Knotted By My Hockey Stepbrother My Ex Left Me For

Chapter 3

CADY

My bestie here showed up at my door early the next morning, armed with two steaming cups of coffee.

She took one look at the dark circles under my eyes, the way I was hugging myself like I might fall apart, and the faint purple shadows of bruises peeking from under my sleeve, and made her decision on the spot.

"You are not spending the day in this room feeling sorry for yourself," Mia hissed, shoving one of the coffees into my hands. "The ice hockey match is this afternoon. I know it has always been your favorite sport until now but come with me. Get some fresh air. Watch the game.” She paused, scanning my face.

I smirked. “I was about to but….” I paused, uttering in a low tone. “It's no longer my favorite sport.” Her face twisted. I hadn't told her this. She wasn't there yesterday when we fought. I'd just texted her it's a little misunderstanding.

I stood here silent for a while, feeling partly guilty. She deserved to know.

Her lips hung loose in the course of it.

Watching the match might hurt, but it could also give me the final push I needed to end things.

So I went.

We arrived on time but decided to sit in the middle, where I could blend into the crowd with my hoodie pulled up. The arena hummed with cheers even before the players skated the ice.

More spectators filled every row, jackets zipped against the cold, voices rising in excited chatter. I tried to focus on the crowd, on the lights reflecting off the rink, on anything except the knot of dread in my stomach.

Then the team began the warm-ups.

Aiden braced with excitement each time he looked at his Captain, Blake. I was watching. I was recording. From the warm-up to when the match began.

Aiden skated round with focus and precision, probably to make his man proud. He scored during drills, and the crowd of spectators erupted in loud cheers. But my attention kept drifting to Blake.

Blake, the captain, moved with an excited glow, more focused on Aiden than the puck. He clashed over a rival’s stick but escaped a penalty. It was accidental.

When he skated up beside Aiden, they fell into an easy rhythm passing the puck back and forth, it seemed he whispered something to him. Blake then reached over and adjusted the strap on Aiden's helmet, fingers lingering on the side of his jaw for just a second too long. Aiden tilted his head into the touch, eyes half-lidded, giving a slight, sweet smile.

My nails dug into my palms. For a second.

I hated this!

Mia leaned close. "Breathe, Em. Just watch. Do not do anything stupid yet."

The game started. Bodies slammed into the boards, sticks clashed, the puck flew like a bullet. Aiden scored the first goal, the crowd roaring as he pumped his fist.

I wasn't focused on the game either way.

During a timeout, Blake skated over with a water bottle, handed it to Aiden with a nod that felt intimate. Their heads bent together as they spoke, voices lost in the noise but bodies too close for teammates.

Later, Blake tapped Aiden's glove with his own, a gesture that looked casual to everyone else but felt loaded with meaning to me.

By the third period I was trembling, not from the cold but from the slow burn of rage building inside me. Every glance they shared, every brush of contact, felt like another cut.

When the final buzzer sounded and our college team won, the players piled on each other in celebration. Aiden and Blake collided last, bodies slamming together, Aiden's face pressing briefly into Blake's neck before they pulled apart. Blake's hand slid down Aiden's back slowly in repeated strokes before letting go.

I stood up so fast my knees nearly buckled. "I am going down there. I am ending this right now, in front of everyone."

Mia grabbed my sleeve. "Cady, wait…..think about it. If you do this….."

But the intercom crackled overhead, cutting her off.

"Cadet Cady Voss. Report to the Commandant's office immediately."

The words landed like a physical blow.

The entire arena seemed to quiet for me, though the cheering continued around us. Mia's eyes widened in horror. "What the hell is this?"

I did not answer. I just turned and walked out, legs moving on autopilot.

The Commandant's office felt colder than the ice. Dark wood panels, stern portraits of past leaders staring down, the faint smell of polished leather and old paper.

My feet took three steps back on sighting them.

Aiden and Blake.

Questions built up in my mind. While I was planning them, were they planning me too? It made me feel almost stupid. My eyes grew dim, my face twisted with rage and confusion. Stiffening up, I boldly walked in.

Aiden kept his gaze fixed on the floor. Blake met my eyes directly, posture relaxed, arms crossed over his chest.

The Commandant spoke without preamble. "Cadet Voss, your scholarship is revoked effective immediately.”

“You have been found guilty of instigating physical violence on academy premises.”

“Crestville maintains a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior."

His words came in strides, with cold authority.

The room spun. "He hit me too," I said, voice cracking. "Blake was right there. He saw everything. Aiden started it. Everyone saw."

The Commandant glanced briefly at Blake. "Witness statements and reports are consistent. You initiated the altercation. The decision stands."

I turned to Blake. “Isn't this what I took punishment for?”

“It wasn't enough!” He said. Blood rushed through my veins, hot and fast. I wanted to smack him hard but I couldn't. Submitting because he was bigger than me pierced deep.

He held my gaze without flinching. The corner of his mouth lifted in the smallest, most infuriating smirk, subtle, smug, victorious. He had orchestrated this. He had spoken to the right people, bent the narrative, and protected Aiden while ensuring I was the one who paid the ultimate price for it.

Aiden shifted his weight but said nothing. Not a word of defense. Not even a glance of regret.

Tears welled up, hot and unstoppable. "This is not fair."

"Dismissed," the Commandant said, tone final.

I stumbled out of the office, vision blurring. In the hallway shadows, I caught sight of them walking away together. Their shoulders brushed. Then their fingers linked.

I barely made it back to my dorm before the sobs broke free. I sat on the edge of the bed, phone shaking in my hand, and called my mother.

She answered on the second ring. "Cady? Honey, what's wrong?"

"It's gone," I choked out. "My scholarship. Revoked. Everything is ruined."

Her voice softened with sympathy, but there was an undercurrent of excitement she could not quite hide. "Oh, baby, I am so sorry. I know how hard you worked for that place.” She breathed.

“But listen, something good is happening here too. I just got married to Sir Theon, yes, the Billionaire CEO. Privately. We are official now, and it's... wonderful."

I blinked through tears. "Mom..."

"And for the Spring holiday, I want you to come to Theon's villa," she continued quickly. "Your new stepbrother, Damon, is coming home as well. It'll be the perfect chance for you two to get to know each other. You need a fresh start, sweetheart. This could be exactly what you need."

Stepbrother. The words felt surreal, like they belonged to someone else's life. “What do you mean, mom? Since when…..”

“Heyyy girl, I’ve got no f*****g time to explain. You just get to do what I say!”

But I had no other options.

"Okay," I whispered. "I'll come." I replied snappily to end the call. I wasn't ready to bear her answer, neither was I interested in meeting anyone, especially because commoners like me and elites had nothing ever to do with each other.