Semua Bab LOVING MR HOCKEY STAR: Bab 171 - Bab 180

Jaxon's POVI should have known Victoria wouldn't just leave quietly. After her breakdown on stage, security had escorted her to the lobby while Dean Matthews called her parents. I'd stayed close to Maya, watching her laugh and dance with Quinn like the weight of the world had finally lifted from her shoulders.She looked so happy. So free. I should have been watching Victoria instead."I need some air," Maya said after about an hour of dancing. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was smiling, actually smiling. "It's so hot in here.""I'll come with you," I offered immediately."Jaxon, I'm fine," she laughed. "Victoria's gone. The drama's over. I can walk to the balcony by myself.""Humor me," I said, not wanting to alarm her but unable to shake the uneasy feeling in my gut. Maya rolled her eyes but didn't argue. We made our way through the crowd toward the French doors that led to the outdoor terrace. The cool night air was a relief after the stuffy ballroom."This is nice," Maya said, l

Jaxon's POV "Professor Thorne," William Sterling said icily. "I'd be careful about involving yourself in this situation. Given your own history of inappropriate conduct with Ms. Cross, your defense of her looks rather suspicious."Ronan's jaw clenched, but he didn't back down. "I'm defending the truth. Something your family seems allergic to.""How dare you.." Catherine started."Everyone stop," Dean Matthews said, holding up his hands. "This situation needs to be handled properly. Victoria, go to the hospital and get treated. Maya, Jaxon, you're not banned from campus, but I strongly suggest you both retain legal counsel. This incident will be investigated thoroughly.""With Sterling family lawyers already spinning the narrative?" Isabella asked. "How fair do you think that investigation will be?""The university will conduct an impartial investigation," Matthews said, but his tone suggested even he didn't believe it.As the paramedics loaded Victoria onto a stretcher, she looked at

Ashen's POV "That's a conspiracy to commit harassment," Isabella said. "Possibly conspiracy to commit fraud, depending on how their lawyers try to spin the assault charge against Jaxon.""There's one more thing," I said, pulling up a video file. "Security footage from the student center that Victoria's private investigator obtained illegally. It shows her staging situations to make Maya look bad, then editing the footage to remove context before sharing it.""How did you get this?" Miguel asked."Victoria showed it to me, bragging about how clever she was." I looked down at my hands. "I pretended to be impressed and asked for a copy, saying I wanted to learn from her tactics. She was so arrogant she just gave it to me."Lyra shook her head in disbelief. "She really thought she was invincible.""She was," I said. "Until Maya refused to break."Isabella was downloading everything to her secure server, making multiple backups. "Ashen, once we publish this, your life is going to get very

Ronan's POVThe email from Chancellor Morrison arrived at 7:03 AM on Monday morning.Professor Thorne,In light of recent revelations regarding the systematic harassment campaign against student Maya Cross, the university administration has completed its review of your conduct. We have determined that the accusations of favoritism and inappropriate conduct were based on falsified evidence and malicious intent.Your suspension has been lifted, effective immediately. Your position as Dean of Healing and Herbalife is hereby restored, along with full back pay and benefits. Furthermore, the university would like to issue a public apology for the damage to your reputation.Please schedule a meeting with my office at your earliest convenience to discuss your return.Sincerely, Chancellor Patricia MorrisonI should have felt relieved. Vindicated. Triumphant, even.Instead, I felt hollow.I'd gotten my career back, my reputation cleared, my position restored. Everything I'd worked years to bui

Ronan's POV "Today," I said. "This afternoon. I'm meeting with Chancellor Morrison at two. I'm going to thank her for restoring my reputation, then tell her I'm stepping down.""And then what?" Maya asked."Then I figure out what comes next," I said. "Maybe I will write the book I've been planning for years. Maybe I will start a private practice. Maybe I will teach online courses. I don't know yet. But I know I won't regret choosing to be honest about how I feel."Maya stood up, and for a moment I thought she was going to leave without another word.Instead, she walked around the table and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around her, breathing in the scent of her shampoo, feeling her heart beating against my chest."You're either the bravest person I know or the most foolish," she whispered."Can't I be both?" I asked.She laughed, pulling back to look at me. "I need to figure out what I want. Not what everyone else wants for me, not what's easiest or safest, but what I actually want. I'