Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 103

BRAYDON’S POV

My old man walks toward us, and my jaw tightens with every step he takes. I should’ve known this was coming. If there’s a way to get under my skin, if there’s a way to threaten my graduation or my future, he’ll take it. No matter how low he has to go.

He stops in front of Coach, standing tall and then his eyes move slowly, landing on me first, then sliding to Katy, then Justin.

“My son, Bryan, called me,” he starts with arrogance in his voice. “He was brutally assaulted so I took the matter up with the university myself after seeing how much he was brutalized.” He looks at Coach. “Blood or family has nothing to do with violence.”

I almost chuckle, but it comes out as a scoff. He’s smiling at me with a smug, satisfied expression and I feel Katy’s fingers slip into mine, like she knows exactly where my head is.

It’s kind of ridiculous when I really think about how shameless my old man is. Most families would be scrambling right now-trying to cover this up, keep it quiet, and pretend nothing happened. They’d worry about appearances and about what people might say once the truth. got out.

Not him.

He’s standing here like I beat Bryan for fun. Like it came out of nowhere.

“Mr. Cooper, I do believe this is-” Coach starts.

“I don’t care what you believe,” my old man cuts in. “You’re the head coach of this university’s hockey team, yet somehow you’re condoning violence. You’re trying to defend a targeted assault.”

Coach steps forward, closing the space between them until they’re standing face-to-face. For a second, no one says anything.

“I’ve been a coach for nineteen years,” he says finally. “And I’ve always had the best interest of my boys in mind.” He holds my old man’s stare. “That’s something you know nothing about.”

My old man doen’t even bat an eye. “I’ll be sure to let the vice-chancellor know what kind of coach he’s got running this school.”

The words settle in my chest.

“I’ll go with them,” I say, stepping forward before Coach can say anything else.

Katy turns to me instantly, her fingers tightening as she tries to pull me back, but I shake my head. I’m not letting Coach take the hit for me, not when this is already mine.

Besides, this whole thing might be over in a day so there’s no point dragging it out and making it bigger than it needs to be.

“Let’s just do the questioning.” I say to the security guys.

I catch the resigned look on Coach’s face as one of the campus security guys steps forward, clearly waiting on me.

I turn to Katy slowly. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

“I don’t like this,” she responds. There’s anger in her eyes, and something close to tears. She looks past me at my dad, her jaw tightening. “I’m coming with you.”

“No.” I gently turn her toward Justin. “Trust me. I’m good.”

She still doesn’t look convinced so I lean in and rub my nose against hers.

Honestly, the whole thing feels like I’m actually about to go to jail instead of answering a few questions. I just want it over with.

Katy hesitates, then finally lets go. I take a breath and follow the campus security guys.

“Did you assault Bryan Cooper one week ago?”

I’ve lost count of how many ways and times they’ve asked me this. Ten? Fifteen? Same question, dressed up differently each time. I don’t know what they’re looking for but a yes isn’t coming out of me.

“Leave?” Maxwell leans forward, eyebrows pulling together. “What makes you-”

I raise my phone, holding it up where he can see the screen.

“My girlfriend just texted me that you don’t have the right to hold me for more than thirty minutes. I believe your time’s up.” I say.

“Maxwell’s face tightens, color creeping up his neck. Across the room, I hear my old man grit his teeth.

I push my chair back and stand. For the first time, I finally look at him. He looks like he’s about to explode, like he’s barely holding himself together.

“If you’ve got more questions,” I say calmly, “you can text me. I’d hate to make another trip all the way here.”

I turn toward the door, brushing past him.

“Cooper.” Maxwell’s voice stops me just as my hand closes around the doorknob. “I’m saying this out of concern. Don’t force the university to involve the police. You committed a serious offense. You can be charged and sent to jail. This isn’t just about expulsion or losing your career, it’s about months, maybe years, in prison.”

My grip tightens around the knob, but I don’t turn back.

I did what I did for a reason. And no one’s going to scare me into feeling guilty about it.

My old man wants me cornered. He wants me scared enough to fold. It was Luke, Justin, and me who beat Bryan but somehow, I’m the only one sitting in that chair, the only one being grilled. He thinks he can push me until I’m forced to crawl back to him.

He’s wrong.

I pull the door open.