"It means exactly what I'm saying. You're sabotaging your career for a girl you barely know." He pockets his phone. "End it. Publicly. Make it clear it was a distraction you've corrected. Then focus on hockey like you're supposed to."
"No."
"No?" He looks genuinely shocked.
"I'm not ending things with Lennox because you're afraid of what scouts think. If they want a robot who only cares about hockey, they can find someone else."
"You're throwing away everything we've worked for?—"
"Everything YOU worked for. Not me. You." My voice rises. "You pushed me into hockey. You designed my training. You controlled every aspect of my development. I went along with it because I thought that's what I was supposed to do. But I'm done being your puppet."
"I made you what you are?—"
"You made me miserable! I hated hockey until I figured out how to make it mine. How to lead my way, not yours. How to actually care about my teammates instead of just using them to win." I'm shaking now. "And Lennox? She sees me. The real me. Not the player you manufactured and I'm not giving that up for your approval or NHL scouts or anyone else."
He's very still. Very quiet.
"If you continue this relationship, I'm cutting you off. Completely. No more financial support. No more connections. No more family backing."
"Is that supposed to scare me?"
"It should. You're still in school. You have expenses, obligations. Without my support, you'll struggle. And your sister—" He pauses meaningfully. "Maya's private school, her therapy, all of it comes from family money. Money I control."
My blood runs cold. "You wouldn't."
"Try me. End things with the journalist, refocus on hockey, and everything continues as normal. Continuethis rebellious phase, and I cut off support for both of you."
"Maya has nothing to do with this?—"
"She has everything to do with this. You want to be the hero who chooses love over duty? Fine. But understand the cost. Your sister loses everything because you couldn't put your family first."
He walks away before I can respond, leaving me standing in the corridor feeling like I've been punched.
He's using Maya. Using my sister's mental health and wellbeing as leverage to control me.
I pull out my phone and call her immediately.
"Hey!" She sounds happy. "I was just thinking about you. How's practice?"
"Maya, I need to tell you something."
I explain everything. Dad's ultimatum. The threat to cut off her school and therapy funding. The impossible choice he's forcing me to make.
She's quiet for a long time.
"Carter, you can't let him do this."
"I won't. I'll figure something out. Find a way to pay for everything myself?—"
"That's not what I mean." Her voice is firm. "You can't let him manipulate you into breaking up with Lennox. That's exactly what he wants. Control through fear."
"But your therapy?—"
"I'll figure it out. There are community resources, sliding scale options. I'm not going to be the reason you give up someone you love."
"Maya—"
"No. Listen to me. I've watched Dad control you my entire life. Every choice, every path, every decision filteredthrough what he wants. This is your chance to break free. Don't give it up for me."
