The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Chapter 94

ARIA’S POV

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The moment the car came to a stop, my chest tightened again.

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The building in front of me was nothing short of breathtaking. It was grand, elegant, glowing under soft golden lights that made everything feel almost unreal.

It wasn’t overly crowded, not chaotic like most high-profile events. It was controlled, selective and intimate.

And somehow, that made it worse.

Because it meant everyone here mattered. Everyone here was important. Everyone here knew each other.

Which begged the question that had been quietly forming in my mind since the moment we arrived.

Why was Brandon invited?

I stepped out of the car slowly, my fingers tightening slightly around his hand as I took in the scene. “This doesn’t look like a public event,” I murmured.

“It isn’t. It’s an invite only event, Aria,” he replied simply.

That only made my thoughts spiral further.

If he was here, if he had been invited to something this exclusive, then he wasn’t just another wealthy businessman.

He was someone they respected. Someone they valued. And suddenly, I couldn’t help but wonder just how deep his connection to the Morettis actually ran.

The moment we stepped inside, attention shifted. It was subtle at first. Then it wasn’t.

Heads turned, the conversations slowed and eyes followed. And then came the flashes. Cameras.

Phones.

My heart skipped, panic rising almost instantly, but before it could settle into something worse, Brandon’s grip on my hand tightened slightly.

And just like that, everything stopped. Not gradually. Not hesitantly. Completely.

I watched, slightly stunned, as a few men I hadn’t even noticed before moved quietly through the room, speaking to people, collecting devices, ensuring that whatever had been captured wasn’t leaving with anyone.

My breath caught. He did that for me. The realization settled quietly but heavily in my chest.

And for the first time since stepping into that room, I felt something shift.

12:22 Thu, May 14 N

Chapter 94

I felt safe and in control for once. My gaze lifted slowly, scanning the room and then I saw them.

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Serena. Her expression froze the moment her eyes landed on me. Shock didn’t even begin to cover it.

It was sharper and deeper like she had seen something she couldn’t quite process.

And beside her stood Luca. The reaction on his face was different. It was not shock, not confusion but something darker. Something unreadable.

And for a brief moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Brandon’s presence beside me grounded me instantly. He didn’t move away, didn’t loosen his hold.

If anything, his attention sharpened, his focus settling entirely on me like nothing else in that room mattered. “Stay with me,” he murmured quietly. I nodded. And somehow, I did. People approached us throughout the evening.

Investors. Businessmen. Familiar faces I didn’t recognize but knew carried weight.

They spoke to him and tried to engage him. But he didn’t leave. Not once. “I don’t discuss business at events like this,” he said calmly more than once, his tone polite but firm.

And every single time, his attention returned to me. Like I was the priority. Like I mattered more than whatever deals they were hoping to make.

It did something strange to my chest. Something warm. Something steady. And slowly, the suffocating tension I had walked in with began to loosen.

This wasn’t as unbearable as I thought it would be. Not with him beside me. Not like this. But then, something else caught my attention.

Serena. My gaze lingered on her longer this time, something not quite sitting right in my mind. She had announced her pregnancy around the same time I had.

I remembered that clearly. And yet, there was no visible bump. Not even the slightest curve. My brows furrowed slightly. That didn’t make sense.

A quiet unease settled in my chest, but I pushed it aside. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe I was overthinking. I didn’t have the energy to dig into it right now.

Not here. Not tonight. A small group of girls approached not long after. Familiar faces. Too familiar. Serena’s old circle.

The same ones who had whispered, mocked and watched me fall apart like it was entertainment. Their eyes scanned me, lingering just long enough to judge.

But this time something was different. They didn’t come for me. Not directly. Instead, their attention shifted to Brandon.

Smiles softened. Voices sweetened. Subtle touches. Lingering looks. It was obvious what they were doing.

12:22 Thu, May 14 N

Chapter 94

They were trying to

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And for a moment, I felt that old discomfort creeping back in. Until, he ignored them completely. He was cold, dismissive and uninterested. It was like they weren’t even there.

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