The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 68

The digital world was abuzz with newfound fascination. Fan accounts dedicated to the enigmatic “Evie” had sprung up like wildflowers after a spring rain. Photos of me, often taken from my public appearances, were paired with heartfelt captions. and hashtags that speculated about my connection to Timothy.

The hashtag #Tevie was trending more than usual, and | could already guess why.

I scrolled through my phone, the glow of the screen illuminating my features in the dimness of my apartment. Aria had texted me earlier, urging me to check out the fan accounts that had cropped up overnight. The attention was frightening, as | had no idea what Maria had revealed to the public.

The next day at the law firm, | was greeted with curious glances from coworkers. and the occasional congratulatory smile. The whispers of speculation followed me like a gentle breeze, making my cheeks flush with a mix of embarrassment and amusement. | couldn't help but wonder how something as innocent as sharing at cake with Timothy had sparked such a whirlwind of interest.

| called off work earlier that day, already exhausted by the buzz around me. It didn’t take long for me to run into Timothy once | reached our floor. He was jamming the key in his lock as Duke pranced around him in excitement.

Quickly, he noticed me standing there and his face brightened into a smile. Duke. was already trying to charge toward me before Timothy got a good grip on his collar.

“Evie, hey!” he greeted, grunting when Duke nearly escaped his grasp. He didn’t seem bothered by any of the online commotion, his countenance wholly carefree and loose. It did make me curious if he’d even been online at all.

“Have you seen the fan accounts?” | asked, trying to keep it light. Timothy nodded, his amusement evident. “Yeah, it’s hard to miss them. They seem to have multiplied overnight.”

| sighed, running a hand through my hair. | was sure that Maria had something to do with it, but feigned innocence anyhow. “Weird how fast news travels.”

Timothy shakes his head. “I hope it’s not too overwhelming for you, being as private as you are.”

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| held his gaze, my heart skipping a beat at the sincerity in his eyes. “I know, Timothy. It’s all a bit overwhelming.” “Just a little,” | said, looking to the side. “Nothing I’m not used to by now.”

Timothy knelt down and latched a leash onto Duke’s collar. “Well, speaking of overwhelming, would you like to go on a walk with me and Duke? He’s been getting restless from being cooped up inside all day.”

| raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “A walk?” Timothy shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Yeah. We could get some fresh air and maybe clear our heads a bit.” | considered his offer for a moment before nodding. “Sure, a walk sounds good.”

The park was an open area in the center of the city. It had winding dirt trails shaded by thick trees that gave off the scent of fresh pine. Children rode their bikes along the path, greeting us as they passed.

Timothy, Duke, and | strolled along its meandering paths. The soft rustling of leaves and the distant laughter of children created a soothing backdrop to our conversation. | couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment, despite the whirlwind of attention that had enveloped us..

Timothy walked beside me, Duke’s leash in hand as the excited dog trotted ahead, occasionally stopping to sniff at something intriguing. We chatted about anything and everything—work, our favorite books, even our shared love for a good cup

coffee.

“| can buy you being a comic person,” | told him after he'd reminisced about the comic book collection he’d had when he was. twelve. | almost laughed imagining Timothy as a pre-teen, so innocent and full of wonder.

“Hey, | was all about the Fantastic Four,” Timothy continued, brushing the bangs out of his eyes. “Sometimes | wish | could stretch my arms that long, or even be impenetrable like The Thing!”

I let out a hardy laugh. “I can only imagine!” of

| found myself enjoying Timothy’s company to an alarming degree. Aria’s speculation about our relationship only made it slightly awkward whenever we'd

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bump shoulders or exchange glances. His presence was both reassuring and exhilarating, a mix of comfort and excitement that | hadn't experienced in a long time.

However, our peaceful bubble abruptly burst when we entered a more crowded area of the park. The tranquility was replaced by the cacophony of excited voices. and flashing cameras. Paparazzi and fans alike flocked to us, their questions and exclamations filling the air.

Timothy, over here!” one shouted, his camera pointed at Timothy's face. “Evie, are you two really a couple?” asked another. “Is it true your romance blossomed while working on that high-profile case?”

| blinked in surprise, taken aback by the sudden onslaught of attention. The park had transformed into a chaotic frenzy. Timothy’s expression shifted from surprise. to mild irritation, but he managed to keep a polite smile on his face.

He turned to me, his voice laced with a touch of exasperation. “Looks like we’re the main attraction.” Leouldn’t help but chuckle, the absurdity of the situation hitting me. “Seems that way.”

eager

We continued walking, our pace faster as we navigated through the sea of fans and persistent photographers. Maybe | would grow used to this, having strangers clamoring for a glimpse into my life.

| had always valued my privacy, and this sudden intrusion was a reminder of just how quickly things change.

As we made our way through the crowd, a few fans caught my eye. Some were genuinely excited to see us together, their smiles warm and their words filled with congratulations. But there were also those who looked less enthused, their expressions clouded with skepticism or even disappointment.

One woman’s voice rose above the rest, tinged with a note of bitterness. “Evie, you stole our husband! How could you?”

| felt my cheeks flush with a mixture of embarrassment and surprise at her accusation. | exchanged a glance with Timothy, his jaw clenched tightly as he held back a frustrated retort. The woman's words were followed by a flurry of questions,

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and shouts, the atmosphere growing increasingly charged.

Timothy's grip on Duke's leash tightened, and his voice carried a warning edge. “That’s enough, everyone. Give us some space.”

Before | could react, a cold, sticky liquid splashed across my cheek, startling me and eliciting gasps from those around us. My hand flew to my face, my fingers. coming away wet and sticky. | stared in disbelief at the milkshake that had been hurled at me, the white foam dripping down my fingers.

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A mixture of shock and anger surged within me and | was barely able to contain the curses ready to slip from my lips. | wiped my hand on a tissue Timothy handed me, my eyes narrowing as | tried to process what had just happened.

Timothy immediately shieled me from the women and he jabbed a finger at them. “Back off!”

Urgently, he guided me away from the commotion, leading us toward a more secluded area of the park. Once the noise had faded into the distance, he leaned against a nearby tree, his expression a mix of frustration and concern.

“| can’t believe they would do that,” he muttered, his voice laced with frustration. | sighed, still reeling from the unexpected turn of events. “I guess not everyone is thrilled about us being... associated.”

Timothy ran a hand through his hair, his expression conflicted. “I knew there would be some backlash, but | didn’t expect it to be this intense.”

| turned to him, my gaze firm. “It’s not your fault, Timothy. They’re just reacting to what they think they know.”

He heaved a sigh. “Still, | should have been prepared.”

He took my hand and started tugging in me away, but | lifted an eyebrow.

“Come on,” Timothy said firmly, his eyes locking onto mine. “Let's find a restroom and get you something to clean up with.”

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