Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Hope’s POV

“Or what?” I asked, refusing to look away from her eyes.

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I knew challenging her was ballsy, but honestly, if no one ever stood up to Margaret, she would stay trapped inside her own perfect little bubble, believing she was untouchable. Believing everyone would simply bow their heads and do whatever she wanted, as they always had.

“Simple.” She smiled. “I would stop shielding Levi.”

She gently lifted her teacup before setting it down again with elegance.

“Although the Da Hong Pao is rare and expensive, it comes every year. It is not necessarily irreplaceable. A new batch will always be waiting when the right time comes.”

Her smile never faltered.

“But of course, that would be my last resort. I know threatening you with your career wouldn’t mean anything. You’re just a small fish amongst everyone.” She tilted her head slightly. “However, with your personality, I’m going to assume you still have some shame left in your body.”

I clenched my jaw.

“While you have close to nothing to lose,” she continued calmly, “Levi has everything to lose.”

With that, she casually sat back down.

I simply stared at her.

“So, I’m giving you some time, just so you understand how important this is.” She folded her hands together. “I let you have a sip of my expensive tea.”

A slow smile curved on her lips.

“And I’m going to let you have a sip of Levi… for a little while.”

“Just so you’ll know what it tastes like before you realize you’ll never be able to have it again.”

My fists tightened until my nails dug painfully into my palms.

I had never met someone so cruel. Every word she spoke against me felt like nothing more than pieces on a chessboard she could move whenever she pleased.

“For the game with the Pucks,” she said, already shifting her attention back to her computer, “just watch Levi.”

Her fingers moved across the keyboard like our conversation had already ended.

“You’ll see whether he can lose hockey or not.”

“When worse comes to worst,” she added without even looking at me, “you’ll also know, Hope.”

She paused.

“Levi will choose hockey.”

“So while everything is still new-while you’re not in too deep-break it off.”

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Chapter 107

Her voice stayed calm.

“I’m sure it’ll hurt less that way.”

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The rest of the day passed with my thoughts consumed by Margaret’s words. No matter how much work I buried myself in, they kept replaying inside my head.

I knew she was serious.

That was simply the kind of person Margaret was.

She never made empty threats. She only stated outcomes she fully believed she could make happen.

I had been so happy these past few days. So unbelievably happy.

Being with Levi had made everything else fade into the background. Every smile, every conversation, every stolen moment together made it easy to forget the reality surrounding us. But reality had a cruel way of reminding people where they stood.

He was one of the biggest hockey stars in the world.

I was merely his physical therapist.

We weren’t exactly star-crossed lovers, but there were too many differences between us. Differences that I had been pretending didn’t matter.

It felt like we hadn’t even truly begun, yet something was already trying to pull us apart.

I didn’t even know if I could face him today.

I stared absentmindedly at the clock mounted on the wall until the minute hand slowly reached five.

Right then, my phone rang.

Levi’s name flashed across the screen. Along with it was his contact photo. A shirtless selfie.

My eyebrows rose.

I didn’t even know he had changed it.

Judging by the damp strands of hair and the lighting, he must have taken it this morning.

Despite everything weighing on my mind, I couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at my lips. Even now, he somehow managed to make my heart lighter.

Ignoring the nagging voice in my head, I answered the call.

Just hearing his voice made me smile a little wider.

“Hey,” he said, sounding slightly breathless.

“Hey,” I answered softly.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m sorry,” he suddenly blurted.

For a split second, my heart stopped.

Chapter 107

Margaret’s words immediately echoed inside my head.

When worse comes to worst… Levi will also choose hockey…’

“I can’t pick you up today,” he continued.

“Hm?”

He let out a tired sigh.

“Zayla called me. She said she’s at the airport.”

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“Apparently, she got into a fight with Mom, and she doesn’t want to study in England anymore. I’m about to pick her up

“Oh.”

I swallowed.

“It’s fine, Levi.”

I smiled despite knowing he couldn’t see me.

“Make sure Zayla’s alright.”

He clicked his tongue.

“I wanted to see you, though.”

The disappointment in his voice sounded so genuine that my chest ached.

“But Zayla’s making a huge fuss. Sounds like she’s been crying at the airport.”

I couldn’t help smiling. Levi really didn’t know how good of a brother he was.

No matter how exhausted he sounded, he never hesitated whenever his sister needed him.

“It’s okay, Levi.”

I leaned back in my chair.

“We see each other often anyway.”

The words left my mouth naturally. But the moment I heard myself say them, Ibit my lip.

Would that still be true once Margaret decided to make good on her threat? Would tomorrow still come so easily for us? Or would she make sure there wasn’t another tomorrow at all?

“Yeah.”

His voice softened.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I answered quietly.

With that, the call ended.

The silence afterward felt almost unbearable. I slowly lowered my phone onto the desk before letting my forehead fall against my folded arms.

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