LOGINRyder’s POVI slammed my car door shut, storming toward the cramped apartment building with blinding desperation. I didn't give a damn about the terrified stares from the people on the street. Sleep hadn't touched me for a single second since she left. My eyes were bloodshot, my hair was a disheveled mess, and my sanity was hanging by a frayed thread.I didn't even bother knocking. I shoved the apartment door open roughly."Mary!! Mary!!" I roared.Elena, who was cleaning the living room, jumped back in terror, dropping her rag to the floor. For a split second, she looked as if she thought she was being robbed."Mr... Mr. Ryder—" she stammered, trembling."Where is Mary?!" I growled, pushing past her and violently yanking open every door I could reach. Bedroom. Bathroom. Empty."She... she just left for campus, Sir..." Elena whispered, pressing her back against the wall.I froze. Campus?Without another word, I spun around and marched out, leaving a trembling Elena in the sil
Mary's POVI dragged my suitcase down the hospital corridor with heavy, sluggish steps. My vision was blurred by the endless stream of tears. It felt as if my chest had just been ripped open and my heart crushed into pieces.I had given Ryder everything. My heart, my trust, even my virginity. I let myself fall madly in love with that man, only to find out that in his family's eyes, I was nothing more than a whore acting as his secret mistress.When I pushed open the door to my mother's room, Elena, who was checking the IV monitor, immediately turned around. Her eyes widened completely at the sight of my disheveled state, my swollen eyes, and the large suitcase in my hand."Mary? Oh my God, what happened?" Elena rushed over to me, her face pale. "Why do you have a suitcase? Where is Mr. Ryder?"I swallowed back a painful sob. "Starting today, I'm no longer living with Ryder, Elena. It's all over. Can I... can I stay at your apartment again for a while?""What?! Oh, Sweety, what is real
Mary's POVMy breath hitched so violently I felt like I was going to pass out on the spot. Did this man just say... in my son's bedroom? So, this arrogant middle-aged man is... Ryder's father?"She... she is Mr. Ryder's girlfriend," Dante finally answered, his voice resigned and trembling."Girlfriend?" the man repeated the word with a condescending tone.Dante immediately took a step forward, bowed his head, and whispered something into the man's ear. I couldn't hear what was said, but I could see how his aged face abruptly changed.His brows snapped together, his eyes widening slightly before narrowing again with a dangerous glint. "Richard Collins' daughter?" he muttered in disbelief.I took a slow step back, feeling intimidated. But my instinct for politeness took over. "Excuse me, Mr. Vance," I said softly, trying to stay strong. "Didn't Ryder tell you that I'm living here with him?"However, the response I received was far from humane. The man looked me up and down with a deadpa
Ryder's POVMy anger flared as my sneakers slammed against the floor of the Kingsley Ice Rink this afternoon. I had absolutely no intention of lacing up my skates, let alone joining the practice. My sharp gaze swept across the ice, ignoring the loud, rhythmic scraping of blades from the varsity team.When Mason saw my arrival from the center of the rink, he shouted, "Hey Cap, you're late!"I didn't answer him. My attention was entirely focused on the one bastard I wanted to see today. My eyes quickly found Jason at the edge of the rink. He smirked when he caught sight of me."I thought your stamina would be completely drained after last night," Jason teased effortlessly. "Guess your girl failed to wear you out, huh—"THWACK!Without warning, I threw a raw punch right at his jaw. The impact sent Jason stumbling backward until his hockey stick slipped and clattered onto the ice."Damn you, Ryder!" Jason cursed, holding the corner of his lip."You know exactly what you did, you bastard!"
Mary's POVMy curiosity about Ryder's arranged marriage rumor had reached its boiling point. Since demanding a direct answer from the Ice Prince only resulted in exhausting arguments, I decided to seek out an easier target: Jason. Yes, he was his best friend. The blonde guy definitely knew everything about Ryder's secrets.Today, I intentionally skipped my second class to avoid Ryder. I even had to sneak out through the cafeteria's back doors just to evade Dante.Luckily, Ryder wasn't in the same class as Jason today. I intercepted the guy in a deserted hallway just as his class ended. I leaned against the wall, chewing my gum, then stepped forward and stretched out my arm to block his path.Jason stopped in his tracks. Instead of being startled, a mischievous smirk—classic Canadian playboy—instantly spread across his lips."Wow, look who's lost," Jason teased, shoving both hands into the pockets of his varsity jacket. "Can I help you, Miss Collins? Or are you hiding from the ice mons
Mary's POV Ryder's dark eyes glared at me sharply, his jaw clenched perfectly. Without breaking eye contact with me for a second, he let out a low growl at the two men around us. "Leave us alone. Now." Jason threw his hands in the air, backing away slowly with an awkward smile. "Okay, okay. Good luck, Cap." He patted Dante's shoulder, and the two of them hurried out, shutting the locker room door and locking us inside. Once we were alone in the silence, Ryder's deadly glare instantly softened. He stepped forward, reaching out his massive hand to grab my arm. "Baby, listen to me—" I swatted his hand away roughly. "Just give it to me straight. What's your real excuse?" I stared right into his eyes, demanding the truth. "What exactly are you hiding from me, Ryder?" Ryder clicked his tongue softly, rubbing the back of his neck in slight frustration. "I'm sorry. I just hadn't found the right time to tell you." His voice shifted, becoming incredibly soft, laced with pure persuasion. "I
HENRY'S POVFuck. My head felt like it was going to split open.I threw my gym bag roughly onto the locker room bench. My back muscles screamed in protest after hours of grueling physical conditioning. But the physical pain was nothing compared to my father's lecturing on the phone this morning. Th
MARY'S POVI stood frozen on the cold concrete steps, my lips still throbbing and my breathing erratic. While Henry had trampled all over my pride until I felt like cheap goods, the arrogant man in front of me had done the exact opposite.His large hands brushed the dust off my coat, draping it back
RYDER'S POVI struck the puck with brutal force, sending it flying straight into the net. The roar of the crowd echoed through the stands, but my attention wasn't there. For the third time in the last ten minutes, my eyes darted toward the VIP section.Empty.The girl still hadn't returned.I knew
MARY'S POVMy body temperature spiked as Ryder climbed the bleacher stairs and towered over me. He leaned down, resting his muscular arms on the back of my seat, caging me entirely beneath his imposing frame."Are you sure about that 'no kissing' rule?" he whispered.My breath hitched as his large,







