Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Hope’s POV

“So, Levi is going to pick you up?”

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I looked at the phone and read the new text message. “Yeah, according to Zayla, he’ll come pick me up. I sent her the pin for the convenience store nearby, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure, sure,” she said. “The more important thing is-he’ll be the first one to see you in this dress aside from the two of us What a privilege.”

I hit her shoulder and shook my head, grabbing my purse before heading to the door.

“Thanks for your help, Frey. What would I do without you?” I said, turning appreciatively toward her before I opened the door.

“I know, right?” she said in a proud tone, making me smile.

“Text me when you get home,” she said. “And text me, too, if you manage to suck Levi’s—”.

“I’m leaving,” I said before she could even finish her sentence-which I knew was going to be vulgar.

The small smirk on her lips told me I was right.

With that, I waved my hand goodbye and went down her complex.

Good thing her elevator worked. Her place wasn’t the best, but it was far better than mine. Safer, too. It was a neighborhood with an aging population, where the streets were quiet and the residents actually knew one another.

I walked with ease toward the convenience store, the evening breeze brushing against my skin. Every now and then, I caught my reflection in dark windows and glass storefronts.

The dress still felt unreal. I wasn’t used to wearing something this beautiful. I kept tugging at the fabric, smoothing out the wrinkles, and wondering if I looked ridiculous.

I reached the convenience store and immediately noticed an unfamiliar yet fancy car parked in front of it.

My steps slowed.

Was this Levi?

I’d never seen this car before, but with the brand and model, I could easily imagine it belonging to someone from his world.

I looked at it suspiciously when suddenly, the tinted window rolled down.

I stepped back slightly before leaning forward to look at the driver.

The moment I saw an unfamiliar older man behind the wheel, I quickly bowed my head.

“I’m sorry,” I said immediately. “I mistook your car for another.”;

“Are you Miss Hope Henderson?” he suddenly asked.

My brows furrowed. How did he know my name?

“Umm…”

10:44 Thu, Jul 16 d ) 3) •

Chapter 61

“You don’t have to feel suspicious,” he prefaced, making me more suspicious.

His expression shifted into panic.

“Miss Zayla Moretti sent me,” he explained quickly. “We’re heading to their estate.”

I frowned even deeper.

“I thought Levi was going to pick me up?”

The man cleared his throat and straightened.

“Something came up. He’ll meet with you there. If you feel unsafe, you are free to call Miss Zayla.”

I didn’t hesitate. My thumb immediately pressed Zayla’s contact. The phone rang twice before she answered.

“Hope!” she greeted enthusiastically. “Are you on your way here?”

“Umm, hi Zayla. Is Levi coming to pick me up?” I asked right away.

There was a brief silence before a soft giggle escaped her lips.

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“Levi has to run some errands before he goes here. You can go with Karl. He’s my personal driver, and I sent him there just for you.”

She paused. “He looks like the KFC guy!”

I looked back at the man. My eyes traveled from his white hair to his glasses. He definitely looked like the KFC guy.

As though hearing us, Karl smiled warmly and unlocked the passenger door.

I bit my lip.

Well, I guess I was coming with the KFC guy instead of Levi.

Levi’s POV

I was parked in the house’s garden parking lot, and it was already filled with the luxury cars of my relatives. I sighed and massaged the bridge of my nose, unbuttoning one button from my white polo because it felt suffocating.

It had been nearly two years since I last went home, and there were good reasons for that.

If it weren’t for Zayla, I wouldn’t be coming back here at all.

I got out of the car and began making my way toward the grand hall where most of the Moretti gathering took place.

I came alone despite Zayla’s insistence that I bring Hope.

While it was true that my grandmother would most likely parade random women in front of me the moment she learned I was attending, and having Hope beside me would prevent that from happening, I didn’t want Hope meeting this family.

This family was messed up.

She didn’t deserve to be dragged into it.

She was too innocent for that.

10:44 Thu, Jul 16 d ) 3) •

Chapter 61

The moment I entered the venue, I already felt dozens of eyes focus on me.

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The Moretti clan had always been one of the biggest families in New York, owning luxury brands that stretched across the globe.

My great-grandfather built the empire from nothing.

His children expanded it. His grandchildren fought over it. And now the great-grandchildren inherited the consequences.

From the outside, we looked perfect. However, anything that was hailed as perfect was only a disaster in hiding.

I tried tuning everyone out while searching for Zayla, but snippets of conversation still reached my ears.

“He really came back?”

“I heard he’s doing good at hockey, but how long will that last?”

“Why would he even show his face here after rebelling in front of Grandpa?”

“I heard he’s still refusing the company.”

“What a waste.”

I clenched my jaw. Not even five minutes had passed, and I already regretted coming.

I exhaled slowly and scanned the crowd again. Finally, I spotted Zayla, making me sigh in relief. She stood near the center of the hall in a bright green dress that was impossible to miss among the darker colors.

However, the relief only lasted a second. My eyes quickly unfocused from Zayla and shifted to the woman standing beside

her.

Everything around me seemed to fade.

My gaze locked onto Hope.

She wore a dark green dress that hugged her figure in ways she usually tried to hide beneath oversized clothes and casual outfits. The soft fabric traced every curve. Her hair framed her face perfectly. Her lips moved as she laughed at something Zayla said.

And for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Fuck, she was really beautiful.

However, I had to shove that thought in the back of my mind again and ask an even more important question-what the fuck was Hope doing here?