All Chapters of Game of Hearts : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The heavy front door of the luxury athlete housing unit clicked shut behind Zara like the final nail in a coffin. The sound echoed through the sleek, modern space that smelled of expensive cologne and barely contained rage.She stood frozen in the entryway, suitcase handle tight in her grip, eyes locked on the man who had just become her worst nightmare.Kai Reynolds leaned against the kitchen island, arms crossed over his bare, sculpted chest. Gray sweatpants hung dangerously low on his hips, revealing the sharp V-line of his abs. His dark hair was still damp from a shower, and those intense, stormy eyes burned into her with pure, unfiltered hatred.Neither of them spoke for a long, suffocating moment.Finally, Kai’s deep voice cut through the silence like a blade. “You’ve got some fucking nerve showing up here.”Zara’s heart hammered against her ribs, but she refused to let him see her fear. She lifted her chin, gripping her suitcase harder. “Trust me, this is the last place I want

The kiss still burned on Zara’s lips as the SUV carried them back to the athlete house in heavy silence. Neither of them had spoken since they left the balcony. The air between them was thick, electric, and dangerous.Kai stared out the window, jaw locked so tight a muscle ticked in his cheek. His hand flexed on his thigh like he was still fighting the urge to touch her again. Zara sat as far away from him as possible, arms wrapped around herself, trying to steady her breathing.She could still taste him. Feel the possessive grip of his hand in her hair. Hate and desire twisted so tightly inside her chest she wanted to scream.When they finally stepped inside the house, Kai closed the door behind them with deliberate slowness. The soft click sounded louder than it should have.Zara didn’t even make it two steps before he spoke.“We need to talk.”She spun around. “There’s nothing to talk about. That kiss was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”Kai stalked toward her, eyes dark and inte

The next morning felt heavier than the night before.Zara stayed in her room until almost noon, staring at the ceiling, replaying every word and the sharp sound of her hand hitting Kai’s face. Her palm still tingled. Guilt sat in her chest like a stone, but the anger refused to leave completely.When she finally opened her door, the house was quiet. Too quiet.Kai was in the kitchen, fully dressed this time in a black hoodie and joggers. A faint red mark still showed on his left cheek. He didn’t look at her when she walked in.“There’s food,” he said flatly, nodding toward a takeout bag on the counter. “Eat.”Zara didn’t move. “I’m fine.”“I didn’t ask if you were fine.” His voice was low. “Eat.”Before she could answer, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and cursed under his breath.“PR team is coming in twenty minutes,” he said. “They want a joint interview for the university site. Something about ‘how love can heal a scandal.’” His mouth twisted on the last words. “We don’t

“Mom!” Zara’s voice cracked, her throat tight as she gripped the phone. “Mom, please, just listen to me.”Zara’s voice shook so violently her jaw ached, her knuckles white around her phone. Beside her in the driver’s seat of the SUV, Kai sat completely motionless, his dark eyes locked onto her face, the engine humming beneath them like a caged beast.“Listen to what, Zara?” Her mother’s sobs were raw, echoing clearly through the receiver. “I opened my tablet this morning and saw my daughter’s face everywhere, wrapped up in the arms of the boy whose teammates cheered while your brother lay screaming on that field! How could you do this to Marcus? How could you do this to us?”Guilt, thick and suffocating, crushed Zara’s lungs. She squeezed her eyes shut, a single tear escaping down her cheek. She couldn't tell her the truth. She couldn't tell her that Coach Harlan had threatened to destroy her academic future and expel her if she didn't play along.“It’s… it’s complicated, Mom,” Zara c

The silence in the dimly lit living room turned lethal.Zara scrambled out of Kai’s lap as if his touch burned her, her back hitting the far arm of the couch. Her mind reeled, piecing together the horrifying text on the screen.“What security logs, Kai?” she demanded, her voice cracking as a fresh wave of panic hit her chest. “My article... the university board's investigation... you blocked it?”Kai stood up slowly, his broad shoulders blocking out the ambient light. His expression had shuttered back into a wall of cold, unreadable stone, but the tension in his rigid posture betrayed him.“Don't listen to a blackmailer, Kane,” he growled softly, refusing to look her directly in the eye.“Did you go to Coach Harlan before my story was published? Answer me!” Zara shouted, standing up to face him, her chest heaving. “Did you trade my career to keep your name off that police report?!”“I did what I had to do to keep the athletic department from shutting down the whole program!” Kai snapp