Chapter 157: The Hampton Name

Kieran's POV

I walked through the front door of my house, still thinking about Aveline. A small smile tugged at my lips when I remembered our conversation in the hotel room last night. She had agreed to apply to Michigan. That conversation stayed with me all the way home. It didn't solve everything between us, but it gave me something I hadn't felt in a while: hope.

I pulled off my jacket and walked into the living room, expecting the usual empty house.

Instead, my mother was sitting in the sitting room. A stack of legal papers was spread out flat in front of her. She looked up when she heard me come in.

"It's over, Kieran," she said softly.

I walked closer and looked at the papers. The reality hit me immediately. My mother and father's divorce was officially finalized. A wave of relief washed over me. I was genuinely happy that my mother was finally free from him.

Because my father had cheated first, she got to keep half of the company.

"Kieran," she said quietly, looking at my face. Her eyes were tired but calm. "Give your father one chance. He called me from downtown. He wants to have dinner with you tonight."

"No," I said instantly, my jaw tightening. "I'm not sitting across a table from him. I have nothing to say to that man."

"Yes, he wasn't the best dad," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "We know that better than anyone, Kieran. But give him a chance to rectify his mistakes.

He was so happy when he heard you got an early offer from Michigan. He wants to talk to you about it."

"He doesn't care about me," I muttered, looking away from her. "He just cares about the family line and their hockey program. He wants to brag to his friends."

"What happened between your father and me is between us," she insisted, reaching out to touch my arm. "Don't carry our mistakes for the rest of your life. He might have done ridiculous things in the past, but he was doing it because he cared about your future.

Just go to dinner. For me."

I refused at first. My fists were clenching deep, and my chest felt tight. But when my mother kept forcing me, looking up at me with those pleading eyes, I finally agreed to go. I couldn't say no to her after everything she had just been through with the lawyers and the court lines.

An hour later, I was sitting in a quiet restaurant downtown. The dinner was completely awkward from the second we sat down. Richard tried to act nice. He was wearing a clean suit and smiling across like we were a normal family.

He passed the bread basket to me, ordered an expensive meal, and acted like everything was fine, like he hadn't destroyed our lives.

"The steak here is excellent," Richard said, trying to make casual conversation. "You should order it. You need to keep your weight up."

"I'm not hungry," I flatly replied.

"Your mother told me you played well in the home game this week," he kept going, ignoring my cold tone. "I was happy to see you back on the ice. I know getting back after an injury was tough, but you showed real resilience out there."

"I don't want to talk about hockey with you, Richard," I said, setting my fork down with a loud clatter.

He didn't get angry. He just sighed softly and leaned forward, setting his own utensils down. "We have to talk about it, Kieran. You getting Michigan was because you have the legacy."

"I don't care about the legacy," I said, my voice dropping. "I only accepted the offer because I love it. Not for you."

"Everything I did was for you," Richard insisted, his voice smooth. "I've watched your game since you came back. I'm proud of you, Kieran. I know you don't believe me, but it's the truth. I see you out there on the first line, and I see myself."

"You see yourself?" I laughed, but it felt bitter in my throat. "You didn't care about my injury last semester. You didn't".

"I knew what you were capable of," Richard said, his expression completely serious. "A true player pushes through the pain. If you want to be the best, you can't let a small injury stall your career."

"It wasn't a small injury, Richard. I could have permanently ruined my body," I shot back "But you didn't care about that. You just wanted the scouts to see the Hampton name on the scoreboard."

Richard shook his head, his face tight. "You are being emotional, Kieran. You think I am the villain here, but I am the only one who kept you focused. Look at your early offer. You got it because I pushed you."

"I got it because I worked for it!" I snapped, my hands clenching under the table. "I got it despite not playing in the championship. But you cheated on Mom, you took our money, and you expect me to sit here and thank you for an offer?"

" Everything I did, every choice I made for you... It was to make sure you reached the top he added, shaking his head slightly.

That was what finally pushed me completely over the edge. The words hit my stomach like a hot wire, and the anger came roaring right back into my throat.

I couldn't take it anymore. I dropped my napkin onto the table, leaned forward, and looked him straight in the face.

"Wanted what was best for me?" I replied, my voice low but shaking with pure rage. "Every time I lost a hockey game, you made me feel like I wasn't your son.

I was just another failure carrying the Hampton name. You tried to end my career by giving me those drugs. You put my health at risk just to clear your own path."

"Kieran, keep your voice down," Richard whispered, looking around the quiet restaurant. "People are looking."

"I don't care who is looking!" I snapped, my voice rising. "I thought I could forgive you because of Mom. I believed that if she could move on, I should at least try to sit here and have a conversation. But I can't. The only thing you ever cared about was winning and the Hampton name.

Richard froze. His face turned completely pale. His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. The fake, good-father mask he had been wearing all night completely vanished, leaving him looking old and empty.

I didn't wait for him to make another excuse or drop another smooth lie. I stood up so fast my chair scraped loudly against the floorboards, turning several heads in our direction. I turned my back on him and walked right out of the restaurant.