LOGINThe following afternoon, the air in the upscale cafe near the University of Toronto is thick with the scent of roasted beans and unspoken tension.Mia sits between two titans of different worlds: Elias, radiating the restless, lethal grace of a professional athlete, and Leonardo, who possesses the cool, chiseled composure of a scholar.After the formal introductions are out of the way, Mia wastes no time. She leans forward, her voice calm but layered with a firm, protective edge."I'm sure you've seen the headlines, Leonardo," she says, her eyes locking onto his. "I'm incredibly sorry you were dragged into that mess. It's absurd, really."She pauses, her hand moving beneath the table to find Elias's knee. "Luckily, Elias and I are rock-solid. We don't put much stock in tabloid fiction, otherwise, a stunt like that could have caused a lot of unnecessary damage to our relationship."Leonardo doesn't flink. He offers a measured, diplomatic nod. "Please believe me, Mia—my admiration for y
"Oh, for God's sake," Mia groans, though he can hear the suppressed amusement in her voice. "A jilted partner? You?""It's a tragedy," Elias teases, his voice low and suggestive. "I'm practically heartbroken."Mia pauses, her tone shifting to something a little more playful. "You aren't jealous, are you?""I'm a seasoned expert in the field of jealousy, sweetheart," Elias retorts.Mia's lips curl into a knowing smirk. "Fine. You've piqued my interest. I have to see for myself exactly how they're slandering me."She begins to pack her things with renewed energy, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. "I'm heading out now. We can talk face-to-face. Don't go anywhere."She hangs up before he can get another word in, her fingers already flying across her screen. As she exits her office, she pulls up the viral article.The photos are beautifully shot. The way the light hits Leonardo's chiseled jaw as they sit on that bench makes it look like a still from a high-budget romance.Disgu
In the Toronto Raiders' locker room, Lucas is scrolling through his feed when his thumb suddenly freezes.He blinks, certain he's hallucinating, but as he clicks into the trending hashtag, his pupils shrink in disbelief.On the screen, bathed in a soft, cinematic sunlight that makes the scene look suspiciously like a still from a romance movie, is Mia. She's sitting on a wooden campus bench, tucked under the shade of a maple tree, her face tilted toward a tall, undeniably handsome European man."What the hell is wrong with you?" Rick mutters, glancing at Lucas. He waves a hand in front of the younger player's face. "You look like you've seen a ghost."Lucas doesn't answer with words. He just shoves his phone into Rick's face, nearly poking his eye out.Rick recoils, focusing on the screen. He scrolls through the series of photos—Mia and the stranger walking through the university grounds, talking intently, looking for all the world like a golden couple.Then his eyes catch the headlin
A crisp sun bathes the campus of the University of Toronto in a deceptively warm light.Taking advantage of a rare half-day off approved by the Raiders' management, Mia returns to the university to tie up the loose ends of her research. Clutching a thick stack of finalized data sheets to her chest, she steps out of the library and into the quiet, high-ceilinged corridor leading to Professor Williams's office."Mia!"A familiar, booming voice calls out from down the hall. She turns, expecting the professor, but her gaze is immediately drawn to the man standing beside him.The stranger is exceptionally tall, possessing a lean, athletic build that commands attention even in simple attire. His features are strikingly sharp—dark, deep-set eyes beneath well-defined brows, and a jawline that looks like it was chiseled by a Renaissance master."Professor Williams, good afternoon," Mia says, a polite, professional smile masking her sudden caution as she approaches them."Perfect timing," Willi
Elias's body reacts before his brain can. He straightens his spine, his shoulders broadening as he meets the screen with a steady, unblinking gaze. "I could never break her dreams just to satisfy my own selfishness, sir. I want her to live a life without a single 'what-if.'"He clears his throat. "Right now, I'm in the prime of my career. My contract is far from over, and I haven't reached the peak of what I want to achieve on the ice. I'm not ready to walk away from hockey yet.""We've made a pact," Mia interjects, her hand sliding back into Elias's, their fingers interlacing in a tight, desperate grip. "When I go back, we'll do long-distance. We're young. We'll work for our respective futures while we wait for our time.""Long-distance?" Alice's voice breaks in, her brow furrowed in classic maternal skepticism. To a mother, "long-distance" is often just a slow-motion car crash for a relationship.Ethan sighs. "Weston, an athlete's career is a cycle. It has an expiration date. What I
The silence that follows is deafening. The world stops spinning.It's an agonizing, bone-deep awkwardness. No one moves. No one speaks.Finally, the poise of the older generation wins out. Ethan recovers his dignity. He clears his throat, offering a polite, measured look at the camera. "That must be Elias. Hello there."Elias snaps out of his trance. He gathers his composure, stepping toward the sofa. He leans down, bringing his face into the frame next to Mia's, his broad shoulder brushing against hers.He looks directly into the lens, meeting Ethan's gaze. Then, he draws a breath and speaks."Buonasera. È un piacere conoscervi (Good evening. It's a pleasure to meet you)," Elias says, his accent slightly stilted but surprisingly melodic.Mia goes rigid. Her jaw literally drops.When did he find the time to stage a linguistic coup?On the screen, Ethan and Alice look equally floored. The "pure-blooded Canadian" who was supposed to only speak English and French just dropped a greeting







