เข้าสู่ระบบThe study at the mountain estate was quiet, save for the soft sound of rain washing against the floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the forest.I sat in my deep leather armchair near the fireplace, a thick fleece throw draped over my legs to keep warm. My pregnancy bump was full and heavy against my lap now at eight months, making simple movements a slow, calculated effort. On the mahogany coffee table in front of me lay three decades of archived corporate deeds, financial audits, and old Vance family land trusts that Lars had spent all morning fetching from our central vault in downtown Seattle.Across the room, Rhys was standing near the hearth, holding a warm cup of herbal tea he had brewed for me. He wore a dark fitted t-shirt and grey lounge pants, his large, muscular frame casting a broad, comforting shadow across the rug. Even off the ice, his gaze was sharp, resting on the yellowed parchment papers stretched out on the table."You've been reading those deeds for two
It was eight in the evening at the mountain compound. A light snow was falling outside, covering the pine trees in white.I sat at the wooden dining table in a soft sweater, looking over a stack of printed legal papers. My pregnancy bump was full and round now, resting against the edge of the table. Lars sat across from me, sipping black coffee. He pulled a yellow file folder out of his bag and pushed it across the table toward me."This came in from the London office an hour ago, Sasha," Lars said, his voice quiet and serious. "Someone tried to buy out the arena lease for the London Monarchs behind our back."I picked up the file and scanned the pages. "The lease was locked when Rhys and I bought the stadium bond. Nobody can buy it out without our signature.""That's the mystery," Lars said, leaning forward. "The signature on the offer sheet isn't yours or Rhys's. But the league office in Toronto already gave it preliminary approval."I frowned, my eyes narrowing as I looked closely
By the seven-month mark, the nursery at the mountain estate was almost finished.The room had big windows that looked out over the green pine trees. The walls were painted a soft gray, and a plush rug covered the wood floor.I sat in a comfortable rocking chair near the window, wearing a soft sweater and leggings. My bump was big now, and I rested both hands over my stomach, watching Rhys assemble the wooden crib.Rhys was sitting on the floor in gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt. Tools were spread out on a towel next to him. The six-foot-four team captain was holding a tiny wooden crib railing, carefully tightening each screw with a small Allen wrench.I smiled softly, watching how gentle he was with every piece."You don't have to build the whole thing yourself, Rhys," I said with a quiet laugh. "Lars offered to send someone from the center to set it up."Rhys didn't look up from his work. He tightened the final bolt and checked the frame to make sure it was sturdy."No wa
Five months passed quickly. The Seattle Kraken were having their best season yet, holding first place in the division. Meanwhile, the European expansion for the Vance-Keller Institute was running smoothly under Lars's management.I stood in front of the full-length mirror in our bedroom at the mountain estate. I wore a soft gray sweater dress. My baby bump was very clear now, round and noticeable under the fabric. I placed both hands over my stomach, feeling a tiny kick from inside. A soft smile lit up my face.The bedroom door opened, and Rhys walked in. He had just finished his morning workout and wore black sweatpants and a dark t-shirt. The second he saw me standing by the mirror, his dark gray eyes went straight to my stomach. His posture softened completely. He walked across the room, set his water bottle on the nightstand, and stopped behind me."Did I just miss a kick?" he asked in his low, gravelly voice."You're just in time, Captain," I said, looking up at his reflection
The next morning was quiet at the mountain compound. Sunlight came through the tall windows, casting a soft glow across the kitchen.I walked downstairs in a comfortable oversized sweater and leggings. Rhys was already in the kitchen, wearing gray sweatpants and a t-shirt. He had a tray ready on the counter with scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and a cup of warm tea.The moment he heard my footsteps, he turned around. His eyes softened, a warm smile touching his lips."Good morning, doc," he said softly, walking over to meet me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close, leaning down to press a kiss to my forehead. "How did you sleep?""I slept great, Rhys," I said with a small smile, resting my hands against his chest. "You don't need to make me breakfast every morning, you know.""I want to," he murmured, his hands settling over my lower stomach. "How's the baby doing today?""The baby is fine, Captain," I laughed softly. "And I'm hungry."Rhys smiled, guiding me to sit do
The third period was all about control. Seattle played a tight, discipline-first game that kept Vancouver pinned in their own zone for minutes at a time.I sat on a stool near the bench area, resting my feet just as Rhys had asked, keeping my tablet on my lap. The game metrics showed that our third-line players were matching Vancouver’s intensity effortlessly, while Rhys’s line dominated every single shift.With two minutes left on the clock, Damian tried one last desperate play. He took a long, wild slap shot from the blue line, but Miller blocked it cleanly with his shin guard. The puck trickled out toward center ice.Rhys picked up the loose puck, used his body to protect it from Damian's trailing stick, and skated cleanly past the defense. He didn't try to score a flashy goal. He just held the puck near the boards, letting the final seconds tick away until the horn blasted through the arena.Seattle won four to one.The home crowd stood and cheered as the players gathered at the h







