The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife (Blair and Grayson) novel Chapter 161

Chapter 161

-LIVIA-

Dad’s office always felt like a courtroom.

I had been in here for report cards and every time I got in trouble.

Tonight the tension was tighter. The lamp on the desk made a small gold circle on the blotter.

Everything outside that circle felt like it was waiting to be sentenced.

“Sit.”

I sat.

William Monroe did not sit with me at first. He stood behind the chair like the articles were stacked in his

hands.

I could still smell Roman’s jacket on me. I should have taken it off. I had not. In some ways, it gave me

comfort.

“I saw the pictures,” he said. “The articles. I gave you one chance not to make the same mistake twice. You made a larger one.”

“Nothing happened in the hotel with Luca Vescari.” My voice came out soft, not wishing to anger him further. “There was a girl there. Charlotte. His best friend. He ordered food. We spoke a little. That is the entire hour I stayed there.”

Dad’s eyes were cold in a way that had nothing to do with whether he believed me.

“Do you think the people who saw those articles will believe that? With the reputation Luca Vescari has? Club footage last week. Hotel room tonight. It’s a pattern.”

“The pattern is a lie.”

“The pattern is what I have to manage.”

He walked to the window, then back. Each step sounded like a decision already filed. When he spoke again it was louder, sudden.

Then a name dropped.

“Nico Shaw.”

What did Blair’s brother-in-law have to do with any of this?

I frowned. “Why are you saying his name?”

“That is the man you will marry at the end of the month.” He watched it hit my face. “I am being generous. I gave Blair less than a week. You get the rest of the month. Announcements start at the end of this week. You will be seen with him. Dinners. Photographs. It will be enough to stop all the articles about you and Luca. It’s the distraction that is currently needs.”

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The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife

I stared at him.

The room seemed to shake. End of the month. Nico. Grayson’s brother. The man who ate leftover pasta in Blair’s kitchen and helped me to get Luca’s number.

“You cannot be serious. Grayson’s brother?”

“Grayson is a great man. A great son-in-law. His brother will be no different.” There was a short pause. And since you are clearly interested in F1 drivers, Nico is one. I thought about you. This is not cruelty. You seem to like men who can race. Nico is an excellent driver. Your marriage will perform.”

I stood up so fast the chair scraped. “I am not marrying Nico Shaw. I barely know him. That is not a husband. That is an ambush.”

“Sit down.”

“No.”

“You will sit, or you will stand and hear it anyway. The announcement goes out. The wedding happens. I am not stopping it. I gave you a chance Olivia. You can’t say I didn’t.”

“I told you the truth.”

“The truth does not stop the scandal.” His voice rose. Not shouting yet. Worse. Controlled. “You used the chance I gave you to walk into a hotel with a player. A man known for sleeping around with women everywhere he touches down.”

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