Chapter 238 · My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires

Chapter 238

BRANDON'S POVI stood in Aria's study, staring out the large glass window at the dark courtyard below. The entire property was completely illuminated by new high-powered security lights.After the terrifying stunt at the botanical gardens today, I hadn't slept a single wink. I hadn't moved Aria and Amelia from the estate.Moving them now would make them look like targets, and it would show the enemy that we were afraid. Instead, I had completely doubled the guards.There were now heavily armed tactical teams patrolling the perimeter twenty-four hours a day. Nobody was getting in or out without my personal clearance.The door to her study opened, and Aria walked in. She looked exhausted, her face pale and her eyes red from crying earlier. She had wrapped a warm sweater around herself, holding a fresh cup of tea."Amelia is finally asleep," she said softly, sitting down on the small couch near the desk. "Sarah is staying right by her bedside. She hasn't left her room all evening.""Sarah did a good job today," I said, turning around to face her. I walked over and sat down beside her, taking her small hand in mine."But Aria, we need to talk about who is behind this. My security team checked the digital signatures from the Sterling bribe, and we couldn't trace the exact account. But something else happened a few days ago."Aria looked up at me, her eyebrows furrowing. "What do you mean?""Julian caused a massive scene at his hockey game," I explained, my voice growing deep and serious. "He slammed his stick into the glass, screaming at reporters. And right after the game, he confronted me in the back offices. He was completely out of his mind, screaming that I was stealing his family from him."Aria sighed, shaking her head. "Julian is unstable right now, Brandon. We already know that. His career is on the line.""No, Aria, listen to me," I pressed, my grip tightening slightly on her hand. "It’s too much of a coincidence. He has a massive meltdown on the ice, threatens me about taking his family, and then a few days later, two men try to kidnap Amelia at a public festival. I think Julian is the mastermind behind all of this. He is desperate, he is losing his mind, and he wants to hurt us where it hurts the most."Aria instantly pulled her hand away from mine, her expression hardening as she stood up from the couch. "Are you serious right now, Brandon? Julian might be a lot of things, he’s arrogant, he’s bitter, and he’s an idiot, but he would never, ever hurt Amelia. She is his daughter too. He loves her.""People do insane things when they are desperate and losing everything," I retorted, standing up to meet her gaze. "He is drowning, his career is tanking, and he sees me providing everything for you and Amelia. He wants his family back, and he’s willing to use force to make you spiral.""You are being completely paranoid," Aria said, her voice cracking with anger. "You are letting your hatred for Julian blind your judgment. I know him, Brandon. He would never hire criminals to snatch his own child off the street. How can you even think that?""Because I am the one who has to protect this family," I said, the frustration boiling over. "While you are busy defending your ex, someone is actively trying to destroy us. I don't care if you think he loves her or not. From now on, Julian is our prime suspect, and I will handle him accordingly."Aria stared at me, her chest heaving with furious breaths, tears of anger spilling down her cheeks. "If you think putting a target on a father's back is the way to solve this, then you are completely wrong. Don't speak to me until you can look at this logically."She slammed her tea cup down on the table, turned on her heel, and stormed out of the study, shutting the heavy wooden door behind her.I stood alone in the quiet of Aria's study, my fists clenched tightly at my sides as the echo of the door faded away. The silence in the room was suddenly deafening.I hated fighting with her, especially now when the safety of Amelia was on the line, but I could not afford to be soft. Julian was a clear danger, and I was not going to sit around and wait for him to make another reckless move.The frustration inside my chest was burning like a hot fire. I looked down at her desk, my eyes falling on my car keys. Before I grabbed them to leave, I knew I needed to see Amelia.I picked up the keys, shoved them into my pocket, and walked out of the study. I walked down the dimly lit hallway with quiet, careful steps until I reached Amelia's bedroom door. I pushed it open just a crack and slipped inside.The room was dark, lit only by the soft, warm glow of a small nightlight shaped like a star. Sarah was sitting quietly in a chair in the corner, watching over her.When she saw me enter, she stood up, bowed her head respectfully, and silently slipped out of the room to give me some privacy. I walked over to the edge of the bed and looked down.Amelia was tucked safely under her pink blankets, clutching her favorite stuffed animal tightly against her chest. Her breathing was slow, deep, and steady.She looked so peaceful, completely untouched by the dark, dangerous world outside her window and the loud argument that had just happened down the hall.Looking at her sleeping face, a tight knot formed in my chest. She was not my biological daughter, but I had grown to love her as my own.I leaned down slightly, gently brushing a stray curl away from her forehead. I promised myself right then that I would do whatever it took to keep her safe, no matter who I had to fight to make it happen.I turned around, walked out of the room, and closed the door behind me with absolute care. I walked down the grand staircase, my heavy footsteps echoing through the quiet hallway.As I reached the front foyer and grabbed the handle of the heavy wooden front door, a soft voice stopped me in my tracks. "Brandon."I turned around. Aria was standing at the edge of the hallway, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest. Her face was pale, her eyes still red from our argument, and she looked at me with a mixture of hurt and exhaustion."Where are you going?" she asked, her voice tight and strained."I'm going out to clear my head," I said, my voice deep, flat, and completely controlled.Aria let out a bitter, heavy sigh, shaking her head as she took a step closer to me. "You're running away again. Every single time we have a real disagreement, every time I don't agree with your exact methods, you just grab your keys and walk out that door. You aren't being reasonable.""Was Julian being reasonable?" I countered, my eyes narrowing as I stared back at her."That's not the point, Brandon," she said, her voice dropping, refusing to look me in the eye.I shook my head slowly, a cold, dry chuckle escaping my throat. "No, you're the one who isn't looking at the cracks clearly."Aria stood frozen, refusing to offer a response, her silence stretching uncomfortably between us in the grand foyer."And you're the one defending your ex," I added, my voice dropping to a dangerous, icy whisper that filled the empty space.She flinched slightly, her lips parting in shock as my words hit her. Before she could say another word, I turned around, pushed the heavy front door open, and walked out into the cool night air.I shut the door behind me, marched straight down the steps to my car, and started the engine. I left the brightly lit estate behind, driving out into the dark, quiet streets of the city to find some clarity.

Chapter 238