CHAPTER 19
Jul 10, 2025
KAT’S POV
“Nathaniel, you have natural instincts that cannot be taught,” Papa said, his voice carrying that tone of professional approval I’d heard him use with only the most promising athletes. “The way you visualize your plays, the mental discipline you already possess – it’s remarkable for someone your age.”
I watched from the stands as my father worked with Nate on the ice, guiding him through advanced visualization techniques that had taken me years to master. They’d been at it for two hours, and Papa looked more energized than I’d seen him in months. He always came alive when he found an athlete with genuine potential.
If only he knew the truth about how this training session had come about.
“Your breathing technique needs work,” Papa continued, demonstrating the proper rhythm. “In high-pressure situations, controlled breathing is what separates champions from also-rans. Try again.”
Nate nodded, his face a mask of concentration as he went through the mental exercises Papa had taught him.
From my vantage point, I could see the sweat beading on his forehead despite the cold air in the rink. He was working harder than I’d ever seen him work, and I couldn’t tell if it was from the intensity of the training or the guilt of participating in it under false pretenses.
“Excellent,” Papa said finally, skating over to the boards where I was sitting. “Katya, your young man has exceptional focus. With proper training, he could compete at the professional level.”
“He’s very dedicated,” I said carefully, trying to ignore the way the word ‘dedicated’ tasted like ash in my mouth.
“Indeed. Nathaniel, we’ll schedule regular sessions starting next week. I’ll have my assistant coordinate with your coach to ensure we’re not interfering with your team practice schedule.”
“That’s incredibly generous, sir,” Nate said, skating over to join us. “I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity.”
“Nonsense,” Papa waved off his gratitude. “Talent like yours deserves proper cultivation. Katya is lucky to have found someone who shares her commitment to excellence.”
I felt sick. Every word Papa spoke made the deception worse, made me more complicit in the lie we’d been living. Even though Nate and I had decided to end our fake relationship, Papa was still operating under the assumption that we were together, still offering opportunities based on that false premise.
“Papa, actually—” I started, but Nate caught my eye and shook his head slightly.
“What is it, darling?” Papa asked, turning his attention to me.
“Nothing,” I said weakly. “I was just going to say that Nate should probably get going. He has team practice soon.”
“Of course, of course. Don’t let me keep you, Nathaniel. We’ll speak soon about your training schedule.”
As Papa gathered his equipment and headed toward the coaches’ locker room, I felt the weight of our deception settling on my shoulders like a lead blanket. Every conversation, every interaction, every moment of praise Papa directed toward Nate felt like another betrayal.
“Come on,” I said to Nate as he finished lacing up his regular shoes. “I’ll walk you out.”
We made our way through the arena corridors in tense silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts. I could see the conflict playing out across Nate’s face – gratitude for the training opportunity warring with guilt over how he’d obtained it.
“Kate,” he said finally as we approached the exit doors. “I meant what I said yesterday. I’m going to tell your father the truth about how this all started.”
“I know,” I said quietly. “And I think you should but not now. I’m not ready.
“It’s going to disappoint him,” Nate said, running a hand through his hair. “He’s so excited about working with me, and when he finds out it was all based on a lie…”
“Papa’s been disappointed before,” I said, though the words felt hollow. “He’ll understand. Eventually.”
We pushed through the exit doors into the late afternoon sunlight, and I was immediately struck by the sight of a familiar figure leaning against the building. Liam was waiting for us, his expression dark and unreadable as he watched us approach.
My heart started racing immediately, memories of our night together flooding back despite my best efforts to suppress them. He looked good – too good – in his team warm-up gear, his dark hair slightly mussed from practice.
“Well, well,” Liam said as we got closer. “How was the private coaching session with the famous Viktor Melnyk?”
“It was fine,” Nate said carefully, clearly trying to gauge his brother’s mood.
“I’m sure it was,” Liam replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Tell me, Nate, does Viktor know that his star pupil is only getting these opportunities because of a fake relationship with his daughter?”
I felt the blood drain from my face. “Liam, don’t.”
“Don’t what?” he asked, his green eyes blazing as they fixed on me. “Don’t tell the truth? Don’t expose the fact that you two have been lying to him from the beginning?”
“That’s not—” I started, but he cut me off.
“Not what? Not exactly what happened?” Liam pushed off from the wall, moving closer to us with predatory grace.
“Liam, please,” Nate said, stepping slightly in front of me. “Just let it go.”
“Let it go?” Liam laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Why would I do that? Why would I let you continue to lie to a man who’s offering you opportunities you don’t deserve?”
“I do deserve them,” Nate said, his voice growing heated. “Her father saw my potential. He wouldn’t have offered to train me if I didn’t have talent.”
“Talent, maybe,” Liam conceded. “But you got your foot in the door through deception. How is that any different from cheating?”
“Because I’m planning to tell him the truth,” Nate shot back.
“When?” Liam demanded. “When are you planning to come clean? After you’ve gotten everything you want from him? After you’ve secured your spot on the national team? After you’ve built your entire career on a foundation of lies?”
“It’s not like that,” I said desperately. “Nate isn’t using me anymore. We’ve talked about this, and we’ve decided—”
“Decided what?” Liam interrupted, his attention snapping back to me. “Decided to keep lying? Decided to keep playing house while he benefits from your father’s expertise?”
“We didn’t want to spring it on Mr. Melnyk during a training session,” Nate explained. “We thought it would be better to have that conversation privately.”
“How convenient,” Liam said. “Another delay, another excuse to keep the charade going a little longer.”
“Liam, stop,” Nate said, moving closer to his brother. “This isn’t your business.”
“Isn’t it?” Liam grabbed Nate’s wrist, his grip tight enough to make his brother wince. “When my brother is using someone I—” He stopped abruptly, his jaw clenching as he seemed to realize he’d been about to say too much.
“Someone you what?” Nate asked, his eyes narrowing.
Liam released his grip and stepped back, his expression shuttering. “Someone I don’t want to see get hurt by your manipulation.”
“I’m not manipulating anyone,” Nate said hotly. “And I’m certainly not going to let you threaten Kate or her father just because you’re in a bad mood.”
“Threaten?” Liam’s voice rose dangerously. “I’m not threatening anyone. I’m just considering having an honest conversation with Viktor about the nature of his daughter’s relationship.”
“Don’t you dare,” I said, my own temper finally snapping. “Don’t you dare involve my father in whatever twisted game you think you’re playing.”
“I’m not playing a game,” Liam said, his eyes burning as they met mine. “I’m trying to stop one.”
“By creating more drama?” Nate demanded. “By hurting Kate just to get back at me?”
“This isn’t about getting back at you,” Liam said through gritted teeth.
“Then what is it about?” Nate asked, stepping closer to his brother. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re trying to sabotage something good just because you can’t stand seeing other people happy.”
Liam’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, and for a moment I thought he might actually hit Nate again. The tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife, and I could see other students starting to notice the confrontation.
“Liam,” I said quietly, trying to defuse the situation before it escalated further. “Please just let us handle this our own way.”
He looked at me then, and I saw something raw and painful flash across his face before he managed to mask it with his usual hostility.
“Actually, Liam, there’s something you should know.”
Liam stopped and turned back, his eyebrows raised in question.
“It’s no longer fake,” Nate said, his voice carrying clearly across the space between them. “Kate and I are truly dating now.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. I stared at Nate in shock, unable to believe what he’d just said. We’d literally had a conversation yesterday about ending our fake relationship, about being honest with everyone about what we really were.
And now he was telling his brother that we were actually together?
“What?” Liam’s voice was deadly quiet, his face going pale.
