The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Chapter 78

ARIA’S POV

I didn’t remember how I got back to my apartment.

Everything after leaving Julian’s office felt like a blur, like I was moving, breathing, existing but not really

there.

The elevator. The street. The stares. The whispers. It all clung to me like dirt I couldn’t wash off.

By the time I pushed my door open, my hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped my keys. The moment I stepped inside, I sank to the floor.

And I cried.

I cried until my chest hurt. Until my throat burned. Until there was nothing left inside me but emptiness.

A soft knock sounded on the door. I didn’t move at first. Then it came again. Gentler this time. “Aria… it’s me.” It was Elena’s voice.

I forced myself up and opened the door.

The moment she saw my face, her expression broke. “Oh my God…” she whispered, pulling me into her arms.

And just like that, I started crying again. “It didn’t work…” I sobbed into her shoulder. “He didn’t believe me… he hates me…”

Elena held me tighter, her hand rubbing my back slowly. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured. “I’m so, so sorry…”

I shook my head, my voice breaking. “He called me a liar… he said the baby isn’t his…” My chest tightened painfully. “He told me to take it to someone else…”

Elena stiffened slightly, anger flashing across her face. But then it softened again into helpless pity.

“There’s nothing I can do, Aria…” she said quietly.

And somehow, that hurt even more. Because it was true. There was nothing anyone could do.

Everything was already ruined. By evening, the silence in my apartment became unbearable. The walls felt too close. The air felt too heavy.

So I forced myself out. “I just need groceries,” I whispered to myself, like saying it would make everything feel normal again.

Like I was still normal. But the moment I stepped into the store, I knew that was a lie. People stared.

They always stared. Whispers followed me down every aisle.

“That’s her…”

Chapter 78

“The one from the videos….”

“I heard she slept with her professor…”

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“Disgusting…” My hands trembled as I reached for a carton of milk. My vision blurred. My chest tightened. I couldn’t breathe. I dropped the basket and I ran.

I didn’t even remember leaving the store. I just knew I needed to get away. Away from the looks.

Away from the voices. Away from everything.

My feet carried me without direction, without thought. Until I ended up at a park. It was quiet, dark and

empty.

I sank onto a bench, pulling my arms around myself as the cool night air brushed against my skin. And then the tears came again. I buried my face in my hands, my shoulders shaking.

His words echoed in my head. “Get out, you whore.”

“That child isn’t mine.” A sob tore from my chest.

“I didn’t do anything…” I whispered brokenly. “I didn’t do anything…”

“You did enough to become famous though.” My head snapped up. A man stepped out of the shadows. My stomach dropped.

He looked at me with a twisted grin. “I recognize you,” he said, walking closer. “You’re that girl from the video, right?”

Fear crept up my spine. “I… I think you’re mistaken,” I said quickly, standing up.

He laughed. “Oh, come on. Don’t be shy.” His eyes dragged over me in a way that made my skin crawl. “Since you’re already doing it for the internet… why not do it for real?”

My heart slammed against my chest. “Stay away from me,” I said, backing up.

But he kept coming. “Relax,” he said, reaching out. “I’ll even pay you—”

“Get your hands off her.” The voice was cold. Sharp. The man froze. Before I could even process what was happening, someone stepped in front of me.

He was tall, broad and dangerous. The stranger didn’t even raise his voice. But there was something in his presence that made the air shift.

“Leave,” he said simply. The man scoffed at first… but then something in the stranger’s gaze must have gotten to him.

Because his confidence cracked. “Whatever,” he muttered, backing off. “She’s not worth it anyway.”

And then he disappeared into the darkness. My legs gave out. The world tilted. And everything went black.

Chapter 78

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When I woke up, nothing looked familiar. I was laying on soft sheets. High ceilings. Glass walls that revealed a breathtaking view of the city below.

I sat up slowly, my head spinning. “Where am I?” I whispered. Panic rose immediately. This wasn’t my apartment. I pushed the covers off and stood up quickly.

I needed to leave. Now. I didn’t know who brought me here. I didn’t know what they wanted. And the last thing I needed was another situation, another rumor and another scandal.

I grabbed my bag, my hands moving fast, frantic. But just as I reached the door, I hesitated. He had helped me. He had saved me. My chest tightened.

I glanced around, then spotted a small notepad on a table. My fingers trembled as I picked up a pen.

“Thank you….”I paused. Then added, “For helping me.” I left the note on the table. And walked out.

The moment I stepped in front of my apartment building, I froze. Serena was standing there. She was leaning casually against the wall like she had been waiting.

My stomach dropped. Her lips curled into a slow, mocking smile. “Well, well,” she said. “Look who finally decided to come home.”

I swallowed hard.

“Where were you?” she continued, pushing herself off the wall. “Out on another little trip? Or should I say,” her smile widened, cruel and sharp, “a fuck trip?”

Heat rushed to my face. Shame burned through me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said weakly.

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