Chapter 176: An Announcement I Never Agreed To
Rhys
I heaved a deep sigh, trying desperately to calm my fraying nerves. I just wanted to get out of here and never set foot in a gathering like this ever again.
Everything felt suffocating — the heavy stares boring into me, the hushed side conversations that followed my every move, and the insistent way my grandfather kept pushing me to speak to Elian.
"Why don’t you invite that Boy to the table?" my grandfather’s voice cut in beside me, smooth but laced with malicious intent.
I slowly raised my head from the floor and drew in a deep breath. "Why?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended. "Grandfather, I believe he is fine where he is with the team. Why should he join us at the table when he is not a Calder?"
My grandfather scoffed, the sound low and dismissive, and clasped a firm hand on my shoulder. "I have seen how the boy has suffered these past few days and I just want to offer my warm sympathy. Is it bad if I do?"
I clenched my fists tightly under the table because I knew exactly the kind of games my grandfather was playing.
He wasn’t offering any real sympathy. He was deliberately bringing Kayden to our table to stir up chaos.
Kayden and I had thought — no, scratch that — we had both believed that arriving separately would stop the old devil from trying to stir up drama, but he had found yet another way.
"I mean, he has been making headlines ever since he joined the Northern Avalanche. Wouldn’t it be great if he and Raymond get along? After all, they need to start building their brotherly bond now."
Brotherly bond? I knew precisely what he was insinuating. There was no brotherly bond to speak of anywhere in this mess.
What my grandfather was truly after was ridiculing Kayden, especially in front of everyone gathered here.
I still didn’t understand why he had not told Linda about his son, or how he had managed not to mention it to her at all.
He was probably playing the same twisted mind games with her that he was playing with me.
"Grandfather, I..."
"Our grandfather is right. Kayden is a hot topic now. Getting the boy and your brother together will help him rise in ranks, and it will also set a great path for him," Linda spoke up from where she sat beside my father with a bright smile on her face. "No one can stay at the top for long, so I believe having that boy and your brother get along will benefit the family in the public eye," she added, rubbing Raymond’s back as if she were the sweetest, most devoted mother in the world.
"That boy?" I repeated the words slowly, biting down hard on my lower lip to stop myself from saying everything I had bottled up inside. It took every ounce of willpower not to stand up right there and scream to the entire room that Linda and Kayden were related.
I felt my grandfather’s hand tighten on my shoulder, pressing down hard like a silent warning not to say anything else.
"Is there a problem, son?" my father asked, his tone calm but probing.
My eyes met his cold blue ones and I shot him a deathly glare. I wanted to yell at him that the woman he married had been lying to him all along, but I held every bitter word back. Every emotion threatening to break free was crushed under the weight of my grandfather’s firm grip on my shoulder.
"There is no problem, but I still think there is no need to have Kayden Vale at this table."
My grandfather chuckled lightly, the sound low and amused, then finally released my shoulder. He reached for his cane, gripping it for support, and slowly pushed himself up from his chair.
"Well, I believe it’s time to make an announcement," he said, clearing his throat as he raised the glass of wine from the table. "Everyone!" he called out loudly, his voice carrying across the room until all heads turned toward him — including Kayden’s.
This time I didn’t look away. I kept my gaze locked on him as if he were the only person who mattered in the entire crowded hall, because to me, he truly was. I didn’t care about anyone else.
We stared at each other for a long, heavy moment, and then he smiled — a small, private smile — before looking away.
I wondered why that smile had appeared on his face.
What was the reason behind it? The question lingered until my grandfather’s voice sliced through my thoughts once more.
"Tonight, I have come to celebrate the success of my grandson and the coming success of the cup that he will soon bring home," he said with a light laugh, his eyes shifting to me. "My grandson Rhys has been on a winning streak for two consecutive years, and this year I know the cup belongs to the Northern Avalanche for sure. Who else believes that?"
A loud chorus of "yes" echoed through the hall.
"My youngest grandson will also be joining the Northern Avalanche next season, which means the legacy of the Calders will live on forever in the hockey world. Amazing, right?" he asked, and the room burst into applause.
"Well," he paused for a moment, catching his breath. "That is not all." He turned to face me again, his expression triumphant. "My grandson Rhys Calder will be getting married to his long-time sweetheart Elian once the season ends. They have been in love for a long time and have been engaged since they were children. Now, once the season ends," he paused once more, his gaze sweeping across every face in the hall,
"it means the wedding will be happening, and Rhys might have to take a break from his career to focus on his family."
My heart stuttered to a stop for a brief second at that announcement. That was not what my grandfather had promised me.
Stop my career when I was at the absolute height of it? When it was one of the few things that truly mattered to me? When it was the only escape I had from this suffocating family?
There was no way in hell I was going to let him make such an announcement on my behalf without ever discussing it with me first.
I tried to stand up, but my father shook his head at me dismissively, his eyes warning me to stay seated.
This was it, I thought bitterly. I should have known the moment I saw the size of the crowd in the hall that this was more than just an engagement announcement.
How could my grandfather have thought he could do something like this on my behalf when I had never asked for it?
"The wedding will take place a month after the season ends, and you are hearing it from me first," my grandfather continued excitedly, raising his cup high. "I mean, wouldn’t it be great if we produce another line of the Calder family?"
I clenched my fists so tightly that I could feel my nails digging into my palms until they drew warm blood.
My father kept his eyes fixed on me, as though he could control me with that stare alone, but he couldn’t.
I stayed in my seat for only one reason — Kayden.
At the thought of him, I lifted my head and looked in his direction just in time to see Leo pulling his hand, urgently dragging him out of the hall.
My heart started racing wildly, wondering what was going through Kayden’s mind right now. If I had any telepathic power, I would have given anything to know exactly how he felt about my grandfather’s insane announcement.
I watched helplessly as they disappeared through the doors, and I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I shot to my feet and slammed both hands down hard on the table, cutting my grandfather’s speech off mid-sentence.
I was completely fed up with all of it — the endless pretense, the lies, the manipulation. I no longer cared what leverage my grandfather thought he had over Kayden. I didn’t want any of this anymore.
The entire room fell suddenly silent at my outburst.
I felt my grandfather’s light touch on my back, almost gentle.
"Is there a problem?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.
I heaved a deep sigh and raised my head to face him directly. "I need to see you right now!" I demanded, my voice ringing out.
My grandfather frowned, clearly caught off guard. "Can’t it wait? We can have—"
"Now!" I yelled at him, then turned sharply toward my father. "And you too! I need to speak with both of you!"
With that, I shoved my chair backward so violently that the screeching sound echoed sharply through the silent room.
Then I turned and strode hurriedly out of the hall.