Page 40 of Misconducts & Temptation

"What do you want from this?" I asked, my tone softening as I searched her face for any hint of what she was feeling. "Besides an escape."

She looked at me then, really looked at me, and for a moment, it felt like she was seeing right through all the bullshit layers I'd built up around myself. It made me feel exposed in a way that both terrified and exhilarated me.

"I have to go," she finally said, breaking eye contact and taking a step back.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched her walk away. Every instinct screamed at me to stop her, to make her stay and talk this out. But instead, I let her go, knowing that pushing too hard now would only drive her further away.

As she disappeared around the corner, I clenched my fists and leaned back against the lockers, trying to steady my racing thoughts. This girl—Elodie—she was my ticket out of this mess. But more than that, she was different from anyone I'd ever met. She didn't buy into my bullshit or fall at my feet because of my last name.

And that scared the hell out of me.

I knew what needed to be done next. The River Styx wasn't just a place—it was where we could make this work or watch it all fall apart.

I just hoped she'd show up.

I laced up my skates and adjusted my helmet, the familiar routine bringing a sense of calm. Stepping onto the ice, I felt the coolness seep through my gear. With each push of my blades, I carved out a path, letting the rhythm of skating soothe my restless mind.

Marriage. The word hung in the air like a bad odor. My father’s voice echoed in my head, reminding me of duty, of expectations. The bastard loved my mother, as much as someone like him could love anyone. And she adored him back, even though he didn't deserve it.

Would that ever happen for me? Would I find someone who could look past the Douglas name and see the real me? Did it even matter?

Right now, I didn’t care. Love was a luxury I couldn’t afford. What I needed was an escape route, a way to dodge the bullet named Lola.

As I skated around the rink, I tried to piece together a plan. If I married Elodie—an impulsive move, sure—would it be enough to throw off my father’s plans? Would it make him reconsider this insane arrangement with Lola?

A voice in the back of my mind piped up:Isn't running off and getting hitched to some other broad going to give up your inheritance too?

I didn't know. But maybe if I was already married, my father wouldn’t be so rash as to cut me off entirely. Maybe he'd see it as a strategic move rather than outright rebellion.

Then again, who knew with him? He was unpredictable at best, tyrannical at worst.

I increased my speed, pushing harder against the ice as if that would somehow bring clarity. Marrying Elodie wasn’t just about escaping Lola; it was about reclaiming control over my life. It was about proving that I could make decisions for myself.

But would Elodie even agree? And if she did, what then? Could we navigate this mess together?

I skated faster, trying to outrun the questions swirling in my head. The cold air stung my face, but it was nothing compared to the uncertainty gnawing at me from within.

I didn’t need love. Not now. What I needed was a solid plan to ensure everything fell into place—so that marrying Lola would become impossible.

And Elodie... She was key to that plan.

Would she meet me at the River Styx? Would she take this insane leap with me?

I didn’t have all the answers yet. But for now, skating helped clear some of the fog.

It had to work.

And even then, would Elodie be willing to leave Autumn Brook with me? If I accepted an offer, if I was actually drafted…

I scoffed at the thought.

Teams could be interested all they wanted, but that didn’t guarantee shit.

And my father wasn’t wrong. There were better players, younger. It didn’t matter what Morgan said. I should probably just tie up the damn skates and get ready to fucking work for my father. Inherit the company. Give up playing hockey now before I got too caught up in this.

The ice under my blades felt solid, dependable. Unlike everything else in my life. I circled around, picking up speed, feeling the wind whip against my face. The cold air did nothing to cool the anger simmering inside me.

Could I really walk away from it all? The team, the sport that had been my escape for so long? The idea of sitting behind a desk, wearing a suit and tie every day made my skin crawl. Yet it seemed inevitable.

---