Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Hope’s POV

I held my breath while waiting for Levi to answer.

55 vouchers

I wanted to deny it right away, but even I felt intimidated by the old woman’s aura. I guessed Levi and Zayla inherited that aura from their family.

“You’re still the same, aren’t you, boy?” the old woman said with a knowing look when Levi kept silent. “I didn’t expect anything less. You still don’t want to settle down and give us a grandson? Your grandfather and I are waiting.”

A few people around us chuckled nervously.

“Since you came back here after two years, I’m guessing you’re done dwindling around and ready to settle down. A man your age is already supposed to start building a family.”

I looked at Levi. He massaged the bridge of his nose as though fighting off a headache that had suddenly appeared.

“Dinner’s ready,” he said, deflecting the question. “Don’t ruin Zayla’s party. I’m not here to be the subject of your questions. I’m here only for her.”

His hand remained wrapped around my wrist as he pulled me toward the table.

We made it only a few steps before his grandmother spoke again.

“I see that you’re holding her without any hesitation, so she must be a special person. You don’t voluntarily hold other people.”

A dozen pairs of eyes instantly turned toward me. Heat crawled up my neck.

“Grandma,” Levi said in a warning tone.

The older woman raised both hands in surrender.

“Alright, I’ll stop-for tonight.” Her lips curved into a mischievous smile. “I’ll tell the maids to let the ladies I brought here go home.”

The room erupted into laughter.

My eyes widened, as I turned to Levi, who shook his head in what appeared to be exasperation.

With that, she walked past us and headed toward the seat beside the head of the table.

“Sit down, everyone,” she announced.

Levi’s hand was still wrapped around mine as he guided me to a chair. The simple action drew even more attention. I could feel people watching us, wondering who I was.

Zayla sat at the opposite end of the dining table. A party hat sat slightly crooked on her head, making her look younger despite the sophisticated dress she wore. Levi was seated to my left while Matthias was to my right.

One by one, relatives filled the remaining chairs. The dining room gradually grew quieter, but it completely turned silent when an old man in a wheelchair was escorted into the room.

The moment he appeared, conversations died.

The woman pushing the wheelchair looked so much like Zayla that I immediately knew they were related.

15

16

O

G

|||

Chapter 63

55 vouchers

The woman locked the wheelchair into place beside the head of the table before moving toward one of the remaining/seats.

The moment she saw Levi, she froze. The disbelief in her eyes lasted only a second before it was replaced by disappointment.

I bit my lip. The reaction made me uncomfortable, and I wasn’t even the one she was looking at.

I glanced toward Levi. Surprisingly, he didn’t look bothered. His face remained expressionless and detached.

Maybe after years of dealing with this family, disappointment no longer affected him.

“You actually convinced him to come,” the woman said to Zayla as she sat down.

“Of course, Mom,” Zayla answered lightly. “I’d want my big brother to be present at my party. It’s the last one I’ll have in New York for a while.”

“Don’t call him your big brother anymore.”

“He lost that right when he decided to go with his dad years ago.”

The entire room went still. Even the servants nearby seemed frozen.

Then, Levi spoke. “It seems you’re still having fun talking about me even when I’m here.”

His voice remained calm.

“Oh, wait.” He leaned back slightly. “You might actually talk about me more when I’m not around. Are your lives that boring that you continue meddling with mine?”

A few relatives immediately lowered their heads.

The woman’s face darkened. Before she could respond, the old man at the head of the table spoke.

“Enough.”

One word was all it took. The authority in his voice was undeniable.

“Talk after we finish the food.”

Silence followed before everyone obediently began eating.

The atmosphere remained tense despite the delicious food laid before us.

I tried eating, but every bite felt awkward. Next to me, Levi wasn’t eating much either.

Instead, he took another sip from his glass, the amber liquid disappearing steadily.

“Curious?” Matthias asked from beside me.

He already had a mouthful of food and looked unaffected by the family drama unfolding around him.

“This is the Moretti family,” he whispered.

Without waiting for a response, he began explaining.

“Levi obviously took his dad’s last name. That’s why he’s a Reeve. He went with him the moment he turned sixteen after declaring to the whole family that he wanted to play hockey.”

Matthias took another bite.

Chapter 63

Jul 16

“Apparently, nobody approved.”

I listened carefully.

“However, his dad died not long after, and Levi refused to come back.”

My chest tightened.

Levi rarely talked about himself. In fact, getting personal information from him felt nearly impossible.

55 vouchers

“His grandpa thought hockey was just a phase,” Matthias continued. “Old Hayden believed Levi would eventually return and take a role in the family business.”

He chuckled. “Then Levi became one of the biggest names in hockey and proved everyone wrong.”

I glanced at Levi.

“Meanwhile,” Matthias continued, lowering his voice even further, “his mother, Luisa Moretti, still holds a grudge because he chose his father.”

“And she definitely doesn’t approve of hockey either.”

I looked toward the woman again. The disappointment in her eyes suddenly made more sense.

Matthias pointed discreetly toward Levi’s grandmother.

“Agnes Moretti only cares about one thing.”

“Marriage?” I guessed.

He grinned and nodded.

“She’s worried because Levi has always been withdrawn. He’s the oldest grandchild, so the greatest burden fell upon him.”

As Matthias leaned closer, preparing to share more gossip, I suddenly felt a firm hand against my shoulder. I was gently pulled backward with Levi’s voice reaching my ear.

“You guys are too close.”

I processed his words while an enormous grin spread across Matthias’ face.

“Sorry, sorry.”

His eyes sparkled with amusement.

“I’m not touching your woman anymore. Don’t worry.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify