Just My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires by Esther Pen novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Chapter 198

BRANDON’S POV

The cool breeze of the afternoon hit my face the moment I stepped out onto the back patio, but it did nothing to cool the burning ache in my chest.

Amelia’s tiny, screaming voice kept echoing in my head, each word hitting me like a physical blow. I stood on the stone steps for a split second, my hand gripping the iron railing until my knuckles turned white.

I was a grown man, a corporate CEO used to dealing with ruthless boardrooms and cold legal battles, but a single sentence from a five-year-old girl had completely brought me to my knees.

It hurt. It hurt worse than I ever cared to admit. For the past five years, I had waited in the shadows for Aria, loving her from afar while she raised her daughter alone.

And since the moment I stepped into their lives to protect them from my own toxic relatives, I had poured everything I had into that little girl. I had bought her toys, watched her sleep, and unleashed my top-tier legal team just to keep her safe.

I wanted to be a real, permanent part of her life. I wanted to be her protector, her anchor, her dad.

But hearing the raw truth yelled in my face was a harsh reminder of reality.

I wasn’t her biological father. To her, I was still just a figure who had stepped into her universe.

I took a slow, deep breath, forcing my chaotic emotions down into a locked compartment inside my chest. I couldn’t be angry, and I couldn’t let my own bruised ego get in the way.

I understood Amelia. Deep down, I truly did. She was just a terrified child caught in the middle of a vicious war she didn’t ask for.

She had spent her entire life wondering about the man who gave her life, and today, she had witnessed that very man screaming outside her gates. She was confused, overwhelmed, and completely torn.

I scanned the expansive greenery of the estate gardens, my eyes tracking the small path lined with rose bushes. It didn’t take me long to find her.

Amelia was curled up into a tiny ball on a stone bench near the old oak tree, her small frame shaking violently with heavy, ragged sobs. She had her knees pulled up to her chin, her face buried in her arms as she wept into the quiet afternoon air.

My heart melted at the sight. All the lingering hurt from her words vanished instantly, replaced by a fierce, overwhelming wave of protectiveness.

I walked over slowly, making sure my heavy footsteps on the gravel gave her warning so I wouldn’t startle her.

I stopped right in front of the bench and gently dropped down onto one knee, reducing my massive height so l was at eye level with her, just like I had been inside the house.

“Hey, princess,” I murmured, keeping my voice low, soft, and entirely devoid of any bitterness.

Amelia stiffened at the sound of my voice. She slowly lifted her tear-stained face from her arms, her wide, innocent eyes red and puffy from crying.

The moment she saw me kneeling there, looking at her with nothing but warmth, a fresh wave of regret washed over her small features.

“Uncle Brandon…” she choked out, using the familiar name that usually brought me so much joy, her little voice cracking as she threw her legs over the side of the bench. She didn’t hesitate.

She threw herself forward, wrapping her tiny arms tightly around my neck and burying her wet face into the crook of my shoulder. “I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry, Uncle Brandon! I didn’t mean it… I didn’t mean to say those mean things to you.”

I wrapped my strong arms securely around her waist, lifting her slightly off the bench and holding her close against my chest. I let her cry into my shoulder for a long moment, gently rubbing her back in slow, soothing

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Chapter 198

circles to anchor her back to reality

“Shh, I know, princess. I know I whispered into her hair, my voice dropping into an incredibly tender register” You don’t have to keep apologizing to me: I’m not mad at you. I promise”

When her heavy sobs finally began to slow down into quiet sniffles, I gently pulled back just a bit. I didn’t ter her go, though. I kept my large hands resting protectively on her shoulders and looked straight into her eyes, offering her a soft, reassuring smile.

“Look at me. Amelia,” I said gently, wiping a stray tear from her hot cheek with the pad of my thumb. I nee you to understand something, okay? I know things are very scary right now. I know you heard a lot of shouting outside, and I know you’re confused about your daddy.”

Amelia sniffled, looking down at her lap as she clutched a fistful of my jacket sleeve. “I just… I just wanted to see him. Mommy was so angry, and everyone was yelling. Why can’t I have a mommy and a daddy like the other kids at school? Is my daddy really a bad person?”

I swallowed the tight knot in my throat. I couldn’t tell her the brutal details of how Julian had abandoned her mother, and I wouldn’t poison her mind with the ugly truths of the Vance family custody war.

She was too young for that poison. “Your mommy loves you more than anything in this entire world, Amelia,” ! explained in a soft, simple way, trying to bridge the gap for her.

“Five years ago, before you were even born, some very complicated things happened between your mommy and your dad. They couldn’t be together anymore. Your mommy worked so hard to build a safe, happy home for you all by herself because she wanted to protect you.”

Amelia lifted her eyes back to mine, listening intently. “Your dad wants to know you now,” I continued smoothly, “but the way his family is trying to do it… it’s hurting your mommy. It’s putting a heavy, dark cloud over our heads. Your mommy isn’t trying to be mean to you, princess. She’s just terrified of losing her little girl. She’s fighting to keep you safe because you are her entire universe.”

Amelia blinked, a quiet understanding finally settling into her innocent eyes. “So Mommy is just scared?” “Exactly,” I murmured, squeezing her shoulders reassuringly. “She’s just scared. And when people are scared, sometimes they shout, and sometimes things get messy. But you don’t ever have to worry. I told your mommy, and now I’m telling you-I promise that I will always keep both of you safe. No matter what it takes.” Amelia stared at me for a long moment, the heavy burden she had been carrying all afternoon finally lifting from her small shoulders. A tiny, genuine smile finally broke through her tears, and she nodded her head softly. “Okay. Thank you, Uncle Brandon.”

“You’re welcome, princess,” I smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss against her forehead. Then, before I could stand up to lead her back inside the house, Amelia reached out her small hands and cupped my rugged jawline, mimicking the exact way her mother always held my face.

She looked at me with so much newfound adoration and sweetness that it completely healed the broken pieces of my heart. “Uncle Brandon?” she whispered softly.

“Yeah, sweetie?”

“You’re not my dad…” she started, her voice gentle, “but you’re my favorite person. And I’m really glad you’re here with us.”

I wrapped my arms around her small frame again, holding her close to my chest as a powerful wave of relief washed over me. I kissed her forehead gently, letting the quiet warmth of the garden soothe the remaining tension between us.

“Come on, princess,” I said softly, pushing myself up from the ground and taking her small, warm hand in mine. “Let’s go back inside to your mommy.”

Amelia nodded, wiping away the last of her tears as she walked side-by-side with me back toward the house.

When we stepped through the back door and returned to the living room, Aria was standing near the window, her shoulders tense and her eyes filled with an anxious, breathless worry.

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