All Chapters of Claimed By The Hockey Captain: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

LoriNew week, new energy. That was the exact mantra I repeated over and over in my head like a lifeline as I stepped out into the crisp morning air. I had to force myself to believe it, even though my prospective career in fashion was barely hanging on by a fragile thread. To say nothing of my personal life; I was practically friendless at this point, isolated in a ghost town of my own making. But the worst part wasn't even the silent treatments from my roommates. It was the stares I kept receiving from acquaintances and classmates whenever I walked down the campus hallways.My best guess was that either Jessica or Ann had spent the entire weekend bad mouthing my character to every single person who cared enough to listen to their bitter narrative. To them, I was the deceitful snake who had stolen her best friend's guy.Regardless of the disaster unfolding across my personal relationships, I gritted my teeth and kept moving forward

LoriI ended up curling into a ball on the edge of the bed and crying myself to sleep. Waking up the early hours of the next morning. My entire body felt heavy and battered, completely drained from pulling an all nighter the previous evening. And of course the chaotic confrontation with Jessica.Feeling slightly refreshed after hours of continuous unconsciousness, I stretched my stiff limbs and forced myself off the mattress. I shuffled straight into the bathroom, turning on the light to freshen up. I even found myself softly humming a random melody under my breath while brushing my teeth. My mood was feeling alive as I caught sight of the golden morning rays painting warm patterns across the bathroom tiles.However, the second my brain reconnected with reality and reminded me that my entire competition submission was still missing, every single ounce of joy drained from my chest.I fell silent, finishing the rest of my

LoriWhere on earth do I even start from this time? I wondered helplessly. Hot prickle of tears burnt behind my eyelids as the haunting image of the burnt ashes at my doorstep remained at the forefront of my memory.I picked up my fine liner pen with trembling fingers, attempting to round up yet another rush job sketch. I had been working non stop at my desk ever since I walked through the door after my afternoon lectures ended. My desperate plan was to pull another all nighter to somehow resurrect my lost portfolio. But deep down, a dark voice kept whispering to me, asking how it was even humanly possible to design, cut, assemble, and sew a showcase ready garment before the deadline expired.Sighing bitterly, I leaned back against the chair and stretched my sore back. I wasn't even surprised when I heard the faint crack of my exhausted spine reacting to the strain.If only some spiteful soul hadn’t broken into my room, stolen my materials, and reduced hours of my life to black dust.

LoriI was far too stunned to offer a response to Ann’s twisted dare. In fact, even if I had desperately wanted to scream back at her, my vocal cords felt tight. She stood there, towering over me and utterly remorseless for a person who had just set fire to my future fashion career.I stared blankly into her cold eyes, and within seconds, hot tears prickled at the corners of my eyelids, blurring my vision.“Trying to play the victim and crying your eyes out won’t do you a single bit of good, Lori,” Ann sneered, resting her hands on her hips. “What’s done is done. And let’s not forget that you were the backstabbing snake who started this whole war first.”I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, refusing to give her the satisfaction of watching me wipe the tears off my flushed cheeks. “You’re right,” I choked out, forcing my trembling voice to sound surprisingly steady. “What’s done is done. So maybe we all just need to forgive each o

LoriThe strong pain reliever the nurse had injected into my IV line earlier was slowly beginning to wear off, and the throbbing ache radiating across the base of my skull and down into my neck muscles returned with full force. Every small movement felt like a heavy weight pulling against my tender skin.However, having Lucas sitting right beside my hospital bed, watching how deeply worried and attentive he was, proved to be the comfort I needed. His warm fingers were tightly entwined with mine over the thin cotton blanket, while his other hand gently stroked my hair in slow, soothing motions.“Is it just me, or do you also suspect that Travis might have had something to do with this sudden attack?” Lucas asked out of nowhere, his deep voice cutting through the quiet room and forcing me to look him straight in the eyes.We stared at each other in silence as I seriously contemplated his question. Could Travis really be behind someone