The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 210

Chapter 210 TIMOTHY POV 075% 11:14

Timothy clenched his jaw as the call from his father interrupted his evening. He’d been prepared to spend the whole day with Evie, but here his father was interfering yet again. With a sigh, he answered.

“What do you want, Dad?” Timothy’s voice held a note of frustration.

Kamran’s voice, measured and composed, responded from the other end. “Timothy, we need to talk. There’s not reason we can’t still connect, even if you seem intent on pissing me off.”

Timothy scoffed, the tension evident. “Connect? We haven’t been connected in years. What could possibly be so important now?”

“Stella has reached out to me,” Kamran stated, his words hanging in the air like an unspoken accusation. Timothy's brow furrowed. “Stella? What does she want?”

2

Kamran paused, choosing his words carefully. “Come to my office, Timothy. There’s something important we need to discuss. And leave your attitude at the door.”

With a sense of reluctance, Timothy agreed to the meeting. As he arrived at his father’s office, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his father had yet another scheme waiting up his sleeve.

Upon entering, he found Kamran seated behind his desk, a mysterious woman standing beside him. Her presence added an air of intrigue to the already tense atmosphere.

“Timothy, this is Mia,” Kamran introduced, gesturing towards the woman. “Mia, meeti et my son, Timothy.”

Timothy offered a polite greeting, but his eyes never wavered from his father. “Dad, what’s going on? Why did. you call me here?”

Kamran sighed, a weight evident in his eyes. He reached into a drawer and retrieved a small box. The gleam of metal caught Timothy's eye, and as the box opened, he found himself staring at an engagement ring.

“Stella wanted you to have this back,” Kamran said.

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Timothy's gaze shifted between the ring and his father. “Why is she giving it back now? What does she want?” “She’s moving on, Timothy,” Kamran replied, his expression unreadable. “And she thought it was time for you to do the same.”

The room fell into an uneasy silence. The implications of Stella returning the engagement ring sent ripples through Timothy's emotions. He hadn't expected her to let go, but perhaps she’d grown a sense of perspective

since she'd vanished from his life.

“What does she mean, moving on?” Timothy asked. He’d known about her little trysts with Andy, and he couldn’t fight the curiosity that emerged once he was reminded of it.

Kamran cleared his throat. “Stella has found someone else.” “Someone, as in my brother?” Timothy offered, hiding a grin. “She’s engaged, and she thought it was best to return this before things got more complicated.”

The words hung in the air as Timothy popped open the box and stared down at the piece of jewelry. He’d convinced her to get a modest diamond, telling her that it looked more elegant. In reality, he just hoped no one would pay much attention to it if it were barely visible.

“So, what? She thought a casual return of the ring would make everything okay?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow. “She couldn't even face me after what she did?”

Kamran sighed, his gaze weary. “Timothy, Stella is trying to close that chapter of her life. She didn’t want to leave any loose ends. It’s time for both of you to move forward.”

Timothy's frustration started to rise. “Move forward? Dad, you act like it’s that simple. Both you and her tried to ruin my life with that ridiculous proposal, and don’t get me started on the baby!*.

Mia interjected, her voice calm. “I’m sure you’ve moved on to better things, Timothy. Or people.”

Timothy's jaw tightened as he observed her closer. He hadn't exactly questioned why she was there, though she might have been one of his father’s secretaries. Either way, she seemed to have some knowledge on his life, which disturbed him further.

“| see,” Timothy said, and he relaxed a little. 2/4

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She wasn’t wrong. He had moved on, which was what he had wanted to do for ages. However, Stella’s easy dismissal of everything left him feeling like he lacked the proper closure.

Kamran leaned back in his chair, weariness etched across his features. “Timothy, I’m not asking you to forget. I’m asking you to accept that sometimes things don’t work out. Stella made her choice, and now you need to make yours.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of unspoken truths hanging in the air. Timothy clutched the engagement ring in his hand and hummed.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

4 “| guess | could trade it in,” Timothy finally said. Kamran nodded, a hint of resignation in his eyes.

Timothy stepped out of his father’s office, the weight of the engagement ring still heavy in his hand. The revelation about Stella’s engagement had unsettled him more than he cared to admit. He couldn’t forget the hell she’d put him through, but he could move on just as she had.

As Timothy walked down the corridor, the sterile office surroundings seemed to amplify every sound. As the ring’s golden band glimmered, he began to feel inspired somehow.

Just as he reached for the exit, his father’s voice cut through the silence. “Timothy, wait.”

Timothy turned, the concern returning as Kamran approached him, a somber expression on his face.

“Your mother’s ashes are ready to be picked up at the funeral home. | thought you should know,” he said, almost in a whisper. The mention of his mother reopened wounds that had barely begun to heal. Timothy’s jaw clenched. “Thanks for telling me.” Without another word, Kamran retreated into his office, leaving Timothy standing in the hallway. He didn’t know how he'd fair, seeing his mother’s body reduced to ashes.

As he walked out of the office building, he pulled out his phone. The screen illuminating with Evie’s name. A sense of guilt washed over him as he recalled how he'd abruptly left their celebration.

“I'm sorry for leaving the celebration so soon. Something came up. Promise to make it up to you,” he typed quick 3/4

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11:14

Evie’s response came swiftly, and his expression lifted. “That’s fine! Just let me know when you're free. We can make more plans.”

Timothy sighed, grateful for Evie’s understanding. After a long car ride, he found himself in front of the funeral home. He pushed open the door, the creaking sound echoing through the quiet reception area.

The funeral director greeted him with a somber expression. “Mr. Hayes. So glad you could come by so soon. Are you ready for them?”

Timothy's jaw tightened and he nodded mechanically. He watched the man disappear in a backroom for a moment, then return with a urn. His mother’s name and a thoughtful quote were engraved on the front.

“Here you are,” he said, pressing the urn into Timothy’s hands. The reality of it seemed to hit him then, and he choked back a gasp.

“Thank you,” Timothy muttered. He felt his chest start to ache as he turned away.

As he left the funeral home, the bustling city seemed to close in around him. He thought of Evie’s invitation to hang out, and that lifted his spirits a little. With his mother gone, he didn’t know what he would've done if Evie

still hated him.

Even if he couldn’t have her the way he wanted, she'd still be there, offering him warmth and comfort that he would gladly return.