Chapter 94: The Devil's Table

Aveline’s POV

Screaming at Kieran was a mistake, trying to steal the pills was an even bigger one. Walking away from the lockers, the reality of the situation hit like a physical blow. Fighting him would only drive him closer to his father Richard Hampton.

Without a friend nearby, Kieran would have no one left but the monster supplying the drug.

A change of tactics was necessary. Pretending to accept his choice was the only option left. It was the only way to stay close, monitor his health, and find a way to stop this madness from the inside.

That afternoon, the bus dropped off a very tense passenger at the Hampton estate. The walk up the driveway made my heart hammer violently against the tight chest binding. The massive house looked colder than usual, looming under the grey sky.

The plan was simple: apologise and patch things up after the violent explosion in the locker room hallway.

I pressed the buzzer at the front door.

The door swung open instantly. But it wasn't a butler standing there. It was Mr Richard Hampton himself.

His expensive suit was perfectly pressed again, and his hair was slicked back. A chilling smile crept across his face. He knew who "Asher" was the former mascot and the rising star of Crestwood who had scored the winning breakaway goal.

In his mind, this new century was a threat that could easily overshadow his son and ruin the Hampton legacy.

“Well, well,” Richard murmured, his voice smooth and dangerous. “Asher Carter. The new shining star of the first line.”

“Mr Hampton,” the words came out raspy. " I came to see Kieran. Didn't get to see him at school.”

“How thoughtful,” Richard said, his smile widening into a smug, mocking line. He didn't move aside to let the teenagers speak privately. Instead, he stepped back and gestured toward the grand hallway. “Just in time. The family is about to sit down for a formal dinner. You will join us.”

The offer was an absolute command. There was no room for an excuse. He turned and walked toward the dining room, leaving no choice but to follow.

The scene inside the grand dining room was intensely claustrophobic. The long table was covered in expensive silver and crystal. A silent servant moved back and forth, pouring water and placing plates of food down. Amelia Hampton was already seated at the far end. Her face was completely numb, her eyes staring blankly at her plate. The fierce woman I know was gone. The divorce was on hold, and she looked utterly defeated by the sudden turn of events.

Kieran sat across from her. His eyes widened in pure shock at the entrance, and a quick glance toward his father stiffened his posture.

“Sit, Asher,” Richard directed, pointing to the empty chair right next to Kieran.

The silence in the room was heavy, broken only by the quiet clink of silverware against porcelain. Richard sat at the head of the table like a king on a throne, trying to act like they were a happy, perfect family.

“We must stick together in times of trial,” Richard said smoothly, cutting into his steak. His toxic glare stayed fixed on his son's guest. “True competitors know how to overcome obstacles. They do what is necessary for the family legacy. Isn't that right, Asher?”

“Yes, sir,” the lie came out smoothly, accompanied by a fake smile while a multi-course meal threatened to turn the stomach.

“A Hampton does not sit on the sidelines,” Richard continued, dropping subtle, terrifying hints with every word. “And those who think they can slide into the spotlight just because of a temporary setback... well, they learn their place soon enough.”

The threat was clear. Kieran would take back his throne, and the current replacement was nothing but temporary. Kieran kept his head down, his jaw clenched tight as he gripped his fork. Sitting there, pretending to eat, and watching the pure poison of this family dynamic play out.

The moment dinner ended, Kieran stood up abruptly. “Asher and I have to study,” he muttered.

Richard didn't look up from his wine glass. He just gave a small, mocking wave of his hand.

Kieran led the way quickly up the grand staircase and into his bedroom, shutting the door.

The silence of the room felt like a massive relief after the suffocation downstairs. I turned to him immediately. “Kieran, I’m sorry,” I said softly, stepping closer. “About earlier. About the locker room. If you are going to do this... if you are going to play, I am not letting you do it alone. I’m staying by your side.”

Kieran froze. He stared at me for a long moment, the defensive wall in his eyes completely crumbling. A deep wave of emotion washed over his pale face.

“You mean that?” he whispered, his voice cracking.

“I mean it,” I said gently.

He let out a long, shaky breath and sat down on the edge of his bed. I walked over, dropping to my knees on the floor. Carefully, I began to help him adjust the tight medical bandages around his injured left leg. His skin felt unnaturally cold to the touch.

As I wrapped the cloth, I kept my eyes moving. His gym bag was sitting open on the floor right beside my knee. I saw the edge of the black zipper pocket. While Kieran was looking down at his ankle, I carefully slid two fingers into the pocket.

My fingertips brushed against the clear glass vial. I didn't steal it. Instead, using my position to secretly count the remaining pills inside the glass through the fabric. One. Two. Three. Four. There were only four pills left. He was burning through his supply fast.

“I know you care for me, Avi,” Kieran said suddenly, breaking the quiet. His voice dropped into a tender, vulnerable whisper.

I stopped wrapping and looked up into his eyes.

“I don't want to be like my father,” Kieran whispered, his fingers reaching down to gently trace my jawline.

“An injury defined his entire career. It made him bitter. It turned him into a monster. I won't let a broken bone define me. I need to finish this on my own terms.”

The absolute tragedy of his words broke my heart. He was trying so hard not to be Richard, but he was using Richard's exact methods to survive.

“Kieran...” I breathed.

Before I could say anything else, he leaned down. His lips met mine in a sweet, desperate kiss. It wasn't the aggressive, panicked boy from the locker room. This was the gentle, protective captain who had thrown his body in front of a blindside hit to keep me safe. We shared lots of kisses right there in the quiet bedroom, holding onto each other like the rest of the world didn't exist. It felt like a beautiful, temporary goodbye before the storm hit.

“I have to go before your parents get suspicious,” I whispered against his lips, forcing myself to pull away.

Kieran nodded weakly, his eyes soft. “Thank you for coming Avi.

I walked out of his bedroom quietly down the long hallway. The estate was dead silent. I made sure to tread lightly heading toward the back exit to avoid Richard.

As I neared, the sound of a harsh voice stopped me in my tracks.

The door to Richard's private study was cracked open an inch.

“I don't care about the long-term prognosis!” Richard hissed into his phone. He was having a cold, secretive phone call with someone. I crept closer, leaning my ear against the wood, holding my breath..

“The boy is standing. That is all that matters for the final match,” Richard barked. He paused, listening to the person on the other end. The voice on the speaker was faint, speaking with a distinct European accent. It was the Swiss doctor who had supplied the experimental drug.

“Mr Hampton, you must understand the expiration limit,” the Swiss doctor warned through the receiver, his voice sounding clinical and detached. “The nerve-blocking agent creates a complete sensory vacuum. But it has a strict threshold. Once the final championship match ends and he stops taking the drug, the chemical wall will collapse entirely.”

“And what happens then?” Richard snapped impatiently.

“The accumulated trauma of the shattered bone and cracked ribs will hit his nervous system all at once,” the doctor delivered the terrifying truth. “It is a massive, sudden shockwave of accumulated pain. If the shockwave is too violent, his nervous system will overload. His heart might fail completely.”

A suffocating horror seized my chest. My hands flew to my mouth to smother a gasp.

“He will survive long enough to lift the trophy,” Richard muttered coldly. “That is all I am paying you for.”

The line went dead.

I turned around and ran. I burst through the side doors, as tears spilt down my cheeks. My legs shook violently as I reached the main road.

The drug wasn't just numbing his pain. It was a ticking time bomb. I wasn't just running out of time to save his career anymore but running out of time to save his life.