By admin Fake Dating My Ex’s Favourite Hockey Player Novel CH 105
EMILIA
There’s a beat.
Then all hell breaks loose.
“What?” Tuli snaps, voice cutting like glass.
。
G
- 20.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Seth shouts, already stepping forward like he needs to physically shake the truth out of her.
Liam doesn’t move. Doesn’t flinch. His face is carved out of stone.
Jessica keeps going. Her voice wobbles now, but she doesn’t stop. “There was never anything between Liam and me. Not romantically. Not physically. I never even thought it was possible people would believe that Liam-” Her words trail off, shoulders curling in. “There was nothing like that. Ever.”
Tuli’s hands tremble, but her mouth stays firm. “Jessica, what is the meaning of this? Don’t be ridiculous. Of course Liam is Rowland’s father. You’re his mother. You can’t just disown the poor boy-”
“I’m not disowning him!” Jessica barks, turning on her like she’s been holding it in for years. “And don’t you dare act like I did this alone. If you want someone to blame, look at your husband. He manipulated a nineteen–year–old girl and you let him.”
Tuli’s face goes ghost–pale. “What?”
And now I’m starting to piece it together – tiny puzzle
no return.
gments clicking into place but Jessica doesn’t stop. She’s past the point of
“I lied,” she says simply. “I let everyone think Rowland was mine. And Liam…. he stepped up because he thought Seth was the father. He was just trying to protect his brother. But I’ve never even been with Seth. I just… did what I was told.”
Seth looks physically pained, like the floor’s been yanked out from under him. His voice is raw when he manages
Jessica’s breath catches. Then she drops the match.
“Your father,” she says. “Rowland’s not your nephew, Seth. He’s
your brother.”
who?”
The room turns to ice.
“No.” Tuli’s voice is a whisper. Hollow. Like if she says it gently enough, it’ll undo the truth.
Jessica scoffs. The look she throws Tuli is pure venom. “What? Shocked? Don’t act like you didn’t know. You booked the hotel rooms for them – your husband and his secretary. You made sure no one would find out.”
Tuli stares at her, frozen.
“And when his secretary got pregnant and refused an abortion, your husband panicked,” Jessica keeps going, her voice rising. “The board, the press, the investors – they’d have eaten him alive. So guess who he picked to clean up his mess?”
She gestures to herself. A bitter laugh escapes.
“A teenager. Some lovesick idiot who didn’t know better. He told me if I didn’t go along with it ruin me. Said he’d make sure I never worked again. That I’d lose Liam forever”
1
if I didn’t fake the pregnancy-
he’d
الاسلام
Jessica turns to Liam now. Her face crumples, but she doesn’t cry. “I needed help. I needed someone to tell me it was wrong to feel the way I did about you. But your parents fed me lies. They used me. And I let them.”
She wipes at her face, furious. “Do you think wanted to drop out of college? Turn down work? Sit around for months pretending to be pregnant, hoping no one would figure it out?”
She breathes hard. Her next words come sharp, like blades.
“I hate them for what they did. And I hate myself for letting it happen. Because every time that I look at Rowland, I can’t see a kid or a person, but a reminder of everything they used to tear me apart.”
I don’t realise when my vision blurs. Or when Julie steps up beside me.
1/3
3:34 PM P P
Chapter 105
Her hand lands gently on my shoulder. I jolt.
0
0
I don’t know how long she’s been standing there or how much she’s heard, but she offers me a small, tired smile. “I brought down your stuff. You and Liam’s. It’s by the stairs.”
I glance back. She’s right. Our bags sit at the foot of the steps.
Julie sighs, shaking her head. “I just wish Jessica waited. Just a few more minutes. But now…” Her voice trails off. “Now Liam has one more reason to never come back.”
study her. “You knew?”
“It wasn’t exactly a state secret if you weren’t brainwashed.” Her voice is light, but there’s a tremble in her fingers. “Rowland’s been living with Dad’s secretary since he was born. And not just staying over full–on custody. Meanwhile, the rest of us barely get to see him a few times a year.”
–
She pauses. “And, well… he doesn’t look like Jessica. Not even a little. But he does look a lot like the woman I caught our dad making out with in his office when I was in college.”–
I stare down at my shoes. “So why didn’t you say anything?”
Julie shrugs, but her hand tightens on my shoulder before dropping to her side. “Because it wouldn’t have changed anything. Nephew or brother, he’s still a kid. He didn’t ask for any of this. I love him either way.”
He’s better off where he is. Happier. Can you imagine what growing up in this
Her voice softens. “Honestly… I still see him. house would’ve done to him?”
weel
Her eyes flick across the room. “Things are better now. Sort of. But growing up here? Our parents had a way of tearing the childhood out of you. Liam and I we tried to shield the younger ones.
Ok the brunt of it so they wouldn’t have to. But wounds like that? They don’t just heal. When they do, they scar.”
I look back to the room.
We’ve missed some of it. But the aftermath is written all over their faces.
Tuli’s crying – loud, breathless sobs like she’s trying to make up for every year she spent pretending she didn’t know. Seth looks gutted, like the floor’s just vanished beneath his feet. Jessica’s trembling with fury, jaw clenched, fists tighter.
And Liam….
I’ve never seen him like this.
He doesn’t say a word. Doesn’t look back. Just strides past the chaos, past Julie standing quietly at my side, and grabs our stuff. Then he’s in front of me. “Let’s go.”
My voice barely comes out. “Okay.”
We don’t say goodbye. Jessica tries to speak to him- quiet, desperate – but Liam doesn’t stop. Doesn’t look at her. Just takes my hand and leads me out.
It’s only once we’re out of the street, halfway down the road, that I see his shoulders drop. He finally breathes. As a peace offering, I let him fiddle with the radio and don’t say anything when he lands on something awful.
“You okay?” I ask, knowing full well the answer.
For a second, I think he won’t respond. Then he lets out a hollow laugh, tapping the steering wheel. “Not really. I always knew my dad was a piece of shit, but Mum…” He trails off, jaw tightening. “Lacey’s been calling like crazy. Can you call her back? Something might be up.”
I check my phone. Seven missed calls. A message that reads: Em, it’s important. Please call back when you can.
My stomach drops.
I call her immediately. The line clicks, but her usual brightness isn’t there.
“Where are you?” she asks. “Are you with Liam? Is he driving?”
“Yeah. We’re on our way. We’ll be there in a few hours.”