All Chapters of Fake Dating With The Playboy hockey Captain: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Cassie's POV Alison smiled through it all, letting them speak, sometimes adding her own praise. It was always measured, never over the top. Eventually, she directed us to a quieter spot under a string of lights by the edge of the pool deck.“Breathe,” she said. “You’ve earned it.”I exhaled slowly, letting my eyes wander.Familiar laughter caught my attention.I turned without thinking, eyes drifting past the pool to the center of the lounge where Ledger stood with the guys: Freddie, Silas, Zeke, even Nolan. He was laughing at something Freddie had said, head tilted back. I noticed the little things. Like how his hair was still a little damp from earlier, and his cheeks were pink from all the attention and leftover adrenaline.He looked... happy. At ease.And I couldn’t stop watching.I did not even realize how long I’d been staring until Alison spoke again.“If I didn't know any better, I'd think you two were actually in love with each other.”I snapped my gaze towards her. She w

Cassie's POV I jolted awake with a start. I looked around groggily trying to get a grasp of my surroundings.I recognized Ledger's room.My brows drew together. ‘How did I get here?’ I asked myself, trying to remember what happened the previous night.I suddenly realized that I wasn't in pain. No pounding headache. No dizziness. Not even that awful post-party nausea that usually hit like a truck after a Monarchcrest night out.Right. I barely drank. I had tossed my margarita before I even got the chance to finish it.Onto Freddie’s face, no less.That memory rushed back, and with it, all the others. The way Ledger had shut down. The car ride. The silence. The last thing I remembered was waiting on the couch. I must have passed out.So… he must have carried me up here?The idea made my heart stutter a little. That soft, unspoken gesture. Even after how upset he had been.I looked down at the blanket I had tossed aside.He still cares. Even when he’s upset.I let out a breath. “Don't

Cassie’s POVAfter that, Ledger hurried to practice while Dorothy drove me back home.“Thanks for the ride,” I said, already opening the car door.“Wait,” Dorothy called out before I could step out completely. She pointed to the back seat. “There’s a box back there. That’s for you.”I turned and pulled it into my lap, confused. “What is this?”“Your dress. For tonight.”My brows lifted. “You guys wear actual dresses for family dinners?”Dorothy gave a light shrug. “You’ll get used to it.”Right. Of course. I was still wrapping my head around the idea of needing fancy dresses for things like dinner. I nodded back without another word and got out with the box in hand.Once I was settled inside, I spent the next few hours working on a rough article for the student press. It was a half-baked piece on team rivalries, but my brain just needed something else to focus on for a while.By late afternoon, I heard a knock at the door.I pulled it open and blinked. “Alison?”She was holding a slee

Cassie’s POV“Al, what are you doing?” Dorothy asked, eyes wide.It was the most expression I had ever seen on her face.Alison didn’t even look up. “What does it look like I’m doing? I'm coating the chicken breasts in mushroom duxelles and prosciutto…” She exhaled exasperatedly. “Do you really need me to go into the details?”Dorothy gave her a look. “Those were for the Coq au Vin.”Alison froze. “Oh.”A beat of silence passed.“It’s fine,” Lady Adelaide said. Her voice was calm, but her hands didn’t pause. “We can adjust. There’s more chicken in the freezer. I’ll have someone bring it out.”Well, that was a nice surprise. I'd expected her to be disappointed… especially after emphasizing the need for precision.She gave a nod toward one of the house staff. It was handled within seconds.After that, things began to fall into rhythm. Dorothy prepped vegetables beside her mother, slicing them with quiet precision. Alison worked next to me, still frowning at her chicken mistake but deter

Cassie's POV I had not realized just how much food we had cooked until I saw it all laid out. The table looked like something out of a lifestyle magazine. Elegant. Endless. A whole spread of delicately arranged dishes with steam still rising.“Wow.” I whispered.The whole spread was mouth watering and distracting that I didn't pay attention to the sound of heels against the marble floor until my name was called.“Cassandra?”Only one person on this entire planet called me that like it was a royal title.“Yes, ma’am?”I turned and… oh. Standing there was Lady Adelaide. But she looked… different. Stunning. Like, movie-premiere, ballroom-tier regal. I blinked, once, twice, trying to process it.“Wow, ma'am… Chairman Rivers might just have a cardiac arrest when he sees you.” I blurted out, yet couldn't stop. “You look breathtaking.”Silence.Not awkward, just… surprised.When I looked up again, her expression startled me.She looked stunned.And I was amazed by how amazed she was.An a