The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 160

| was thoroughly exhausted, but a soothing sense of relaxation coursed through my body as Aria and | entered our apartment late that night. Our spa trip had been the perfect remedy for weeks of stress and tension. The soothing massages and refreshing facials had washed away the worries that had plagued us.

As we stood in the dimly lit hallway of our apartment building, | couldn’t help but smile at Aria. Her eyes sparkled with contentment, and the soft, contented sigh that escaped her lips was music to my ears.

Aria glanced at me, her voice barely above a whisper. “Evie, | can’t believe how amazing today was. | feel like a completely new person.”

| nodded in agreement, still reveling in the sensation of utter relaxation. “I know, Aria. | don’t remember the last time | felt this relaxed.”

We fumbled with our keys, eager to enter our apartment and continue basking in the afterglow of our spa day. As | pushed open the door, | was surprised to see something unusual lying on the floor just inside the threshold.

It was a slice of cake, neatly wrapped in plastic and placed on a small plate. | furrowed my brow in confusion and bent down to pick it up, examining it closely.

Aria, noticing my curiosity, came closer and peered over my shoulder. “Evie, where did that come from?” | turned the plate over and saw a message scrawled in familiar handwriting. It read, “Your favorite! -Tim.”

My heart skipped a beat, and a rush of emotions washed over me. Timothy, my son, had left this slice of cake for me. The sweet gesture took me by surprise, and | couldn’t help but smile at the thought of him thinking of me.

Aria looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and warmth. “Tim left this for you?” | nodded, my voice slightly shaky as | inhaled the familiar scent. “I guess so. It’s banana nut cake.”

As | held the slice of cake in my hands, memories flooded back to me. He had internalized my love for banana nut, because of course he did.

Aria’s eyes softened, and she wrapped an arm around my shoulder. She seemed

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hesitant to comment on it, especially since he had been the source of our previous argument. | tried to play it cool, acknowledging it with a smile. “That's sweet of him.”

Aria squeezed my shoulder. “It is.”

More relieved that it was not a dead rodent this time, | left the slice of cake on the kitchen counter and headed to my room to put away the things | had brought back from the spa.

| couldn't help but wonder about the slice of cake. It was clear from the message that Timothy had left it for me. But why had he done it, and why hadn’t he been. able to give it to me face to face, especially since | had been gone?

As | unpacked my bag and tossed my old clothes in the hamper, my thoughts kept drifting back to Timothy. We had grown apart in recent months, our disagreements and misunderstandings pulling us further away from each other. It seemed like every attempt to connect only resulted in anger and frustration.

Maybe this was him was trying to mend our strained relationship in his own way, even if it was through a simple slice of cake. It was a small, unexpected gesture, but it held a glimmer of hope.

As | finished unpacking and returned to the kitchen, the slice of cake still sat there on the counter, untouched. | couldn’t bring myself to eat it just yet.

Aria had settled into the living room, flipping through a magazine and enjoying the peace and quiet of our cozy apartment. | joined her, sitting on the couch and trying to shake off the melancholy that had settled over me.

After a day of relaxation, | had almost forgotten about the email. It was set to send tomorrow, and rather early in the day. He wouldn't know that it was from me, but the irrational side of me feared that he would.

| sighed, stretching my legs out and sinking deeper into the cushions. “You know, Aria, we could just do absolutely nothing this weekend. Take the lazy route. We've earned it.”

Aria lowered her magazine, her eyes brightening at the suggestion. “Sounds like a plan. | nodded in agreement, the idea of a lazy weekend appealing to me more than

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Chapter 160 ever. “Exactly. Just a few more days to unwind and recharge. Then we can hustle afterward.”

Aria leaned back on the couch, her magazine slipping from her fingers. She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. “I couldn’t agree more. I’m actually feeling quite tired already.”

| smiled warmly at Aria, her drowsiness evident. “It’s been a long day. Why don’t you head to bed.”

“F

Aria looked at me, her eyes heavy with sleep. ” Promise me you won't stay up too late. You need rest too.”

| chuckled softly. “I promise.”

Aria

gave me a grateful smile and slowly got up from the couch. She stretched and yawned once more. “I'll see you in the morning.”

| watched Aria make her way to her bedroom, her steps slow and deliberate. As | finally made my way to my own bedroom and settled under the covers, | felt a little more at peace.

Change was just on the horizon. In a few hours, Timothy would get that email, and | had no way of knowing how he would

respond.

Even in the presence of his fiancé, his eyes remained on me. We had agreed to keep things friendly, but he was acting out the part of an old close friend entirely. if not more. He had even thought to bring me my favorite flavor of cake, as though it were typical.

Back at the mansion, Timothy's words on love and finding the right one still resonated with me. | knew who they applied to, though part of me wished that they hadn't. It would have been easier to move on if it didn’t feel like we were still intertwined.

A few moments went by of me staring into the darkness. Eventually, curiosity. gnawed at me, and after some hesitation, | quietly tiptoed back into the kitchen. My steps were careful, the floorboards barely creaking beneath my feet.

The slice of cake beckoned to me, its presence tantalizing.

| grabbed a fork and took a small, delicate bite. The flavor that exploded in my mouth was unmistakable—banana nut cake with cream cheese icing. | couldn’t

Ill Chapter 160 help but smile as | savored the fluffy interior.

| continued to eat the slice of cake, each bite filled with a sweetness I’d begun to miss. Of course, my sense of apprehension returned soon after. As | neared the end of the slice, a heavy feeling settled in my chest.

| had promised myself that | wouldn't fall back into Timothy’s lure so easily. Our relationship had been strained to a dangerous degree, and | shouldn't allow myself to be swayed by a simple slice of cake.

| set down the fork, the guilt weighing on me. | had indulged in a moment of weakness, and | knew | needed to maintain my resolve.

As | left the kitchen and returned to my room, | couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something else was amiss. Aria’s earlier words about Timothy trying to reach out to me had echoed in my mind. | wondered if Timothy was aware of the protective order that Stella had obtained.

And if it applied to him as well.