Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 106

Chapter 106

Hope’s POV

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“Levi used to come to practice after every game. That’s how passionate he is. Yet, he’s not here today.”

“Levi used to never ask for rest days, but now he called HR to ask for some time off next month after the playoffs because hre wants to relax.”

“Levi would follow Dennis’s training system without a single complaint, but now, he says he needs to limit himself.”

“Who do you think is the reason for that?”

I looked at her and wondered if she was actually being serious. Judging from the look in her eyes, she was. I didn’t know whether to laugh or pity her for having such a warped mindset.

“So, you’re telling me that now that Levi is finally taking care of himself and knows his boundaries with hockey, you think he’s ruining his career?” I asked, raising a brow.

“Yes,” she answered confidently, making me let out a soft, disbelieving chuckle.

The certainty in her voice was quite frightening.

She picked up her teacup again and gently swirled the amber liquid inside.

“Da Hong Pao is not only expensive and rare because of its leaf quality,” she said, effortlessly circling back to her precious

tea.

“The extraction and manufacturing process of this oolong tea is one of the most complex in the world.”

“The leaves need to undergo a precise sequence, then they are finished with multiple rounds of meticulous charcoal roasting. A tea master has to constantly monitor the temperature to prevent the leaves from burning while slowly developing the tea’s real flavor profile.”

I almost wanted to applaud her for the elaborate explanation.

“Like Da Hong Pao, Levi is not the most talented and sought-after hockey player in the industry just because he plays well,” she continued.

My brows slowly drew together.

“We have to consider countless factors.”

She took another elegant sip before looking straight into my eyes.

“Levi would have never gotten this far without me.”

I glared at her. It felt like she was diminishing everything Levi had worked like none of it truly belonged to him. As though simply allowing him to play for the Glaciers had been the greatest favor anyone could have given him.

“Levi would have excelled on any team, even if he hadn’t started here,” I said firmly. “Levi was born to play hockey, Margaret.”

She burst into laughter, her head throwing back.

“Born?” she repeated between amused breaths. “No one is born to be something, young woman.”

“We are all made.”

Chapter 106

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“You can’t simply be born into this world with a purpose. You are molded into whatever you eventually become. Thinking someone is born for greatness is wishful thinking.”

She tilted her head.

“Those kinds of thoughts are reserved for unsuccessful people who need fairy tales to explain success.”

I smiled. “You must live a very sad life, then.”

At that moment, her amusement vanished. Then, all hell broke loose.

Her eyes narrowed into thin slits.

Without warning, she slammed her fist against the table. The sharp crack echoed through the room.

The porcelain teacups rattled before the two tipped over. The million-dollar tea spilled across the wood, the amber liquid rushing over the table before dripping onto the floor.

I immediately stood, stepping back as the tea reached the edge.

I stared at her.

“I am going to say this once. Because I know just how smart you are,” she snapped.

“Levi is who he is today because of me.”

“When no one wanted Levi on their team because his so-called mother used her influence to get him blacklisted before his career had even begun, I took him in.”

“I was the only person who saw his potential.”

“I covered up his flawed family background so people wouldn’t underestimate him”

My breath caught in my throat.

I knew Levi and his mother had a complicated relationship.

But… blacklisted? Before his career had even started?

Margaret watched my expression carefully, appearing pleased that she had managed to shock me.

“And you know what Levi is like,” she continued. “He doesn’t exactly have the easiest personality. A difficult attitude. Stubborn. Proud. Uncooperative. Yet articles continue praising him. People continue admiring him.”

“Why do you think that is?”

The question lingered between us. She didn’t even wait for me to answer.

“I am his tea master, Hope.”

“Everything Levi has achieved… every endorsement… every article… every opportunity… every door that opened for him…”

“I made sure those doors stayed open.”

“He would never have achieved any of this without me.”

Silence swallowed the room. The only sound left was the steady dripping of tea onto the expensive wooden floor.

“So,” she said softly, “if I decide to stop supporting him…”

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Chapter 106

Her smile widened ever so slightly.

“What do you think will happen?”

1 narrowed my eyes.

“You wouldn’t do that.”

The words came out before I could stop them.

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