Chapter 105: Tick Tock: The Call

Chapter 105: Tick Tock: The Call

Rhys

Two hours ago...

As soon as the buzzer sounded indicating that the game had ended, I stood up from my seat in the VIP corner, watching as my teammates screamed out in joy.

We were heading to the finals.

While celebrating, my phone started ringing and the name on the screen was enough to ruin the short happiness I had. It was my grandfather, and I already knew why he was calling me.

I moved from my seat and stood close to the wall at the VIP corridor and answered the phone.

"Hello, grandfather," I greeted.

"Look at that boy," my grandfather started. I rolled my eyes in annoyance—not because he didn’t say hello to me, because I was already used to it, but because he didn’t even wait for the game to end before he started his complaints.

"I am glad that he won because at least you will be joining the Conference Finals and heading to the Stanley Cup finals, but what I am annoyed about is how everyone is talking about him as if he is the next big thing. Even the old associations of the Northern Avalanche are praising the boy more than they do you now!"

I leaned against the cold wall, heaving a deep sigh because I was already tired of listening to him speak, but I didn’t end the call because I also had what I wanted to say to him.

"Grandfather, Kayden earned the respect and praise because he played the game he was supposed to play."

My grandfather groaned. "You idiot! This is what I meant when I said that he is taking the crown, Rhys. Your crown," he countered sharply. "The Northern Avalanche winning streaks have to remain in the Calder family and you know your brother is joining the team in the next season. Do you want him stepping into a team where a stranger holds all the glory?"

I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off before I could finish.

"Remember the marriage proposal. I already gave you enough time."

"You said it was until the end of the season, grandfather. You..." I lowered my voice and buried my head deep in my hoodie when I noticed some people walking past me. "Why are you so bent on getting answers now when I promised you that I will..."

My grandfather cut me off before I could finish. "I am already making preparations toward the next season and by then, you should be married to Elian."

I rubbed my face and inhaled deeply. I had thought about this all week long—about the answers that I could give to Kayden. I had wanted to tell him about my grandfather, but instead, I had broken down in his arms.

Because the game went to Game 7, I had not been able to speak to him, but it had given me the time to reflect on myself, on my life, and the things I had let go on for so long and how it had affected me both physically and mentally.

I was done.

Especially with the name that I had to carry and the expectations they all expected from me. For years, I had played the part of the perfect Calder heir, bowing to the expectations they all expected from me.

"You know exactly what I can do to that boy’s career before the next puck even drops. Don’t test my patience. So tell me, boy, do you agree with what I had told you?"

I inhaled deep, clenching my hand into a fist, and then smiled as I spoke up. "No. Grandfather. I am tired of this bullshit you are doing. I am tired of everything you have made my life about."

I felt the heat rising in my chest as every word I had kept in for so long came out of my mouth.

"You spent years moulding me into a statue. You suffocated me, made me your puppet just like you did with my father, and I could have become him—but then I met Kayden. Kayden made me realize how much I’ve missed. He made me realize that I am a person, not a franchise. I am not getting married to Elian because I don’t love him and I refuse to get into a loveless, pathetic marriage. You can’t threaten me about Kayden anymore because I am not going to let you or anyone else do anything to him."

I paused for a moment, my chest heaving. "I will make sure I protect myself and I will protect Kayden, grandfather. This time I won’t listen to you."

I let out a sigh of relief after I finished speaking. Even though my hands were shaking and my heart was racing fast, I had already let out the feelings I had bottled up for days.

There was a long, agonizing silence on the other end. Then, my grandfather let out a dry hum. "Are you in love with the boy?"

The question hung in the air for a moment. Do I love Kayden? I had thought about it for so many days and nights.

Was it all a "teammates with benefits" thing, or I truly loved him? But the thing was I already got my answer on the night I had dinner with my grandfather and when I had broken down in tears in Kayden’s arms.

It made me realize that my feelings weren’t just about the sex with him. I love Kayden so much it hurts to be apart from him, and I was not going to let my family be the reason why I couldn’t be happy.

"Yes," I admitted, and shut my eyes expecting my grandfather to scream, but he didn’t. Instead, he just let out a hollow, mocking sound.

"You are a fool, Rhys. Does the boy even love you? Or is he only using you to get to the top?"

I shut my eyes tightly, letting the memories of Kayden replay in my head. I heard his laughter, the way he always annoyed me, and the way he had always been supportive of me even when I had been a jerk. I knew for sure that the feeling was mutual.

"Kayden is not a Calder, grandfather. I need you to remember that."

"You will regret it if you don’t choose my choice."

I scoffed. "I already regret being born into this family," I countered, my grip tightening on the phone. "We will win the Stanley Cup. And when we do, I’m going to make a shocking announcement to the world. I will tell them I love him then by then you wouldn’t be able to do what you want."

My grandfather laughed again. "I know what that boy is, Rhys. Because I knew you would act stupid, and I did a test on the boy and found out he is a useless omega cosplaying as an alpha."

My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I thought it might crack a bone. The air left my lungs. He knew. He hadn’t just guessed that day like I thought. He had proof.

My mind raced, wondering how he’d gotten a sample, when he’d done it—but he wasn’t finished.

"And that’s not all," he paused, and I could practically hear the malicious smirk on his face. "Did he tell you that his whole identity is a lie and he is not Kayden Vale? Did he tell you his father is in prison for murder?"

"That’s a lie," I whispered, though my voice was trembling.

"Oh it’s the truth," My grandfather said. "Imagine what will happen if the world finds out what he is hiding," he warned and chuckled. "Don’t test my patience, you stupid boy! I also got more information about his birth mother. You wouldn’t believe who that bitch is."

I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I was watching Kayden’s entire life walk toward a firing squad.

"My informants dug into his life and the shocking thing is that the woman you hate so much—Linda, your stepmother—is his birth mother. It seems she doesn’t know that, or maybe she is hiding it. Imagine what will happen if Raymond and Kayden become enemies. Two brothers, enemies."

He let out another sharp, mocking laugh, but I was barely listening to any of his words anymore.

All I could think of was how Kayden had hidden so many things from me. Linda? The woman who had made my life the way it seemed and made my mother die suddenly was Kayden’s mother? That would mean Kayden and Raymond... they were brothers.

The person I loved and the family I loathed were tied together by blood I hadn’t known existed.

"Think on what I have said, Rhys. If after all of this you still love and want the boy, then you better know what is coming. I am very impatient. Tick tock, Rhys," he said, and before I could find the words to respond, the line went dead.