The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Chapter 72

JULIAN’S POV

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The mansion felt emptier at night. Too big. Too quiet. Too cold. And somehow, Leonie’s presence only made it worse.

I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows in my room, a glass of whiskey in hand as I stared down at the city below, jaw clenched tightly enough to hurt. Ever since my father had forced her into my house, peace had become nonexistent.

She was everywhere.

In the kitchen when I woke up. In the living room when I got back. Hovering around like she belonged there.

I had made my boundaries clear the first day.

“Do not touch my things. Do not enter my room. Do not speak to me unless absolutely necessary. And most importantly…” I had said coldly, glaring down at her, “do not cross my path.”

She had nodded. She had promised. And yet she still kept finding ways to piss me off. Every damn day. But no matter how much Leonie irritated me, she wasn’t the real reason I couldn’t sleep.

Aria was.

She was in my head constantly. In my thoughts when I woke up. In my dreams when I slept. In every quiet second when my mind had nothing else to focus on.

And I hated it.

I hated how much I still thought about her. I hated how badly I wanted to call her. I hated how much I missed her. But pride wouldn’t let me.

Because she left. She chose to walk away. And I would be damned before I crawled after someone who made me feel like second place.

One night, after another miserable dinner spent avoiding Leonie, I went upstairs and took a long shower, hoping the hot water would calm my mind.

It didn’t.

When I stepped out of the bathroom with only a towel around my waist, steam still curling around me, I froze.

Leonie was sitting on my bed wearing a revealing silk lingerie. My entire expression darkened instantly. “What the fuck are you doing?”

She smiled softly, standing to her feet. “Relax, Julian…”

“No.” My voice came out sharp. Dangerous. “Get out.”

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Chapter 72

She pouted. “You’ve been so distant lately.”

“Get. Out.” Instead of listening, she stepped closer

Then closer.

And before I could move, her hand landed on my bare chest. “Maybe if you just gave this a chance-”

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I snapped. “Don’t fucking touch me!” I roared. She gasped, stumbling backward slightly. But then she reached again. And that was it.

I grabbed her wrist, shoved her harshly onto the bed, and stepped back immediately like touching her disgusted me. “If you ever pull some shit like that again,” I growled, my voice low and venomous, “I’ll have security drag you out themselves.”

Her eyes widened in shock. I quickly got dressed, grabbed my keys, and stormed out before I completely lost my temper.

I drove aimlessly for nearly twenty minutes before realizing where I was headed. The apartment. The one I shared with Aria. The one I swore I was done with.

My chest tightened as I unlocked the door and stepped inside. Silence greeted me instantly.

The place still smelled faintly like her perfume.

And that nearly broke me. I walked slowly through the apartment, each room feeling like a ghost of something I no longer had.

Then my feet carried me to her room. And the second I stepped inside, something in me cracked. I sat on the edge of her bed and stared at the pillows she used to sleep on.

At the blanket she used to curl herself into. At the empty space where she used to be. “Fuck…” I whispered, dragging a hand over my face.

Then I drank. And drank. And drank. Until the room blurred and my thoughts numbed and I passed out on the damn floor.

The next morning, loud banging woke me from my drunken haze. I groaned, my head pounding violently as I forced myself up.

When I opened the door, Blake stood there. He took one look at me and grimaced. “Jesus Christ.”

I frowned. “What are you doing here?”

“We had a meeting this morning,” he deadpanned. “You didn’t show. I checked the mansion, but the princess

were.” over there said she had no idea where you

I rolled my eyes and stepped aside. Blake walked in, taking in the bottles scattered around before sighing. “You’re a fucking mess.”

“No shit.”

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Chapter 72

go

He turned to face me. “Go find her.” I stiffened. “If you still love her, stop doing this to yourself and find

her.”

My jaw tightened instantly. “No.”

“Julian-”

“She’s a cheap, unrepentant whore,” I spat. The words tasted bitter. Heavy. Wrong. But I said them anyway. Because if I kept saying it, maybe one day I’d believe it.

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Maybe one day it would hurt less. Blake stared at me for a long moment before laughing bitterly. “You don’t even believe it yourself.”

Before I could respond, my phone rang. Father. I answered immediately, already irritated. “What?”

His voice was ice cold. “Did you put your hands on Leonie?”

I scoffed. “She ran to report me?”

“You will treat her properly.”

“Or what?”

“Or I freeze every account tied to your name and revoke access to every asset you

have.”

I laughed. “You think I care?” Silence.

Then I smiled darkly. “Try it. And I’ll expose every mistress you’ve hidden from my mother over the years and ruin that perfect little marriage the media worships.”

Blake’s eyes widened instantly. Father’s breathing sharpened over the phone. “You ungrateful little-”

I hung up. Blake stared at me in disbelief. “Jesus, Julian. You’re going too far.”

“No,” I snapped. “He is.”

Blake sighed heavily. “They only care about appearances, man. You know that.”

“Exactly.” He hesitated.

Then said quietly, “Do you know why he’s really pushing marriage?”

I frowned. “What?”

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