Chapter 99

Chapter 99

TIMOTHY POV

Timothy couldn’t shake the weight of his conversation with Josh from his mind as he walked into the hockey arena. The

revelation that Bruce had been blackmailing him had shaken him to the core, and it was a burden he couldn’t carry alone. But as

he laced up his skates and prepared for another long practice, he couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

He wanted to protect Evie, but she refused him. If Bruce acted out like before, he couldn't entertain the idea of him harming her

in any way. That was more painful than not seeing her at all.

He knew very!

about Bruce, most of his knowledge stemming from rumors and the occasional run in with the guy. In those brief moments, he

could already tell that Bruce was a criminal in the making, if he hadn’t been one already. It made Timothy’s stomach turn just

thinking about how Evie had to live in the same house as that degenerate.

As Timothy stepped onto the ice, his teammates greeted him with nods and smiles. The rink was a sanctuary, a place where he

could temporarily escape

the chaos of his thoughts. But today, the familiar feel of the cold ice beneath his skates and the sound of the puck hitting the

boards did little to ease his inner turmoil.

Timothy's focus wavered as he skated through the drills, his mind drifting back to Evie and the desperate situation she found

herself in. The temptation to abandon practice and go to her aid was strong, but he knew that she had rejected his help. It was a

painful realization, and it left him feeling helpless and conflicted.

Timothy's thoughts were adrift as he glided across the ice during another grueling hockey practice. The recent turmoil involving

Bruce and Evie had cast a long shadow over his mind, making it nearly impossible to concentrate on the drill.

As the practice continued, Timothy’s newfound ferocity became increasingly apparent. He battled fiercely for the puck, his body

colliding with opponents in a way that surprised even himself. His teammates didn’t complain, however. In fact, they seemed

pleased with the attitude, like it gave him the edge they were looking for.

One of his teammates, Scott, skated over to Timothy after practice. He clapped. Timothy on the back, a grin on his face.

“Timothy, you were on fire out there

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today! Are you heading out to dinner with the rest of us after practice?”

Timothy wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced at Scott.

“Thanks, man,” Timothy replied, his voice somewhat distant. “I appreciate the invite, but I think I’m just going to head to the

showers and call it a night. Got some stuff on my mind, you know?”

Scott nodded, giving him a thumbs up. “No problem, buddy. Catch you at the next practice.”

With that, Timothy skated away from the conversation, his mind still a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He knew that he

needed some space to process everything that had happened, and the solitude of the locker room and the soothing rush of the

shower offered a brief respite from the chaos of his thoughts.

As he entered the locker room, the familiar scent of sweat and hockey gear greeted him. The room was filled with the sounds of

teammates joking and chatting as they prepared to shower and change.

Timothy found his own corner and undressed quickly, the weight of the day's events hanging heavily over him. As he turned on

the shower and stepped beneath the cascading water, he found that the icy temperatures did little to calm him. The pain he saw

in Evie’s eyes still haunted him.

Once he had showered and dressed, Timoy made his way out of the locker

room. As he turned the corner, he spotted Alex just a few feet away.

Timothy's curiosity got the better of him, and he slowed his pace, pretending to tie his shoelaces as he observed the interaction

from a distance. Alex was engaged in a hushed conversation with a random man, their voices barely audible over the echoing

sounds of the emptying arena.

Timothy strained to catch any words he could, and as he focused, he overheard something that sent a chill down his spine. The

words “fair return” came from Alex's mouth as he slipped a wad of cash into the man’s hands.

The implications of those words hit Timothy like a freight train. Fixed matches in the hockey league were not only illegal but could

ruin careers and reputations. He had only seen one case of that in his whole career, and he figured nobody else would be dumb

enough to continue it.

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Chapter 99

As Alex finished his conversation and turned to walk away, he caught sight of Timothy. Their eyes locked for a moment, and Alex

gave him a sly wink before disappearing around the corner, leaving Timothy both confused and frustrated.

Timothy had never been one to involve himself in the rivalries and politics of the hockey world. He simply loved the game and the

thrill of competition. But now, he found himself once again being thrust into a world of deceit.

He had already gained a small reputation for causing trouble merely for speaking up against the corruption. Of course, he was

praise by dedicated fans and supportive teammates alike for him and Evie setting things right, but that came with encroaching on

the territory of shadier figures. He almost wondered what Stella’s father was doing now since he was already pretty well

established.

The fortunate side of that was not having Stella around to constantly cling onto him wherever he went. Her desperate attempts at

grabbing his attention only brought on unwanted attention from the press. Supposedly, angering her father was all Timothy

needed to push her away for good.

That night, as Timothy returned home, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him. The possibility of Alex’s

involvement in a fixed match was like watching a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode and bring more chaos. before the dust

had even settled.

As he stepped out of his car and made his way to the front door, he was met with a sight that left him even more bewildered.

On the farthest part of the lot, Evie stood by her car, her figure adorned in a skin tight dress and heavy makeup that was starkly

different from her usual modest and understated style.

Timothy's heart raced as he watched her. The dim glow of the streetlights cast long. shadows on the pavement, and he couldn't

help but wonder where she was going dressed like that. His instincts told him that something was amiss.

Right as Timothy was about to call out to her, Evie ducked into the passenger seat of the car while the driver started up the

engine. He scrunched up his face and backed away as the high beam lights flickered on.

Against his better judgment, Timothy walked back to his car. He knew it was a risky move, but he couldn’t shake the nagging

feeling that something was deeply wrong, and it had Bruce written all over it.

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He climbed back into

life as he pulled out of the driveway, keeping a safe

she drove through the quiet streets of the city.

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