Just My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires by Esther Pen novel Chapter 263

Chapter 263

ARIA’S POV

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The adrenaline that had sustained me through the confrontation slowly ebbed away, leaving behind a cold, bone–deep exhaustion.

After Dominic and Anthony hauled Anna away, Brandon and I walked back through the double glass doors the kindergarten, Amelia still cradled tightly against his chest.

The front lobby was quiet now, the frantic tension from twenty minutes ago replaced by the steady hum of normal school day.

The receptionist stood up instantly from behind her desk, her face flushing with visible relief the moment she saw us step inside.

“Oh, thank goodness,” she breathed, her hand flying to her chest. “Is everything alright, Miss Aria? Did… did the police get her?”

“Yes,” I answered, my voice steady despite the lingering tremor in my hands. “It’s taken care of. But please, we have to be extra vigilant from now on. No one and I mean absolutely no one is permitted to pick up Amelia without explicit, advance clearance from either me or Brandon directly.”

The woman nodded frantically, making a swift note on her computer screen. “Understood. Absolutely. It won’t happen again.” She looked over at Brandon, her expression softening with genuine respect as she watched him gently rub small circles onto Amelia’s back. “Amelia is very lucky to have a father like you, sir.”

I didn’t say anything. I stood frozen for a second, my eyes drifting up to meet Brandon’s dark, piercing gaze. The receptionist’s words hung in the air between us, heavy and undeniably true.

He had saved her. If Brandon hadn’t been so relentlessly vigilant, if he hadn’t trusted his instincts and traced those calls last night, my baby girl would be in Leonie’s cruel hands right now.

The mere thought of what could have happened made my chest tighten so violently I could barely breathe.

Brandon didn’t boast. He just held my eyes for a long, quiet second, a soft, solemn understanding passing between us before he looked back down at the top of Amelia’s head.

“Let’s head outside,” he murmured softly.

As we walked down the brick path toward the parked SUV, Brandon stepped closer to my

side.

“I had Dominic run a background check on the original agency this morning,” he said quietly, his tone businesslike yet cautious. “We found the former nanny, the one who was supposed to take the job before Anna intercepted the application. She’s completely clean.”

He paused, looking down at me. “But before we move forward with anyone new, I think we should ask Amelia how she feels.”

I looked over at our daughter. She had her small face buried in the crook of Brandon’s neck, her tiny fingers still clutching his suit jacket as if she were afraid he might vanish if she let go.

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“Sweetheart,” I called out gently, reaching over to smooth down her soft curls. “How would you feel if Mummy found a new nanny to stay with you while I’m at work?”

Amelia immediately shook her head against Brandon’s shoulder, her voice small, muffled, and thick with unshed tears. “No… I don’t want a nanny. Please, Mummy. No new nannies.”

My heart broke into a thousand pieces right then and there. I understood completely. She was just a five–year- old child, yet she had already endured more betrayal, fear, and turmoil than most adults face in a lifetime.

The person she had trusted to tuck her in and read her bedtime stories had just threatened to hurt her mother. The shadow of that trauma wasn’t going to disappear overnight.

“Okay, baby,” I whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her arm. “No new nanny. I promise.”

“I’ll watch her,” Brandon spoke up immediately, his deep voice carrying an effortless, unyielding certainty.

I blinked, looking up at him in surprise. “Brandon-”

“I mean it, Aria,” he cut in smoothly, looking down at me with absolute resolve. “I can handle my operations from your house for a while. I’ll take her to school, pick her up, and stay with her throughout the day while you’re at the office. I’ll look after her until she feels safe again and decides she’s ready for someone new.”

I stared at him, caught off guard by the sheer selflessness of the offer. “Are you sure? You have an entire empire to run, Brandon. Your schedule-”

“My schedule doesn’t matter right now,” he said flatly, his dark eyes softening as he looked down at me. “Nothing is more important than keeping her safe and giving her peace of mind. I won’t mind it at all.”

A lump formed in my throat, but before I could reply, the crunch of heavy footsteps on the gravel interrupted us. Anthony approached, his face grim but composed.

“Boss,” Anthony reported, giving us both a sharp nod. “Dominic just called from the transport. Anna and the drivers have officially been processed at the central police station. The heavy units are securing the wiretap logs as evidence now.”

I let out a slow, long breath, feeling a fraction of the tension finally leave my shoulders. I looked at Brandon, giving him a quiet, appreciative nod.

“Good,” Brandon said, his voice dropping into that quiet, commanding tone. “Let’s get back to the house.”

As soon as the SUV pulled into the driveway, the tension hanging over us finally began to give way to the familiar comfort of home.

But the moment Brandon killed the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt, Amelia wrapped her small arms even tighter around his neck, burying her face into his chest.

I couldn’t help but let out a soft, breathy chuckle as I opened my door. “You’re safe now, baby girl,” I murmured gently, leaning in to brush a stray curl off her forehead. “We’re home.”

Amelia peeked out from Brandon’s shoulder, her small brows furrowed together with earnest seriousness. “That’s not why I’m holding onto Daddy,” she said softly.

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Chapter 263

I blinked, surprised by her solemn tone. “Oh? Then why are you holding onto him so tightly?”

“Because you and Daddy make a great team,” she

whispered, her dark, glossy eyes moving between the two of us.

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She loosened her grip on Brandon just enough to reach out and grab my hand, bringing our fingers together. “And I don’t want you two to stay apart anymore. Please, Mummy… please forgive Daddy.”

The world seemed to pause right there in the quiet back seat of the car. My breath hitched, and my eyes drifted up from Amelia to meet Brandon’s.

He didn’t say a word, standing still as a statue, but his eyes were intense, searching my face for any sign of resistance.

In truth… I had forgiven him a long time ago. I just didn’t know how to put it into words. How could I hold everything against him when the guilt of my own bloodline weighed so heavily on my heart?

My parents had robbed him of his family, tearing his life apart years ago. I finally understood where his obsession with revenge had come from.

And while the sows of his Mafia connections still frightened me, today had proven where his

heart truly rested. He had put everything on the line to save our daughter.

A soft, genuine warmth spread through my chest, melting away the last lingering wall I had built between us.

I looked back down at Amelia, smoothing her cheek with my thumb, my voice dropping into a tender whisper. “I forgive him, sweetheart. I forgive your daddy.”

lit

up,

Amelia’s eyes

a small, hopeful smile breaking through her tear–stained face. “Does that mean we’re going to be a family again? A real family?”

Brandon’s gaze burned into mine, waiting with a silent, desperate patience for my response. The powerful, dangerous man who could bring entire corporations to their knees was completely helpless, waiting on my word.

I looked at him, letting a soft, reassuring smile touch my lips, and gave a gentle nod. “Yes, baby. We’re going to be a family.”

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