Ashton’s POV
I let the silence stretch a beat longer, feeling the weight of every eye in the building suddenly fixed on me . . . players, coaches, thousands of fans who came here tonight expecting nothing more than a hockey game.
'Over the past few weeks,' I continue, my voice steadier now that I've actually started, 'there have been photos. Headlines. Stories suggesting I've hurt people I love . . . specifically, a woman named Luna, who looks after my daughter, and by extension, accusations regarding my own daughter's safety and wellbeing.'
A murmur ripples through the crowd, exactly as I expected. I press on before I can lose my nerve.
'Every single one of those stories was a lie. Manufactured, deliberately, by someone who wanted to destroy my reputation and my career.' I pause, lett
