Chapter 207 · My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires

Chapter 207

ARIA'S POVI looked down at my daughter, the warmth of my tea cup completely forgotten in my hands as her words hung in the damp night air. Before I could even open my mouth to explain why things weren't that simple, Amelia’s grip tightened on my robe."Please, Mummy," she pleaded, her lower lip trembling as she looked back out at the torrential downpour. "He'll fall sick."My chest tightened painfully. No matter what Julian had done to me, to her he was still a human being standing out in a freezing storm.And worse, he was a father she was genetically tied to, whose pathetic state was currently breaking her little heart. I couldn't let my daughter watch her biological father collapse from hypothermia at our gates.Relenting, I let out a heavy sigh and pulled her back into the bedroom, closing the balcony doors against the howling wind. I walked over to the bedside phone and dialed the security outpost at the front gate."Let him in," I instructed deadpan, my voice betraying none of the chaos swirling inside me. "Bring him up to the main house."By the time the front doors opened and Julian was escorted inside, Amelia and I were standing in the center of the dimly lit living room. The heavy noise of the storm outside was muffled, replaced by the wet, rhythmic dripping of water onto the rug.Sarah had woken up from the commotion downstairs and rushed into the room, holding a thick, dry towel. She looked at Julian with an expression of quiet shock before stepping forward to hand it to him.Julian was a complete wreck. He was shivering violently, his hair plastered to his forehead, and his shoulders shook under his soaked jacket. He took the towel with trembling hands, wrapping it around his neck, his bloodshot eyes locking onto me and Amelia.I stepped slightly in front of my daughter, keeping my voice cold and firm. "You can stay in the guest room downstairs tonight, Julian. And then the next day, you have to leave. I don't want any trouble with your wife."Julian swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Thank you, Aria," he whispered, his voice incredibly rough and raw.I stared at him, and without warning, a sharp, suffocating ache clenched deep inside my heart. I hated myself for it. I didn't want to feel these things for him anymore.I didn't want to feel pity, or lingering grief, or any thread of connection to the man who had abandoned me when I needed him most. It wasn't fair to Brandon.Brandon was the one who deserved every single beat of my heart, yet here I was, feeling a dangerous pull toward the ghost of my past.I forcefully pushed the treacherous thoughts out of my mind, hardening my expression. Turning away from Julian, I looked down at Amelia and rubbed her shoulder gently."Tomorrow is a school night, sweetie. You need to sleep so you can wake up early tomorrow morning."Amelia nodded softly. She turned her head, staring at Julian for a few quiet seconds through the dim light of the living room, before she finally let go of my robe and allowed me to lead her toward the stairs.Before we ascended, I caught the eye of the housekeeper who had also woken up from the noise and was standing quietly by the kitchen corridor."Please show Julian to a spare bedroom downstairs," I instructed her quietly, keeping my eyes away from him. "And get him some hot tea to warm him up."The older woman nodded politely. "Of course, Miss Aria." She turned to Julian, gesturing toward the hallway. "Please follow me, sir.""Thank you, Aria," Julian’s voice drifted across the room again, heavy with an emotion I refused to analyze.I didn't answer him. I didn't even turn around. I just kept my hand on Amelia’s back and led her straight upstairs, leaving the heavy atmosphere of the living room behind.Once we were back in her room, I tucked her into bed, pulling the heavy blankets up to her chin to shield her from the sound of the rattling windows.Amelia looked up at me from the pillows, her eyes sleepy but peaceful now. "Thank you for letting him stay, Mummy," she whispered softly.My heart softened, and I leaned down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Sleep well, princess. I love you.""Love you too," she murmured, her eyelids already dropping closed. I stood up and quietly slipped out of her bedroom, closing the door behind me.The hallway was dark and silent, but the moment I stepped into my own master bedroom, the sudden vibration of my phone in my pocket made my entire body go rigid.I pulled it out, and my heart instantly skipped a beat when I saw the name flashing on the screen.It was Brandon. A sudden wave of guilt washed over me, thick and suffocating.I didn't want to tell him about Julian. I couldn't. I didn't know how he would react to the fact that the man who had tried to take our daughter away was currently sleeping in a guest room downstairs.Brandon was fiercely protective, and knowing Julian was under my roof while he was miles away in another city would drive him insane. I couldn't do that to him during a massive business trip.I quickly decided that I would tell him the complete truth when he got back in person. Taking a deep, steadying breath to clear the anxiety from my voice, I slid the screen to answer the call and pressed the phone to my ear. "Brandon?”"Hey, beautiful," Brandon’s deep voice washed over the line, instantly wrapping me in a sense of