Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158

Chapter 158

Levi’s POV

“Thank you so much for bringing us here, son.”

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I stopped wheeling Jerry into the hotel that I had booked for them so they could watch the finals.

Son…

When was the last time I had heard that word?

I cleared my throat.

“It’s nothing. I just really want you to watch my games.”

He looked around the elegant interior of the hotel as soon as I wheeled him inside.

“This is my first time in a place like this, you know. I never thought I would ever be here.”

I shook my head.

“This wouldn’t be the last time.”

I wheeled him toward the lobby couch, where Hope and her mom were already waiting.

After we talked yesterday about my mom’s ultimatum, Hope said we should try to relax first and discuss everything today. However, we had to meet with her parents this morning, so we hadn’t been able to talk yet.

Despite the warmth I felt from bringing them here, I couldn’t help but be consumed by guilt.

If it weren’t for me, Harley would never have been put in this position.

“There you guys are!”

I turned around, and the guilt inside my chest only grew heavier.

“What are you doing here?” Hope asked, probably feeling the same thing I was.

“Mom texted me,” Harley said with a wide grin. “I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to sleep in a five-star hotel for two weeks.”

“Besides,” he continued, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, “I have games too! I’ll take you there with me. You’re not the only one heading to the finals, Levi. My team is on the right track too.”

I bit my lip and closed my eyes for a brief moment.

“Yeah, send us your schedule,” I muttered softly. “We’ll go watch if I’m free.”

“You should be free,” Harley replied. “Our final game is the day after yours! We just have to secure a win

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Chapter 158

tomorrow.”

His smile was so bright. So full of excitement and hope.

I pursed my lips.

Fuck.

I really needed to sort this out.

I couldn’t let his talent go to waste just because of my mother.

“I’ll lead you to your room,” I said, forcing a smile onto my face.

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After helping them settle into their room, I gave a few instructions to the hotel staff to take care of them really well. Now, Hope and I were inside my car, sitting in silence.

We still hadn’t moved from the parking lot, the atmosphere between us heavy, making every second feel longer.

I ran my fingers through my

“I’m sorry.”

hair.

In the end, those were the only words I could say.

I felt her hand slip over mine, making me turn to look at her.

There was that unwavering smile on her face, gentle and reassuring despite the uneasiness hiding beneath it.

“Don’t even start thinking that this is your fault,” she said as she reached over and pinched my nose.

“It’s because of me that this is happening, though.”

“And it’s also because of you that I’m working with the Glaciers again. Because of you, my parents are able to come here and watch Harley’s games and yours. Because of you, they get to experience something they never thought they would.”

She smiled softly.

“Did you see how happy they were a while back?”

“You’re the reason for all of that,” she continued. “But it’s not your fault that your mother is threatening us.”

I bit my lip and gently cupped her chin before pulling her closer.

I kissed her.

Her lips were like medicine, soothing wounds I didn’t even know how to heal anymore. I kissed her again and

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Chapter 158

again, savoring every second while she let out a soft giggle between kisses.

For a little while, the world outside disappeared.

It was just the two of us.

After a moment, she gently pushed me away.

The uneasiness slowly returned to her eyes, and I hated seeing it.

I wanted to erase it.

I never wanted her to carry this burden because of me.

“What are we going to do?” she asked quietly.

I pursed my lips.

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I had some influence in Oakridge too, but compared to my mom’s family, I had no idea how far that influence actually reached.

“I’ll talk to her again,” I said. “I’ll make things right.”

I leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before starting the engine.

“I’ll drop you off at the rink first.”

She shook her head.

“I’m going with you.”

I frowned, turning toward her, my foot still firmly on the brake.

“What? No-”

“This is my battle as much as it is yours, Levi.” Her voice was calm but resolute. “And I don’t want you to endure all of those hurtful words alone. Maybe… if the two of us face her together, it won’t hurt as much.”

Just looking at her…

Just hearing those words…

It was enough to throw my heart into complete chaos.

How did I get so lucky?

“Okay,” I finally caved.

My foot lifted off the brake and pressed down on the accelerator.

I drove toward our old house, my head throbbing with every meter that brought us closer to that forsaken

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Chapter 158

place. A place I had never wanted to go back to again.

But I had to go back. I had to set things straight.

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If she still had even the smallest ounce of love left for her son, she wouldn’t go through with this.

And if talking wasn’t enough, then I’d give her something else she wanted.

I wouldn’t compromise Harley.

I wouldn’t compromise Zayla.

No matter what it cost me.

When I arrived at the gate, the guards looked visibly shocked to see me, but they still let us in without question.

I parked the car and hurried around to open the door for Hope.

She looked nervous.

I could see it in the way she drew a slow breath. But even then, she still found the strength to smile at me.

How could I not love this woman when she had become the pillar keeping me from falling apart?

As we walked toward the front door, however, a familiar figure was already standing there, making both of us stop in our tracks.

“Zayla?”

She turned around.

Her eyes were swollen and red, as though she had been crying before coming here.

“What are you doing here?”

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