Lahat ng Kabanata ng Where the ice melts : Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 8

Ivy PovIt was 5:30 p.m.Thirty minutes gone… and he still wasn’t here. Nor had he replied to my text.I tapped my foot against the floor, glaring at the empty chair across from mine like it hadpersonally offended me. “Really, Hale?” I muttered under my breath. “Not only am I stuckbabysitting you, but apparently you think ignoring me is a good idea?”I checked my phone again. Nothing. No “sorry, running late,” no “don’t bother me, nerd,”nothing. Just the cruel, cold silence of the unread.I leaned back in my chair, sighing, trying to calm my blood pressure before I completely lost it.Thirty minutes late wasn’t that bad… right? Except this was Ronan Hale we were talkingabout… the golden boy, the arrogant goat. If anyone could make being ignored feel like apersonal attack… it was him.I grabbed my notebook, flipping through the first page of my carefully prepared study plan.For Linear and quadratic equations … all ready. Just needed him to show up.Another sigh. “He better have a

IVY POVI don’t know what’s scarier… waking up to your phone ringing nonstop at 2 a.m., or the fact thatmy body already knew who it was before I even checked the screen.Aghhh.My thoughts went wild as the phone buzzed again. And again. Five missed calls.I groaned, burying my face in the pillow. I tried to ignore it, really did. But the ringing wouldn’tstop, and my chest tightened with dread.I reached for my phone and squinted at the screen.Ronan Hale.Of course.I answered before it could ring again. “He…” My voice came out sleepy and rough.“Tutor girl,” he cut in. “Get ready. I’ll be at your place in twenty minutes.”I blinked, my brain struggling to catch up. I checked the time.2:00 a.m.“It’s… two a.m.,” I said, still half-asleep.“Yeah. I know that,” he replied, completely unbothered. “Get ready.”“Can’t we do this…”“You already know my rules,” he snapped, cutting me off again. “I’m already pissed you missedmy calls six times. Don’t make me wait.”The line went dead.I s

IVY POVThe hiccups wouldn’t stop as I followed him upstairs, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Every step made me feel like the world was watching me fail.We entered a huge lounge that took my breath away. Dark hardwood floors gleamed under soft, golden lighting. Plush sofas and armchairs were scattered around, some with velvet throws. A massive fireplace dominated one wall, flames dancing behind glass. Floor-to-ceiling windows showed the city lights outside, and I could see that the room was decorated with expensive art, crystal chandeliers, and a bar in the corner stocked with everything I couldn’t even name. It was… overwhelming.And of course, my hiccups wouldn’t stop.Ronan turned to Walter, his face unreadable, lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, he spoke.“Walter, get her a glass of water… or a jug. I don’t think a glass can stop this,” he said, mockingly calm.I glared at him, my cheeks burning hotter.Walter moved quietly to the fridge and handed me a bottle of wate

IVY POVFor the past two weeks, Hale had been on his best behavior.And that alone was terrifying.He was… nice. Shockingly nice. Polite. No snapping. No attitude. No bossy commands.Just calm answers and actual effort during our tutoring sessions. All of it started after I helped him bake that strawberry pie for the NHL scout… which was still one of the weirdest things I did ever thought I would do in my life… baking for Hale.Nice Ronan Hale didn’t sit right with me.Classes that day were the usual kind of chaos. Professors rushing through lectures, deadlines piling up, my brain juggling too many things at once. I barely made it to my last class on time and had to sprint across campus just to submit an assignment before the deadline.By the time I was done, my legs ached and my head throbbed.I checked the time and groaned. I was late.Stuffing my notebook into my bag, I hurried toward the cafeteria to meet Zoe and Max, hoping food and familiar faces would calm the restless feeling