safety that I didn't feel I deserved right now. "How are you? Is everything alright over there?""I'm alright, Brandon," I said, forcing a smooth, calm tone into my voice as I paced the length of my bedroom. I gripped the phone tighter, trying to push down the image of Julian sitting downstairs."How is the work going? Have you had dinner yet?""Just finished a late meeting, and I'm heading back to the hotel room now," he replied, a low chuckle vibrating through the receiver. "But listen, I have some good news. I'm going to finish up the work early tomorrow morning, and then I'm coming back to the city."I froze in the middle of the room, my heart dropping straight into my stomach. A wave of shock hit me so hard I could barely breathe. "Tomorrow? But... you said you would be gone for two days.""It turned out that what they needed me for here wasn't that important," Brandon explained, his tone light and relaxed. "It didn't take much of my time at all. I managed to push the remaining details to my team, so I can head home early.""Oh," I breathed, trying desperately to keep the panic out of my voice. "Okay. What time do you think you'll be back? I'll probably be at the office by then.""I think I'll surprise you," he said, a playful edge to his voice."Okay," I murmured. But deep down, a suffocating weight of worry pressed hard against my chest. My mind raced with terrifying scenarios.If Brandon came back early tomorrow, there was a massive chance he would come straight to the estate or the office, and if he ran into Julian, the confrontation would be disastrous.Brandon was fiercely protective, and finding his rival anywhere near me or Amelia would trigger a rage I didn't want to witness. I needed to end the call before my shaking voice gave my anxiety away."I'm really glad you're coming back early," I said softly, leaning against the edge of the bed. "But I'm honestly so exhausted right now, Brandon. It's been a really long day.""I know, beautiful. I just wanted to see your face before you went to sleep," he said gently. A soft smile touched my lips despite the heavy guilt eating at me.I hung up the audio call quickly, not wanting to make him wait, and immediately dialed him back on a video call instead.The screen blinked for a second before his handsome face appeared on the display. He was loosening his tie, the top buttons of his shirt already undone.But as the lighting of his hotel room hit his features, I noticed the heavy strain around his forehead. "You look completely exhausted," I said softly, looking straight into his tired eyes.He smiled at me through the screen, his gaze softening completely as he looked at my face. "I'm fine, Aria. But you... you look absolutely beautiful tonight."A warm blush crept up my cheeks despite the lingering tension in my body. "Stop it," I murmured, a genuine smile finally breaking through my worry.I leaned back against the pillows, adjusting the phone so it rested comfortably beside me as I lay down. The soft glow of the screen lit up the dark bedroom, making the storm outside feel a little further away."I just wanted to see your face before I fell asleep," I whispered, looking closely at the sharp lines of his jaw and the dark intensity of his eyes.Seeing him like this, even through a screen, made the heavy knot of guilt in my chest tighten, but I forced myself to focus on the comforting sound of his breathing.Brandon’s smile widened slightly, a look of pure devotion in his eyes as he rested his chin on his hand, staring back at me. "Then close your eyes, beautiful. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere.”I smiled back, the warmth of his gaze washing over me through the screen. "Goodnight, Brandon," I whispered, pulling the blanket up a little higher. "You need to get some sleep too. You've had a long day.""I will," he said, his eyes never leaving mine. "I just miss you. A lot.""I miss you too," I replied, the words coming easily because it was the absolute truth. I wanted him here, in this bed, wrapping his strong arms around me and making all the chaos of the outside world disappear.Brandon stared at me for a few silent seconds, his expression melting into something so deeply tender it made my throat ache with a sudden wave of emotion. "I'm lucky to have you, Aria," he murmured, his voice dropping into a low, completely sincere register. "I love you."I froze for a fraction of a second, my heart hammering wildly against my ribs. The weight of the secret downstairs felt like a lead brick in my stomach.The guilt flared up, hot and agonizing, making my mind spin. He was miles away, working tirelessly and dreaming of coming home to me, while the man who had broken my heart was sleeping under our roof.I didn't know what to say. For a terrifying beat, the words felt stuck in my throat. But looking at the raw devotion in his tired eyes, I knew I couldn't let my hesitation hurt him."I love you too, Brandon," I said softly, forcing the words out with all the genuine affection I felt for him, trying desperately to drown out the guilt.A large, radiant smile broke across Brandon's face, completely transforming his tired features into something breathtakingly handsome. It was the kind of smile that showed just how much my words meant to him."Sleep well, beautiful," he whispered.With a final wave, the screen blinked and the call ended, plunging my bedroom back into the dim, quiet shadows of the night.

Chapter 207