The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 80

Chapter 80

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Chapter 80

ARIA’S POV

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The proposal didn’t sit right with me. Not even a little. It felt like a gilded cage, one I didn’t want to get trapped in again.

I stared at him like he had just offered me another cage, just dressed in gold this time. “I can’t,” I said quietly, shaking my head. “I won’t do this.”

His expression didn’t change.

“I’m not going to be someone’s responsibility again,” I continued, my voice firmer now despite how exhausted I felt. “I just got out of something like that and it nearly destroyed me.”

Silence stretched between us. But he didn’t argue immediately. He just watched me. He was calm, patient and underneath all of that, he was calculating.

“I am not him,” he said finally.

My jaw tightened. “You don’t even know him.”

“I don’t need to,” he replied simply. “I only need to know that you’re in a vulnerable position.” I stiffened. “And right now,” he continued, “you don’t have the luxury of pride. You need help.

The words hit harder than I expected. My fingers curled slightly into the hospital sheets. “I’m not asking for control,” he added. “I’m offering stability.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “That’s exactly how it always starts.”

Something flickered in his eyes then, not anger, not that he was offended. Just a quiet look of understanding.

“I won’t interfere in your personal life,” he said calmly. “You won’t owe me anything beyond basic cooperation. There will be no conditions and no hidden expectations.”

I hesitated. Because part of me wanted to reject him outright. But the other part, the part that had just lost everything, knew I didn’t have many options left.

I had to think about not just me but my baby. If this would offer protection and if he really didn’t need anything else from me, then there was no harm.

“My life is already a mess,” I whispered. “I don’t want more complications.”

“You won’t get any from me,” he said.

I looked at him for a long moment. Then exhaled slowly.

“Fine. I’ll accept your offer.” His gaze sharpened slightly. “But I have conditions,” I added quickly.

“Go on.

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Chapter 80

“I’m not staying in this city,” I said firmly. “I can’t. I won’t survive it.”

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He nodded almost immediately. “That won’t be a problem.” I blinked. “I’m based in another city,” he continued. “The same one you were heading to before the accident.”

My breath caught. Of course he was. Nothing about this felt like coincidence anymore. But I was too tired to question it.

“Alright then,” I repeated quietly. And just like that, my life shifted again. I just prayed that this time, I wouldn’t regret the decision.

I was discharged later that day. The doctor gave me instructions, medications and strict warnings about stress. Stress. I almost laughed at that. By the time I stepped outside the hospital, a sleek black car was already waiting.

His car. His driver. Everything about his world screamed control, power and precision. And somehow, I had just stepped into it.

The drive was long and quiet. I spent most of it staring out the window, watching the city slowly fade into highways and unfamiliar roads.

I didn’t ask questions. I didn’t speak and I didn’t overthink. Because if I thought too hard, I might panic. And I didn’t have the strength for that.

We used his private jet and left the city. Even though I was bewildered, I didn’t say anything. I just followed him and once he showed me the room area, exhaustion settled deep within me.

And before long, I slept off. When I finally woke up, I noticed we were not in the jet anymore. The stranger was sitting next to me as my head rested on his shoulder.

I quickly moved away and mumbled a quiet sorry before looking out the window again. There was silence for a while before he cleared his throat.

“You slept all through the flight here and when we landed, I had to carry you to the car. We’re headed to my penthouse where you will stay and recuperate.”

His words were direct and polite. I just managed a nod before looking back outside the window.the city was beautiful, more beautiful than I imagined and I was determined to start a good life here.

Then, I realized something. I didn’t know his name. I turned to him. “I just realized that I never asked for your name.”

He turned to me and smiled softly. “Brandon. You can call me Brandon, Aria.” He knew my name. Of course. He must have seen the videos too.

Shame coursed through me. I just nodded, not know what else to say.

When we finally arrived, my breath caught. The building was massive. It was modern and expensive. The kind of place I had only ever seen from the outside.

We took a private elevator that led straight to the top. And when the doors opened, I stepped into a

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Chapter 80

penthouse that looked like something out of a dream.

Glass walls. Soft lighting. Clean, elegant design.

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Everything was perfect and untouched. It was very unfamiliar. “You’ll stay here,” he said behind me.

I turned slowly. “You live here too?” I asked.

“Yes.”

My stomach tightened instantly. Another shared apartment with a man. The memory hit me like a slap. Julian. The way it started. The way it ended.

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My chest tightened painfully, but I forced the feeling down. This was different. It had to be. “I’ll have a room prepared for you,” he added. “You won’t be disturbed.”

I nodded slowly. But comfort didn’t come. Not even a little. Later that evening, I sat on the edge of the bed in the room he had given me.

It was beautiful. Too beautiful. Too perfect. And yet I felt completely out of place in it. Like I didn’t belong here. Like I was just passing through someone else’s life again.

A soft knock came at the door. My body tensed slightly. “Come in.”

He stepped inside. Still composed. Still unreadable. “Are you settled?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied quietly. A brief silence followed. Then I looked up at him. “There’s something I want to ask.”

He nodded.

“You’ve seen it, haven’t you?” I said. “The videos. The pictures.”

His gaze didn’t waver. “Yes.”

My chest tightened. “And you still brought me here?”

He slipped his hands into his pockets. “I don’t believe everything I see on the internet,”

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