The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135

ARIA’S POV

“Aria, listen to me very carefully. I am leaving the office right this second. I am walking out the door now I will be with you in just a few minutes,”

Brandon’s voice was firm, but I could hear the worry hiding behind his words. “You have to stay calm, okay? Just take a deep breath and stay calm.”

“Stay calm?” I yelled into the phone. I was standing in the middle of my empty shop, and my whole body was shaking so hard I could barely hold the phone.

“How can you tell me to stay calm at a time like this, Brandon? My daughter is gone. Someone walked into her school, lied to her teachers, and just took her away. My baby is out there with a stranger. How am I supposed to be calm?”

“I know, Aria. I know it is hard. It is the hardest thing in the world,” he said, trying to keep his voice very steady and low. “But you need to be strong for Amelia. If she sees you panicking, she will be scared too. I am on my way. I will find her. I promise you with my life, I will find her. Just stay where you are and wait for me to get there.”

I hung up the phone and let out a long, shaky breath that felt like a sob. I tried to do what he said. I tried to sit down, but I could not just sit there and do nothing while my daughter was missing.

My heart was pounding against my ribs so hard it actually hurt. I began to walk back and forth on the floor of the shop, my shoes clicking against the tile.

Every second felt like a whole hour. My first thought was that my baby had been taken by a bad stranger. I kept thinking about all the scary things that could happen to a little girl all alone in a big city.

I could not just wait. The silence in the shop was making me feel like I was losing my mind. I grabbed my keys and ran out to my car. I drove back to the kindergarten like a crazy person.

I didn’t care about traffic lights or speed limits. My eyes were blurry with tears, and I kept wiping them away so I could see the road.

When I reached the school, I didn’t even park the car in a real spot. I just left it running in the middle of the driveway and ran inside.

I found the teacher, Mrs. Gable, in the hallway. She was holding a stack of papers, looking totally normal. The moment I saw her, I legit crashed out.

I felt a wave of hot rage explode in my chest. I started yelling at the top of my lungs, and I didn’t care who was looking at us.

“How could you let this happen?” I screamed My face was red and hot with anger How could you just give my baby to a stranger? You are paid to protect these children That is your only job You gave her to a man who just said he was her father without even calling me to check Do you know how dangerous that is?”

Mrs. Gable looked terrified. She dropped her papers on the floor. She was shaking, and her eyes were very

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18:17 Mon, Jun 1

Chapter 135

wide. “I am so, so sorry, Miss Aria,” she said, her voice small and trembling.

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“I made a terrible mistake. I see that now. I should have checked the file. But… but their resemblance was so striking. It was shocking, really. He looked just like her. He had the same hair and the same eyes. He knew her name, and Amelia didn’t run from him. She called him ‘Uncle‘ and smiled. I really, truly thought it was her father coming to surprise her.”

Resemblance. Striking.

Those words hit me like a heavy stone to the chest. My heart stopped for a beat, and the room felt cold. There was only one person in this whole world who looked that much like Amelia.

There was only one man who had those same green eyes and that same dark, thick hair. But he wouldn’t dare, would he?

Julian was supposed to be out of our lives forever. He was a memory. He wouldn’t have the guts to just show up and take my child without asking, would he?

I fumbled with my phone, my fingers shaking so much I almost dropped it on the floor. I looked through my blocked list, scrolling past names I didn’t want to see.

I finally found the one number I promised myself I would never call again as long as I lived. Julian.

I pressed the call button and held the phone to my ear.

I was praying that I was wrong. I was hoping it was anyone else but him. It rang once, then twice, and then someone picked up. “Mommy.”

It was Amelia’s voice. My heart jumped into my throat. I felt like I could breathe again, but I was still so scared. “Amelia? Baby, are you okay? Are you hurt? Tell Mommy where you are!”

“I’m fine, Mommy. I’m happy.” she said. She sounded very calm, like she was just playing a game. “This nice uncle picked me up from school. He bought me a big chocolate bar and a new doll. He said we were going to see you soon at a big, pretty house with a fountain.”

My blood turned to ice. A “nice uncle“? She didn’t even know he was the man who was supposed to be her father. He was already bribing her with toys and candy.

“Amelia, baby, listen to me. Give the phone to the man. Give it to him right now.”

There was a moment of silence. I heard the sound of the phone being moved. Then, I heard a deep, familhar breath on the other end. “Aria,” Julian said.

His voice sounded calm and smooth, just like it did in my worst dreams.

“Are you stupid?” I screamed. I was standing in the school hallway, and I didn’t care who heard me.

“Do you have any idea what you have done? This is kidnapping, Julian. This is a crime. I will call the police and have you thrown in jail for the rest of your life. Give me back my daughter right this second.”

I was seething with fury. I wanted to reach through the phone and scratch his eyes out. I felt like a wounded

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Chapter 135

mother beast ready to kill anyone who touched her child.

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