Alle Kapitel von I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON: Kapitel 121 – Kapitel 130

THALIAThe moment Adrian's SUV disappeared through the camp gates, I let out a slow breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.He always had a way of making me feel like everything would be okay, even when he wasn't around.I straightened the clipboard in my hands and turned back toward the training rink.The players were already halfway through the final practice session of the morning.Coach George's whistle echoed across the arena every few seconds as he barked instructions, his voice carrying effortlessly over the sound of skates cutting across the ice. The pace was relentless, yet none of the players complained. They moved with impressive discipline, pushing themselves through one drill after another until sweat soaked through their training shirts.A few feet away, Olivia stood beside me, jotting down the last of our notes."I still can't believe this is work," she murmured.I smiled without taking my eyes off the rink."You've been saying that since we got here.""Because look

BRANDONThe automatic doors slid shut behind me with a soft hiss, muffling the laughter drifting from inside the recovery station.I kept walking.The afternoon breeze brushed against my face, but it did nothing to cool the heaviness pressing against my chest. By the time I reached the quiet path leading toward the guest lodges, Thalia’s words were still echoing in my head.Who I give my number to is none of your business, Brandon.She was right.As much as it hurt to admit it, she was absolutely right.I let out a slow breath and rubbed the back of my neck.What the hell had I been thinking?I’d promised myself I wouldn’t keep making the same mistake. Every time I tried to protect her, it came across as control. Maybe this was exactly what I deserved.I stopped walking and looked back toward the recovery station.From where I stood, I couldn’t see inside, but I knew she was there. I could almost picture Caleb standing beside her bed, making her laugh the way he seemed to make everyo

THALIA By the following morning, the cough had settled into little more than an occasional irritation at the back of my throat, surfacing only when I laughed or spoke for too long, but that hadn’t stopped Olivia from eyeing me as though I might collapse at any moment.“I’m telling you now,” she said the instant I walked into the recovery station, “if you so much as sneeze, I’m sending you straight back to the lodge.”I set my bag on the table and laughed, earning myself another small cough.“There. You see?” She pointed at me triumphantly. “That doesn’t sound like someone who’s completely recovered.”“It sounds like someone who laughed at you.”“It sounds like someone who should be in bed.”“I was in bed. All night.”Olivia narrowed her eyes, clearly debating whether she believed me, before finally letting out an exaggerated sigh.“I suppose I’ll allow you to work.”“How generous of you.”“I know.”The morning quickly settled into its usual rhythm. Players wandered in after practice

THALIA The voices around me faded into nothing.I was still holding my clipboard, but my fingers had tightened around it so much that the edges dug into my palm without me noticing. He’d jumped into the pool.For reasons I couldn’t quite explain, that simple truth settled somewhere deep inside me.I handed the clipboard to Olivia without taking my eyes off him.“Can you hold this for me?”She searched my face for a moment before glancing toward Brandon. Understanding flickered in her expression almost immediately.“Of course.”Taking a steadying breath, I crossed the tiled floor, weaving between players who were still laughing about the morning’s demonstration. By the time I stopped beside the small group of executives, Brandon looked up.Surprise flashed briefly across his face.“Thalia?”The conversation around him came to an immediate halt.I offered the others an apologetic smile before looking back at Brandon.“Can we talk for a sec?”Coach George glanced between us before giv

THALIA By the time I found my way back to Olivia, the afternoon sun had begun its slow descent, pouring through the tall windows in warm ribbons of gold that stretched across the polished floor. The place was quieter than it had been earlier, though not by much. I slipped behind my desk, setting the folder Coach George had asked me to return beside the stack of recovery charts waiting to be updated. Before I could reach for the first clipboard, Olivia looked up from the treatment table where she was sorting fresh supplies, and the smile that slowly spread across her face told me she had been waiting for my return. “There you are,” she said, watching me far too closely to make me comfortable. “I was beginning to think you’d accepted a new job.” I laughed as I pulled my chair out. “I don’t think Coach George would appreciate me resigning halfway through camp.” “He’d survive.” She closed the lid of the medical kit before wandering over, folding her arms against her chest with e