The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 85

Chapter 85

Chapter 85

ARIA’S POV

The moment stretched longer than it should have.

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That woman’s words lingered in the air like poison, seeping into every corner of my mind, tightening around my chest until it became hard to breathe. She did not rush. She did not hesitate. Every sentence she spoke was deliberate, sharp, and meant to wound.

And the worst part was that she succeeded.

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze dropping to my stomach with a slow, knowing smirk. “I must say,” she added, her tone dripping with false curiosity, “you move fast. Fame, scandal and now a baby?” She gave a soft laugh. “Impressive.”

My fingers curled tightly at my sides.

“I wonder,” she continued, glancing back at Brandon, “if this one is part of your collection, or just another situation you picked up out of pity.”

That was the final blow. “Enough.” Brandon’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.

It was calm. Controlled. But there was something underneath it now, something darker, something colder than anything I had heard from him before.

The woman paused, clearly surprised.

“I won’t repeat myself,” he added, his gaze locking onto hers. “Watch your words.”

For a second, silence settled between them.

Then she smiled again, softer this time, but no less sharp. “Relax,” she said lightly. “I was only curious.” Her eyes flicked to me one last time. “After all, she’s quite… talked about.”

I didn’t stay long enough to hear anything else. Because by then, I was already walking away.

No, I was storming away.

The restaurant blurred around me as I moved, my chest tight, my emotions tangled into something I couldn’t even begin to sort through. Anger, humiliation, frustration, it all mixed together until I felt like I might explode.

I didn’t stop. I just walked.

The cool air outside hit my face, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside me. driven by the need to get away.

Away from that place. Away from him. Away from everything.

My steps were fast, uneven,

12:20 Thu, May 14 N

Chapter 85

“Aria.” Lignored him. “Aria.”

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His footsteps were closer now, Faster. And before I could move further, his hand wrapped around my wrist.

Firm. Unyielding. I stopped. But I didn’t turn around. “Let go of me,” I said, my voice tight.

“No.” That one word made something inside me snap.

I turned sharply, yanking my hand slightly, but his grip didn’t loosen. “I said let go of me,” I repeated, my voice rising now.

“You’re not leaving like this,” he replied calmly.

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Oh, I’m sorry,” I shot back. “Should I stay and let your ex humiliate me some more?”

His jaw tightened slightly. “That’s not what happened.”

“That is exactly what happened!” I snapped. “You stood there, Brandon. You just stood there while she-”

“I handled it.”

“Too late!” I cut in, my voice shaking now. “You handled it after she had already said everything she wanted to say!”

Silence fell between us.

world,” I My chest heaved as I tried to steady my breathing. “You’re the one who brought me into your continued, my voice quieter now but no less intense. “You’re the one who told me to follow you everywhere. And now I’m the one being disrespected for it?”

His grip on my wrist loosened slightly, but he didn’t let go. “I’m not going back with you,” I said firmly.

His gaze sharpened. “You don’t have a choice.”

I laughed again, but there was no humor in it. “Watch me.”

I pulled my hand free this time and turned, ready to walk away. “Aria.” I didn’t stop. “You don’t have your bag,” he said.

My steps faltered for half a second. “Your phone, your wallet, your money,” he continued. “They’re all at the office.”

My stomach dropped. But I clenched my jaw and kept walking anyway. “I’ll figure it out.”

“You’re not getting into a taxi.”

I stopped again, turning slowly this time. “And why not?”

“Because I said so.”

12:20 Thu, May 14

Chapter 85

My eyes flashed. “You don’t get to control me.”

“And you don’t get to put yourself at risk,” he shot back.

“I’m fine-”

“You’re pregnant.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

“I don’t care,” I said stubbornly.

His expression darkened slightly. “Clearly.”

“I said I’ll walk!”

“And I said you won’t.”

I didn’t even see it coming.

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One second I was standing there, furious and ready to argue, and the next, I was off the ground. A gasp escaped me as Brandon lifted me effortlessly, one arm behind my back, the other under my knees.

“Put me down!” I snapped immediately, struggling against him.

“No.”

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“Brandon!” He didn’t respond. He just walked. Like I weighed nothing. Like my protests meant nothing.

People stared as we passed, but I couldn’t even focus on them. My entire attention was on him, on the way he held me firmly, refusing to let go no matter how much I struggled.

“Put me down right now!” I demanded again. But he didn’t. Not until we reached the car.

He opened the door, placed me carefully inside, and then slid in beside me like nothing had just happened.

Like he hadn’t just carried me across the street against my will.

I turned my face toward the window immediately, my chest tight, my emotions still raw and tangled. I didn’t say a single word for the rest of the drive.

And neither did he. The silence between us was heavier than ever.

When we got back to the office, I stepped out of the car without waiting for him. I walked ahead, my posture stiff, my expression blank.

I collected my bag. Ignored him completely. And when we returned to the penthouse, I did the same. No words. No eye contact. Nothing.

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