and kissed him directly in front of me.My fingers unconsciously tightened around my books.I quickly looked away.The woman then noticed me standing there awkwardly.Her perfectly shaped eyebrow lifted before she looked at Jacob curiously.“Who is she?”For a brief second, Jacob’s eyes landed on mine again.Cold.Unreadable.Then he answered carelessly.“Nobody.”The word hit

For a moment, I just stared at his outstretched hand. Part of me wanted to ignore it after the way he had dismissed me earlier. But then I remembered that the collision had been partly my fault. I had been too distracted and wasn't paying attention to where I was going.Taking a slow breath, I pushed aside my pride and accepted his hand.“Ms. Vida Elene Moretti,” I introduced myself politely. “I'm a scholar here.”His smile widened.“Wow. That means you're intelligent.”Heat crept up my cheeks as I shifted my weight awkwardly.“Not really,” I replied with an awkward laugh.Jacob chuckled softly and shook his head.“Trust me, earning a scholarship isn't easy.”For the first time since being summoned to the guidance office, I found myself relaxing slightly. The knot in my chest loosened a little, and I almost forgot about the humiliation waiting for me.Then I remembered his question. My brows furrowed as I looked at him.“Wait,” I said. “What did you mean earlier when you asked if you