All Chapters of The Stand-in wife : Married to my Hockey Ex: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Night had fallen over the Volkov mansion, and the sound of running water filled the quiet bedroom. Alina sat on the edge of the bed, pretending to scroll through her phone, though her mind was far from still. Every second that ticked by only reminded her that she had five days—five miserable days—to come up with ten thousand dollars. The loan sharks had been patient enough, but she knew what came next if she failed.Her eyes darted to the dresser, where Zayne’s wallet sat carelessly beside his wristwatch. The sight of it made her pulse quicken. If only she could find a way to get to the Volkovs’ money, or better yet, their accounts. She could pay the debt and vanish before anyone realized what she’d done.Just then, Zayne stepped out of the bathroom, a white towel slung around his neck, droplets of water glistening across his bare chest. His voice was calm, unsuspecting.“I was thinking,” he began, rubbing the towel through his hair, “about visiting Kyle tomorrow. He’s been through a

Kyllian was still shaking hands with Alina’s father when he suddenly noticed her standing by the window. Her gaze was fixed entirely on him—curious, unflinching. For a moment, he couldn’t place why his chest tightened. But then their eyes met, and his heart nearly stopped.The air seemed to drain out of the room.She looked exactly like the woman he had left at home that morning—the same face, the same eyes—but there was something… off. Her makeup was heavier, her posture sharper, almost predatory. But the resemblance was undeniable.He blinked hard, thinking maybe he was imagining things. “I—” he stammered, his voice catching as his gaze remained locked on her. “What… what are you doing here?”Her father frowned, confused. “I’m sorry?”Kyllian’s throat worked as he looked between them. “You,” he said again, pointing at Alina. “I left you at my house this morning before coming here.”Alina blinked, startled. “I’m sorry, what?”Her father’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Wait—have you two me

Kyllian drove home like a man possessed. His mind was spinning, heart pounding hard in his chest as his tires screeched into the driveway. He barely remembered cutting the engine before he was out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him and rushing up the steps.He didn’t even bother to take off his jacket when he unlocked the door and stormed into the house. “Hello Miss?” he called out, his voice echoing through the hallway.There was no reply at first. He hurried toward the guest room and pushed the door open—only to freeze mid-step.Avelina was there. Wrapped in nothing but a white towel, her damp hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders, glistening drops of water trailing down her collarbone.Kyllian’s eyes widened, and he spun around so fast that he almost tripped over his own feet. “I—I’m sorry!” he stammered, facing the wall, his ears burning red. “I didn’t know you were—uh—just out of the shower.”A soft, amused voice came from behind him. “It’s fine,” she said, h

Avelina ended the call slowly, her hands still trembling slightly as she lowered the phone. She looked up at Kyllian, who was watching her between bites of his food, curiosity written all over his face.“So,” he asked carefully, setting his fork down, “what now? Are you still going to follow me to Zayne’s this evening for dinner while you wait in the car, or… are you meeting your mother first? Because there’s not much time. The dinner is almost starting, which means you have to choose between the two.”Avelina paused, thinking carefully. Her mind raced, weighing both options. Meeting her mother now might answer some of the questions she’d been carrying for days. But going to Zayne’s house meant confronting another part of her past that she wasn’t ready for yet.Finally, she looked up at Kyllian and nodded. “Yeah… I’ll meet my mom first,” she said firmly. “You should go. Try to get whatever information you can about… me. Anything that might help.”Kyllian blinked, a small smile tugging

Kyllian parked his car in the driveway, the low hum of the engine fading as he opened the door. The evening air was cool, carrying the faint scent of flowers from the garden surrounding Zayne’s house. A small gathering had already started in the yard—a few close family members, soft laughter, and the occasional clink of cutlery from the dining table on the patio. It was meant to be just a casual dinner, intimate enough for conversation, but formal enough to mark the long-awaited reunion.He stepped out of the car, adjusting his jacket, and looked around. The soft golden light spilling from the house windows reflected off the polished marble tiles, casting warm shadows over the guests. Waiters moved quietly, carrying trays of drinks and appetizers, while children played near the fountain, their giggles carrying through the night air.Zayne spotted him first, striding across the lawn with that familiar confident gait. “Kyllian!” he called, his voice full of genuine warmth, eyes lighting