Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Evie

The first thing I saw when I stepped into Blackridge Arena was the one man I'd sworn never to see again.

Asher Blackwood.

Of course. Because apparently, the universe had a twisted sense of humor.

I froze, fingers tightening around my handbag as thousands of fans roared around me.

Blue and white jerseys filled the packed arena, hockey sticks slammed against the boards, and music thundered through the air.

But I barely noticed any of it. Because there, in the middle of the ice, stood the one man I'd spent five years trying desperately to forget.

Asher.

My Asher.

No. I immediately corrected myself.

He'd never been mine, not even when I was eighteen and foolish enough to believe we'd be together forever. Not even after he kissed me beneath the old oak tree and promised I was the only woman he'd ever want, before betraying me with my worst enemy.

And definitely not five years ago, when I left without saying goodbye.

My heart squeezed painfully. I hated that it still reacted to him.

His dark, sweaty hair peeked beneath his helmet, his broad shoulders straining against his black jersey. Number 27.

I knew him without seeing his face.

"Evie?"

I blinked to see Mia, my friend beside me, her eyes filled with concern.

"You okay?" She asked.

"I'm fine."

Her gaze followed mine to the ice, and her eyes widened.

"Oh."

"Don't." I warned her.

"I wasn't going to say anything."

"You were."

She smiled. "I was only going to say... wow."

"Mia."

"What? I'm appreciating the view."

I ignored her and looked back at the ice.

Asher was skating toward the opposing goal when a teammate passed him the puck. He caught it effortlessly, swung his stick, and sent it flying.

Goal!

The arena erupted, thousands of voices chanting his name as his teammates surrounded him.

Then he looked up and his gaze found mine.

It was impossible. There were thousands of people in this arena. Yet somehow, his gaze landed directly on me and stayed there.

My breath caught as the excitement vanished from his face, jaw tightening.

His lips parted slightly and I knew exactly what he was thinking.

You.

The puck dropped again, but he didn't look away until a teammate shoved his shoulder.

"Blackwood! Move!"

He finally turned, and I exhaled.

"Okay," Mia whispered beside me

I glanced at her. "What?"

"That was intense. He looked at you like he wanted to kill you."

I swallowed. "He probably does."

She frowned. "You still never told me what happened between you two."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Fine." She raised her hands. "But if looks could kill, you'd be dead."

I forced a laugh. "I'll survive."

But deep down, I wasn't sure I would.

---

The game ended forty minutes later, with Blackwood's team winning as usual.

I waited until the crowd thinned before gathering my bags.

"I'll meet you outside," Mia said.

“Where are you going?” I asked her.

"Bathroom” She replied. “Don't disappear."

"I won't."

I watched her walk away before adjusting my coat. I’d barely taken three steps when a familiar voice which was now cold, deeper and angry stopped me.

"Evie."

I froze.

Slowly, I turned.

Asher stood a few feet away, his helmet already gone. His dark hair was damp with sweat, his black jersey clinging to his muscular frame, leaving nothing to imagination.

Oh!m, damn! Hot piece!

And, like the shameless woman I apparently was, my eyes wandered over the very muscles I’d no business admiring.

I dragged my eyes back to his face.

He looked exhausted, furious, and painfully beautiful.

"Congratulations." I forced a smile.

His jaw clenched. "That's all you have to say?"

"What else should I say?"

He stepped closer. "How about hello?"

"Hello, Asher." I repeated.

His nostrils flared. "Five years, Evie. Five fucking years."

I tightened my grip on my handbag. "I know."

You know? Then why the hell are you in my fucking the moment you're back?!”

"Asher—"

"Don't you dare say my name with that lying mouth of yours!" he snapped, stepping even closer.

My throat tightened at the pain buried beneath his anger.

“You disappeared for five years, and now you're back?” His bitter laugh held no humor. “What? To laugh me? To see if I still exist?”

“That isn't why I came back.”

“Then why?”

“I’m here for school,” I whispered, not knowing what else to say.

“And this was the only school in the entire city, right?” His sarcasm cut deep.

My fingers twitched. “This’s the best one I could find. And you know me... I always go for the best things.”

His lips thinned. He stared at me for a while but I avoided his gaze.

“You shouldn't have come back, Evie.” His voice was a warning.

Before I could answer, Mia called my name.

"Evie!"

I didn't get to look back as Asher leaned closer.

“Whatever brought you back...” His voice dropped to a whisper. “You should've stayed away from me and avoided me like a plague. Seeing you again has unleashed a fury I thought I'd buried five years ago.”

He stepped past me, his shoulder brushing mine. A shiver ran down my spine.

Five years of trying to forget him, and five minutes together again had already proven one thing: that coming back was the biggest mistake of my life.

“Let’s go,” Mia said.

I took two steps before his voice stopped me again.

“Evie.”

I didn't turn. “What now?”

“Look at me.”

I turned, finding him standing inches away. His gaze dropped to my lips, making my breath hitch.

“Asher…”

“I hate you,” he whispered.

Those three words should have hurt. Instead, they sent a shiver straight through me.

"I know."

"I've hated you every single day for five years." He admitted.

"Then why are you looking at me like that?" His gaze held an intense fire.

His jaw tightened. "Because I want to ruin you, just like you ruined my life and my reputation."

Before I could react, his hand caught the back of my neck.

"Asher, what are you—"

He kissed me and my mind went blank.

It was hard, desperate, fueled by five years of anger and hurt.

For one second, I didn't move.

I should’ve pushed him away and slapped him.

I should’ve remembered every reason I’d left him.

Instead, my fingers curled into the front of his sweaty jersey and I kissed him back.

The moment I did, his grip tightened around my waist.

It was wrong. Yet somehow, it felt painfully familiar.

His lips moved against mine with a desperation that weakened my knees. For one terrifying moment, I was seventeen again and hopelessly in love with him.

Flash!

I jerked away, eyes widening and I saw cameras everywhere.

Reporters had rushed toward the players' entrance, phones raised and capturing everything.

Whispers spread through the arena.

“Is that Asher Blackwood?”

“Wait... isn’t that Evie Carter?”

“They’re kissing!”

“Didn’t she leave five years ago?”

My stomach dropped.

Oh God, no.

I turned to Asher, whispering. “Do you realize what you just did?”

He shrugged. “You kissed me back.”

Before I could respond, reporters crowded around us.

“Is Evie Carter your girlfriend again?”

“How long have you been seeing each other again?”

“Is this why she came back?”

“Are you getting back together?”

My face burned.

“We’re not—”

I stopped, seeing the dangerous gleam in his eyes.

“Don’t,” I pleaded. “Whatever you're planning, please, Asher.”

He smirked and turned to the reporters.

“Evie Carter kissed me without my consent,” he announced.

My blood ran cold.

“She’s been chasing after me like a cheap slut for years, even after we broke up. That’s probably why she came back to this school in the first place.”

My legs went numb as every eye in the arena turned toward me.

The whispers quickly became insults.

“She kissed him?”

“Look at her. Of course she did.”

“She’s pathetic.”

“I knew she was always chasing after him.”

“She’s a bitch.”

I couldn't move nor defend myself.

He turned bac

k to me, his eyes cold and satisfied, without a hint of regret.

“Welcome to my hell, Evie.”

Then he walked away, leaving me beneath the flashing cameras and cruel whispers.

I’d barely been back for twenty-four hours.

And Asher Blackwood had already turned my return into a nightmare.