ANMELDENMELANIE“No.” I shook my head violently, refusing to let the words sink in. “You’re lying.”I desperately tried to pull up memories of my mother, anything clear from when I was ten. What she looked like. What she sounded like, but everything was just so blurry. All I could clearly remember was her smile; she had this gentle, warm smile that always felt like sunshine on a stormy day. It always made me feel safe. The way she used to tuck my hair behind my ear and whisper that I was her favorite girl in the whole world.But every time I asked about her, whether it was Vivian or my father, they always shut down, giving me vague answers, or changing the subject like I was a fucking moron. It always pissed me off.“It’s not possible,” I whispered, my voice cracking as my eyes darted to Vivian. “Tell me he’s lying. Mom wasn’t… she wasn’t an addict, right?”Vivian wouldn’t meet my eyes. She just stared at the floor, wringing her hands together like she wanted to be anywhere else but here.“I’
MELANIEI stormed out of Reynold’s room, literally feeling like I was about to commit murder.My own father had gone behind my back to beg that rapist piece of shit to stay with me?For what? votes? His fucking image? For power?Ugh, I just couldn't believe it. I was rushing down the hallway, vision blurring with rage, and I didn’t see the person in front of me until I slammed straight into a solid chest.“Pretty girl, watch where you’re going,” a smooth, familiar voice said.My mind wasn’t on the stranger. I muttered a quick “Sorry” and tried to step aside, but a strong hand wrapped tightly around my wrist, stopping me.“Melanie Wealth?”I stopped instantly and looked up. My breath hitched.“I was right. It is you,” he said, his voice low and confident, a small smirk on his lips.Silvio Rossi stood there, twenty-five years old, tall, strikingly handsome with sharp cheekbones, blonde wavy hair, and piercing, cold black eyes that always seemed chilling and frankly, a bit frightening.
GAVINThe rink was alive with the loud scrape of blades on ice, pucks smacking against sticks, and the heavy breathing of fourteen exhausted players pushing through practice drills as cold air bit my face, my eyes sharp on every movement. “Five more laps!” I barked, my voice cutting through the air. “Push harder, gentlemen. I want to see legs moving like you actually plan on beating the Cyclones on Thursday!”The guys groaned but obeyed, pushing off into another round of sprints around the rink. Their sticks clattered against the boards as they rounded the corners, their breath puffed out in visible clouds in the freezing air.I skated slowly along the perimeter, taking notes as Andy, one of my best defensemen, slowed beside me, breathing hard. “Coach, what are we gonna do about Reynold? He’s still out. We need a legit left winger who can actually finish chances.”I kept my expression neutral. “Derek’s moving up; he’s earned the spot. Bobby, you drop back into Derek’s old spot on the
MELANIE“What?”“Yeah,” Reynold smiled, flashing his pearly white teeth. “Your dad sat there in that chair yesterday, asking how I was doing, telling me not to worry about anything.”I felt the floor tilt under my feet.My father came here? Behind my back? How the hell did he even know he was in the hospital?"Shit, man!" he went on, a huge grin spreading across his face. “I can’t believe Dalton Wealth is a lackey for me now,” he laughed loudly, clapping his hands like a child who’d just gotten a new toy.He must have noticed the murderous look on my face because his smile slowly faded.I walked closer to the bed, shock freezing my face. “What exactly did he want?”“Well, he said some funny shit. Mentioned we broke up and told me not to mind you, that you can be… difficult sometimes.” He shook his head, still looking amused. “He basically asked me to be patient with you. Like dating his daughter is some kind of favor I’m doing for him.”I felt sick.A favor.His words burned like acid
MELANIE“What the fuck does he want from me?” Eva muttered, glaring at her ringing phone like it had personally offended her.She shoved it toward me. “Answer it. It’s your boyfriend.”“Absolutely not,” I scrunched up my face in disgust. “You answer. It’s your phone!”She groaned, took a deep breath, and answered, putting it on speaker. “Hello?”“Hey, Eva. What’s good?” Reynold’s voice filled the car, cocky as ever.“Uhm… cool?” Eva replied dryly.“Look, I know we’re not exactly besties, but I need to talk to Mel. Her phone’s been off for days, and I haven’t heard shit from her. What kind of girlfriend ghosts her man when he’s laid up in the hospital?”I scoffed loudly. Eva shot me a warning look, pressing a finger to her lips, shushing me.“She lost her phone.”“Well, she should’ve gotten a new one by now. How hard is it to buy a phone?” he asked, irritation clear in his tone. “Anyway, tell her to come see me. You know I had an accident, right?”Well, I heard,” Eva replied nonchalant
MELANIE“Jesus Christ… Mel?”Eva stood frozen in the doorway, her gaze moving from my flushed face down to my hand still wrapped around Gavin’s leaking cock. Her mouth hung open in total shock.“Shit!” she screamed, her face turning red. “I… I’ll wait outside!” She slammed the door so hard the sound echoed through the office.“Damn it. This cannot be happening,” Gavin muttered angrily, quickly pulling up his boxers and pants to cover his cock that had gone completely soft in seconds. I quickly stood up from the floor, my knees aching, bones cracking from being on my knees for too long. “I’ll handle it,” I tried to reassure him, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “I’ll handle her. Okay?”“This is a fucking nightmare,” he growled, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. I was about to leave when he suddenly caught my arm; his grip was firm, almost desperate. For a moment, he just looked at me with eyes dark with guilt, anger, and something deeper. Then he grabbed a w







