Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Levi’s POV

Every eye snapped toward Hope.

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My mom raised a brow, crossing her arms in front of her chest. I recognized the look in her eyes right away. It was the same look she always wore whenever she had already decided she hated someone before they even had the chance to speak.

She would devour Hope if she could

However, Hope didn’t look away from her. For someone who seemed so timid at times, she was staring directly into the eye of the storm.

I decided to see how it would pan out.

I would step in the moment things got too much anyway.

“And who might you be?” my mother asked. “I’ve been meaning to ask why there’s a stranger at the family dinner.”

Her gaze traveled from Hope’s face to our joined hands.

“Are you one of Levi’s experiments?”

“No, ma’am,” Hope responded right away.

This time, it was her grip on my hand that tightened.

“I’m from Levi’s team. I’m the Glacier’s Physical Therapist.”

My mom scoffed.

“Oh, you expect me to believe that? Why would Levi take his Physical Therapist to a family gathering?”

She laughed bitterly.

“Come on. Tell us who you really are.”

Hope swallowed. I saw the movement of her throat and the slight tremble in her shoulders.

“Did Levi pay you to be here so his grandma wouldn’t set him up with someone like before?” my mom continued. “How much did he give you so I can know how cheap you are?”

“That’s enough.”

The words exploded out of me before I could stop them. My voice echoed through the dining room.

The entire table froze, and my mother flinched. Beside me, I felt Hope go still.

I had never raised my voice at my mother before. I had done it to my grandfather plenty of times before.

The shock on her face quickly turned into hurt. She looked betrayed, as though I was the one who had crossed the line. Meanwhile, she had just insulted someone who had done nothing but show her respect since arriving.

“Hope is telling the truth, Mom,” Zayla suddenly said.

She cleared her throat before continuing.

Chapter 65

“I met her when I went to the rink.”

My mother’s head snapped toward her.

“You went to the rink without my permission?”

Zayla visibly cringed. “I’m old enough to go by myself, Mom.”

“You’re letting yourself get corrupted by Levi.”

The words were so ridiculous that I almost laughed.

Instead, I simply released a long breath.

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I shouldn’t have come. I knew that from the beginning. The moment Zayla invited me, I knew exactly how tonight would end. I had convinced myself that maybe things would be a little different because it was Zayla’s celebration.

I wanted the focus to be on her and solely her. However, I should have known better.

Hope suddenly spoke again.

The fear that had been in her eyes earlier seemed to have disappeared.

“Levi has achieved so much so early in his career,” she said.

Everyone looked at her.

Including me.

“He has accomplished more than most people in the hockey industry. He has three championship titles, and he won MVP alongside them.”

I stared at her.

Hope wasn’t looking at me. She was looking directly at my mother.

“He has endorsements.”

“He has inspired countless young players.”

“He’s only twenty-four years old, but he’s already achieved things that most athletes spend their entire lives chasing.”

My chest tightened with an unfamiliar feeling-warmth?

“If I were his mother,” Hope continued softly, “I would be very proud of him.”

The room went silent.

My eyes remained fixed on Hope.

There was so much sincerity in her expression. Her eyes were shining, and tears seemed to be gathering there. I recalled she once told me that her tears were shallow. Yet right now, she was standing in front of people who were tearing her apart and defending someone else instead. Defending me.

For a moment, I forgot everyone else existed.

All I saw was Hope.

Then my mother’s voice shattered the moment.

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10:45 Thu, Jul 16

Chapter 65

“Do you think I’ll be swayed by your words? What does any of that have to do with real life?”

My mother shook her head.

“All those achievements are just paper and trophies.”

She pointed toward me.

“They mean nothing when you’re old and have nothing under your name.”

That was my final straw.

“Let’s go,” I said and pulled Hope out of the room.

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I didn’t bother explaining anymore. There was no point. No amount of logic could change someone’s mind when they had already decided they were right.

I looked around the table and slowly shook my head, disappointment burning inside me.

The walk to the car was quiet. Hope didn’t say a word, and neither did I. I opened the passenger door for her, and she climbed inside without another word. I placed her bag in the backseat before shutting the door.

The cool evening air brushed against my face as I walked around the vehicle.

By the time I slid into the driver’s seat, my frustration had settled into a dull ache

I started the engine and turned on the radio to fill the silence between us.

Still, Hope said nothing. She stared out the window, motionless.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

Maybe she was angry and regretted coming here. Honestly, I wouldn’t blame her. She had just witnessed exactly why I hated family gatherings.

I waited and gave her time to recover before I started the car, my gaze focused on the dark view ahead.

However, I heard something that made my gaze snap back to her.

She had her head turned away from me, but I could see the tears streaming down her cheeks on the side of her face.

“You’re crying?”

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

Hope slowly turned toward me, and my breath caught.

Fuck.

Her cheeks were wet, eyes glassy, and nose red, yet somehow she still looked fucking beautiful.

“It’s so unfair,” she whispered. A fresh tear rolled down her cheek.

“Why are they like that to you?”