All Chapters of Ex-Hockey Star Regret: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Brad’s POVThe morning felt thin, like the sky had been stretched too tight. I drove Nicole to campus because she’d insisted on going in — “I can’t hide forever,” she’d said — and because I needed the sight of her to hold me steady.We parked and got out. Students walked past us and immediately, I could pick the couples of backpacks and voices. At first it was the usual murmurs; then some set of girls walking two steps ahead slowed and one said loud enough for us to hear, “Isn’t that Brad Jasper? Heard he got a baby now from one of his ‘baby mamas.’ And yet all he still knows is to parade the whole school with Nicole.” The other one laughed, small and cruel.They weren’t the only ones. Whispers snagged at us like loose thread all over.“Three years old? Can you imagine? She should leave him, really.”“Think how much publicity that will be. Poor Nicole! But then, I think it's best for him to end the relationship with Nicole and go back to his baby mama who must be his ex, for his own go

Brad’s POVCalling Bianca wasn’t the hard part but pressing the call button was.My thumb hovered for a second longer than it should’ve, but I finally tapped it. And then, the phone barely rang twice before she answered.“Hello?” Her voice was careful… too careful.I cleared my throat. “Where are you? You and the boy.”There was a pause, like she was trying to read something from my tone. “We’re at my apartment. If you want to see him… I can text you the address.”“Send it, please.” I said quietly and then ended the call.In no time, she did as I got a message notification with an address from Bianca.And just like that, everything in my chest tightened.I got into my car and started driving. I wasn’t thinking about much or maybe I was thinking about everything at once. Nicole’s voice from the canteen kept replaying in my head which included her tired tone, the way she stepped back when I tried to hold her and the fear that slipped through her words.I gripped the steering wheel harde

Brad’s POVBianca didn’t take long before coming inside. She slipped in quietly, like she didn’t want to disturb anything, but Leo was still at alert and playing with the collar of my shirt.I stood up with him still in my arms. “Hey, you’re back,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “Leo wants a toy. Actually, he has already picked out the color in his head, and I told him we’d go get it.”She blinked at me slowly, like she was trying to catch up. “A toy?”“Yeah.” I shifted Leo a bit. “Blue…Very specifically blue. Apparently, I think it’s the only way today will end peacefully for him.”Leo lifted his head and nodded like a tiny judge confirming the verdict.Bianca smiled, soft and tired. “Alright then. Blue it is.”We stepped out together. She held Leo’s little hand as we walked to the car, and even though things between us were… weird, I couldn’t ignore how natural they looked beside each other. Like something that didn’t even try hard to make sense but somehow still did.The toy

Nicole’s POVLife without Brad hasn't been helping of any kind, knowing that he is now living with the woman who has a baby for him, there was no way things between us would be the same. I was honestly struggling so hard to be sane because it has never been easy for me, one bit.It's no kid stuff how quiet my apartment has always been as I stay alone. Just in a way that reminded me of something missing. Maybe someone who is missing in my life, which is Brad.But I’d been forcing myself to adjust, even though some days it felt like my chest was carrying a weight I didn’t sign up for. But life happens and I fully understand that.So when I heard a knock, I paused.I was in the restroom, and at first I thought maybe it was someone knocking from the neighbor’s door, but the sound came again and I could tell that it was right on my door.I sighed, finished up quickly, washed my hands, and tucked away the small towel I used to dry them. Then I rushed toward the living room, already knowing

Brad’s POVThe whole thing felt unreal the morning I finally agreed. It was one day to go for the one stupid and “almost impossible” decision I had to make. I sat on the edge of my bed for an hour, phone cold in my hand, looking at the message threads like they were evidence of everything falling apart — the unread ones I’d sent to Nicole, Coach Austin reminding me of the deadline, and Bianca’s last reply: I’ll be ready whenever you are.I didn’t even trust myself to think too long about Nicole. Every second I looked at her name, something in my chest twisted in a way that made breathing feel like work.So I called a lawyer and then told him everything bluntly. He didn’t even sound surprised. Maybe people did similar things every day in his office.“We can draft a marriage contract with specific clauses just the way you want it,” he said, already sounding like someone building the skeleton of my life on a computer screen. “Cohabitation terms, financial responsibilities, duration claus