Chapter 289: Earned Peace

Chapter 289: Earned Peace

Kayden

When Rhys finally returned later that evening and broke the news about the team’s decision, Raymond’s entire face lit up. For a second, his knees buckled from pure relief, but before he could actually hit the floor, he launched himself forward, throwing his arms around Rhys’s neck.

Rhys didn’t see the sudden ambush coming.

Caught completely off guard, his balance broke, and the momentum sent both of them crashing heavily onto the marble floor.

"At this rate, neither of us is going to be fit enough to play in the upcoming season," Rhys groaned from the ground, his voice muffled as Raymond pinned him down in an ecstatic, clumsy embrace.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I watched the two of them tangled on the floor. The playful interaction instantly took me back to the very first night I had ever seen them in the same room.

Back then, the atmosphere had been pure hell. They had exchanged vicious, biting words like bitter enemies who wanted nothing more than to tear each other apart. But now? Now they were acting like absolute best friends. It was a beautiful, surreal transformation that I had never expected to witness.

"Move, you idiot," Rhys grunted, aggressively pushing Raymond’s weight off him. "Don’t get too happy yet," he muttered, rubbing the back of his head gingerly as he sat up on the floor. He fixed Raymond with a sharp, piercing look, his tone shifting in the blink of an eye. "You haven’t officially made the roster yet, so don’t start getting cocky."

I smiled softly to myself, knowing the sudden sternness wasn’t born out of actual anger. This was simply the ice captain speaking.

"You won’t regret this," Raymond assured him, clapping his hands together tightly, his eyes practically shining with determination. "I promise you that you won’t regret giving me this chance, Captain."

"Don’t call me that," Rhys warned, pointing a stern finger directly at his nose. "And if you’re going to be staying under my roof, you are going to listen to every single word I say. Understand?"

Raymond instantly scrambled to his feet, bringing his hand up to his forehead in a crisp, dramatic salute. ’’Yes, Captain!"

I let out another laugh as Rhys’s face twisted into a deep, irritated frown. He pulled himself up from the ground, brushing off his clothes before immediately laying down the rules.

"Rule number one," Rhys began, ticking off his fingers. "You respect Kayden’s space. If he is resting, you do not disturb him. Rule number two: you pull your own weight around here. That means cleaning up after yourself, doing your own laundry, and keeping your hands off my food. Well you can eat the meals the personal chef cooks whenever she is here. And rule number three: curfews are non-negotiable. If you’re late for training or sneak out at night, you’re off the ice before you can even lace up your skates."

After Rhys finished rattling off his strict list, I looked over at Raymond and realized he had actually pulled out a small notepad from his pocket, rapidly scribbling down every single sentence with utter seriousness.

I shook my head, amused. I had never imagined Raymond could be this playful and carefree when stripped away from his mother’s shadow.

I guess a change of environment really does change a person.

"Alright, if you two are completely done with the drill sergeant routine, I’ll show you where your room is," I said, starting to push myself up from the couch.

Right at that moment, Starlight, our gorgeous Maine Coon kitten, came strolling into the living room. Her luxurious fur brushed against the furniture, her striking emerald eyes locked onto the new visitor.

Raymond’s face softened, and he eagerly leaned down, stretching out a hand to touch her soft coat.

Instantly, Starlight stopped. Her tiny ears flattened against her head, and she let out a low, warning hiss, puffing up her tail at the stranger. Ignoring him entirely, she trotted right past his outstretched hand, jumped straight onto the couch, and curled herself comfortably right into Rhys’s lap.

Raymond slumped, pouting dramatically. "Such a cute cat... and she absolutely hates me."

Rhys let out a rare, amused chuckle at Raymond’s rejection.

I reached over and playfully slapped Rhys on the shoulder. "Hey, don’t be mean to him."

"It’s not my fault Starlight has excellent taste and hates him," Rhys scoffed, shrugging his shoulders as he gently stroked the kitten’s ears.

I rolled my eyes, knowing it would take some time for the two of them to fully get along. But beneath the lighthearted banter, I hadn’t forgotten the tight, furious tension I had sensed in Rhys’s shoulders the second he walked through the door. I was incredibly curious about what had actually gone down at the Calder estate.

"Don’t worry, Raymond. Starlight will warm up to you once she gets to know you better," I murmured, offering him a reassuring smile. "Come on, let me take you to the guest room."

Before I could take a single step forward, Rhys stood up, carefully setting Starlight down onto the cushions.

"I’ll take him," Rhys intervened, his voice softening completely as he looked at me. He stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on my hip. "You need to rest, Kayden. I don’t want you stressing yourself out or walking around too much right now."

Raymond’s eyes darted between the two of us, a knowing, slightly sheepish smile spreading across his face. "Actually, about that... I saw the medical news online. I know about the pregnancy, Kayden."

Rhys’s posture instantly stiffened, his protective instincts flaring as he stepped slightly in front of me, his voice turning defensive. "Raymond, if you think you’re going to use that—"

"Rhys, calm down," I interrupted gently, reaching out to wrap my fingers around his forearm. I squeezed it reassuringly, looking up into his tense face. "Remember, he’s your brother too. He’s family."

Rhys let out a slow breath, his shoulders dropping slightly as he looked down at me. "Yeah. Right. I know."

Raymond raised his hands in a peaceful surrender, his expression completely genuine. "I’m not going to say anything to anyone, I swear. I am honestly really, really happy for both of you. Your secret is completely safe with me." As soon as the words left his mouth, he picked up his luggage, a proud grin on his face. "And honestly? I can find my own room. I promised you I’d prove myself, and that starts with becoming a great player in the northern avalanche. I won’t let you guys down."

Rhys let out a dramatic, mocking scoff at the boyfriend comment, while I just laughed and gave Raymond an encouraging thumbs-up.

"Thanks, Raymond. Third door on the left," I called out as he happily trotted down the hallway with his bags.

Once the hallway door clicked shut, the playful energy in the room dissolved, leaving just the two of us.

Rhys walked back over to the couch, looking entirely exhausted, and sank heavily into the cushions. I sat down right beside him, shifting closer until our sides were pressed together.

"Alright, Captain," I said softly, turning my head to look at his sharp profile. "What happened out there? What happened at the estate?"

Rhys closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the couch. He took a deep, heavy breath and began to explain the entire confrontation with Linda and the rest of the Calders—the manipulation, the screaming, and the final, ugly truths that had been thrown in his face.

"...and that’s it," Rhys finished, his voice dropping to a quiet, final whisper. He turned his head, his eyes meeting mine with a profound sense of relief. "It’s completely over. I am entirely done with my family, Kayden. There’s nothing left for me there."

"Finally," I breathed out, a weight lifting from my own chest.

I leaned over, resting my head heavily against his strong shoulder, letting his familiar warmth completely envelop me. I closed my eyes, listening to the steady, calming beat of his heart.

After everything we had fought through to get to this exact moment of peace, it felt incredibly earned.

"We survived them," I murmured, a soft smile touching my lips as I reached down to grab the remote. "Now, no more family drama for tonight. We need to turn on the TV—Soren and Rio’s figure skating championship is about to start, and there is no way we are missing it."