Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Ex's Brother Is the Hockey Alpha : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Catherine's POV Clinton suddenly pulls away from the hug. He wipes his face with his hands, sniffing hard. “I’m sorry.”Sorry for crying.My heart aches.I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. “There’s no need to be sorry." My fingers press lightly, but my heart aches seeing him like this, wet and vulnerable, so unlike the confident boy he usually pretends to be.He nods once, then turns as if he’s about to leave. I step in front of him, blocking his way. “Where are you going?”The rain is still pouring outside, drenching everything.Typical Clinton. Always hiding his pain. Always pretending he’s fine when he’s not. I roll my eyes. My gaze catches the uniform and towel lying on the ground. I walk over, pick them up, return to him, and hold them out. “Here. You need to change into this.”His expression shifts, like I just told him to die. He lifts the uniform between two fingers, looking at it like it’s a foreign object. “This? You want me to wear this?”“Yes,” I say firmly. “

Catherine's POV I almost smash my face into the wall because I am rushing too fast.My hand slams against the wall to steady myself. My heart is beating like I just ran a marathon. I grab the door handle, yank it open, and storm out of the house like I am escaping prison.The morning air hits my face.Fresh.Cool.Free.I inhale deeply.And then I see her.Amy.Standing outside like she never left.I let out the biggest breath of relief in the world and run straight into her arms.She laughs as I crash into her, wrapping her arms around me tightly. I squeeze her like she might disappear again if I don’t hold her hard enough.God, I have not been this happy in a while.Amy is back.What more could I possibly ask for?I pull back and grab her arm, locking mine with hers."God, I miss this so much."She grins at me, her eyes shining."Well, I miss you too. And I miss going to school together."We start walking down the street like old times. The sun is bright but not too harsh. Birds ar

Clinton's POV My veins are still burning when Catherine grabs my hand.Her fingers are warm. They tremble a little.Her eyes search my face like she is trying to calm a storm."Why are you attacking my friend?" Her voice is gentle.I slowly pull my hand from hers. Not rough. Not gentle either. Just enough to create distance."Open your eyes."I point at Amy, but my eyes never leave Catherine’s face."She is not who she says she is. They planted her beside…""Clinton."The voice cuts through the air like a blade.Richard.I feel him before I see him.He walks toward us. Slow. Calm. Face hard like stone. Like he already knows how this ends.My fists clench automatically. The air feels thick. Heavy with secrets.Richard stops in front of us. His expression softens into a fake, polite smile."Hello, ladies."Then his eyes shift to me."Can I speak to you for a sec?"I already know what he wants.I don’t wait for him to repeat himself. I turn on my heels and walk away."Wait up, man."His

Catherine’s POV Scarface drops me so fast my feet nearly forget how to stand.My stomach still aches from where the bastard punched me.He immediately steps back, raising both hands like he’s suddenly an innocent man.“I’m just following orders.”Clinton stays quiet.Which is strange.Why isn’t he asking questions? Like who the hell sent them?He doesn’t even look surprised.Does he know something I don’t?Scarface glances nervously at his partner, helps the other man to his feet, and the two walking refrigerators quickly disappear.Just like that.No one argues. No one challenges Clinton.Apparently, when Clinton gets angry, even gym monsters decide today is not a good day to die.Clinton takes one slow step toward me.Instinctively, I try to step back, but I stop myself and quickly straighten, pretending everything is normal.Why am I suddenly afraid of him?“Are you okay?”His eyes scan my face, my arms, my legs…like he’s checking if any body parts are missing.I nod slowly.Hones

Cody’s POVMorning light slips through the window and spreads across the room. Somewhere outside, birds chirp and a car passes slowly on the street.I stand in front of my dresser, finishing up for school. My uniform shirt is already buttoned, and my bag is resting on the bed behind me. I open the top drawer to grab my ear pods.My hand stops.A thin red ribbon lies inside the drawer.Catherine’s ribbon.For a second, I just stare at it. Then I reach in and pick it up.The soft fabric rests in my palm.Immediately, my conscience starts bothering me.I can’t believe I left her there that day.I close the drawer slowly and lean against the dresser.What if something bad had happened to her after I ran away?The thought makes my chest tighten.“Great job, Cody,” I mutter quietly.I was supposed to return the ribbon that day.I was even planning to confess my feelings to her.Instead, I ran like a coward, and the shame hits me all over again.“Why do you still have that?”The voice behind