Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Ethan's Pov

“But we already have Ethan as the winger,” Owen said, frowning as he looked at the coach.

The other teammates nodded in agreement, whispering among themselves. I was the best player they had. Replacing me made no sense.

“I know that,” Coach Alexander said, his voice flat and final. He turned his eyes directly to me.

“The transfer student will be taking Ethan’s place. As for Ethan, you are still on the team.”

My chest tightened. The locker room suddenly felt suffocatingly hot.

“I’m still on the team?” I asked, my voice low. I stepped forward, my fists clenching at my sides.

“What does that mean, Coach? I’m the winger. My stats are the highest.”

“It means you are filling in where needed,” Coach Alexander replied, not even blinking. “You’ll be on the bench until I find a spot for you.”

I was being demoted to a random backup?

“You’re benching me?” My ice-blue eyes that usually looked bored were now blazing with fury. “For someone who hasn’t even stepped foot on this field? I’ve given everything to this team!”

“My decision is final, Ethan,” the coach said coldly, turning his back to end the conversation. “Get back to practice.”

My heart hammered against my ribs, fueled by a toxic mix of humiliation and pure rage.

I could feel the eyes of my teammates burning into me, some with pity, others with shock.

I hated it and most of all, I hated this transfer student. I didn’t even know the guy’s name, but a boiling hatred curled deep in my gut. The stranger was already an enemy.

Let him come, I thought, my mind racing with a dark, vicious focus.

I was going to destroy this new guy ruthlessly on the ice so that Coach would have no choice but to put me back where I belonged.

I wasn’t just going to take my spot back, I was going to tear the transfer student apart until there was nothing left to bench.

By the time evening arrived, I had already boarded a taxi and headed home. I walked toward my family’s bungalow as I pushed open the gate and headed for the front door, feeling exhausted.

As soon as I stepped inside, I saw my sister, Lily, walking toward the kitchen. Hearing the door close, she turned around.

“Ethan, you’re finally back!” she said, beaming at me.

I froze slightly. Lily rarely gave anyone a genuine smile. So, it felt creepy and unnatural.

“Why are you smiling like that? It’s creepy,” I said, walking past her.

“Oh, please,” Lily said, rolling her eyes. Her annoyance quickly faded back into pure excitement. She grabbed my hand and gave me a little jump. “He’s here!”

I blinked, confused. “Who?”

“The guy I told you about! The one I’ve been dating online.”

I nodded as the memory clicked. “Oh. But didn’t you say he lives really far away? He actually came all this way to see you?”

“He just moved!” Lily squealed. “He moved into this exact neighborhood!”

I shrugged, gently pulling my hand out of her grip. “Well, lucky you.”

Lily’s smile dropped slightly. “Is that all you’re going to say?”

“Yeah. I’m happy for you,” I said flatly, my mind still heavy from earlier.

“Come on, let’s go meet him. He’s with Mom right now,” Lily said.

Before I could protest, she grabbed my hand again and dragged me toward the living room.

“Mom, Ethan is here!” Lily announced as we walked in.

I looked up, and my heart instantly dropped into my stomach. Sitting on the couch right next to my mother was Adrian.

"Ethan?" My mother's voice reached me from very far away. "Come say hello to Lily's boyfriend, darling."

Lily's boyfriend?.

The two words landing like a punch.

Adrian stood. He was even more striking with the lights on — sharper jaw, darker eyes, and the ghost of a smile already forming at the corner of his mouth as he watched my face process the information. He was enjoying this. He was absolutely, entirely enjoying this.

"Lily's told me a lot about her brother." His voice was exactly as low as I remembered.

The room seemed to spin as the muffled sound of my mother’s voice faded away, replaced by the loud, violent pounding of my own heart. Of all the people in the world, why him? It was the same guy I had met in the gay bar two weeks ago. The same guy I couldn’t stop thinking of for the past two weeks.

I swallowed hard, my voice trembling as I looked at Lily. “He… he is your boyfriend?”

“Yes!” Lily said proudly.

Adrian smiled widely, extending his hand for a handshake, his eyes locked onto my panicked face. “Nice to meet you, Lily’s brother.”

I stared at the outstretched hand, then looked up into Adrian’s eyes. There it was — a cruel, knowing smirk playing on Adrian’s lips. He was surely enjoying this.

I stepped forward and gripped Adrian’s hand. I squeezed it with crushing force, aiming to hurt, while forcing a fake smile onto my own face.

“Nice to meet you too. Mr…” I paused, pretending to forget.

Adrian’s smirk widened. “Adrian.”

I forced my hand to drop, breaking the painful grip. I quickly shoved my fists deep into my pockets.

“I’m going to go change,” I mumbled.

“Come down for dinner too. Okay?” My mother said.

I nodded slightly while trying hard not to look at Adrian. I turned on my heel and walked toward my room, keeping my eyes glued to the floor.

The moment I got to my room, I jumped onto my bed, buried my face in the pillow, and yelled straight into it. My hands gripped my hair, pulling at the roots as my mind raced.

“Damn! Have I messed up?” I whispered to myself.

I never in my entire existence thought a nightmare like this would happen to me. Having sex with my sister’s boyfriend? And also being attracted to him.

But as I stared at the wall, trying to breathe, I reasoned with myself. I wasn’t at fault because I didn’t even know the guy was dating my sister when it happened.

It was just a one-night stand. If I could just keep it that way and pretend we were complete strangers, the secret would stay buried forever.

Well, that plan was not as easy as I thought it would be because during dinner, Adrian kept staring at me.

Every time I tried to focus on my plate, I could feel those eyes locking onto me, refusing to let go.

Worse, every time Adrian shifted in his seat, his knee would slide forward under the small table. Purposely brushing his leg against my knee, holding it there for a second too long.

Which made my whole body become rigid, my face flushed bright red, and my heart hammered violently against my ribs.

Unable to bear the pressure any longer, I dropped my spoon. It clattered loudly against my plate, drawing the attention of my mom and sister.