Axel
I was going through my morning routine, trying to push aside thoughts of the night before, when Ettore walked into the kitchen and pulled out a chair across from me.
"What do you plan to do now?" he asked bluntly, grabbing a cup of coffee before I could even answer.
I knew exactly what he was referring to. Kimberly. The scene from the night before still bothered me. I had gone to her house determined to settle the situation, but instead, I was greeted by a man in a plush bathrobe, fresh out of the shower. The discomfort and irritation surged back just from remembering that image.
"I'm going to train," I said, taking a sip of my coffee. "I’ll decide what to do later."
Ettore raised an eyebrow, assessing my reaction.
AxelTraining that day was torture. I tried to focus, but my mind kept fixating on Kimberly. Still, I moved on autopilot, as if my body knew what to do even when my head was somewhere else.Arriving at the club had been chaotic, with reporters shouting questions about Kimberly and the pregnancy. Fred and Ettore had been right—I couldn’t have gone to her this morning. The situation had spiraled out of control. But I couldn’t lose focus.Even with my mind completely consumed by thoughts of Kimberly, I managed to score twice during practice. At the end of the session, the coach praised my performance, saying I’d been sharp, especially with the crucial Euro Cup match coming up. I nodded in acknowledgment, barely registering his wor
KimberlyI had already called my boss, Charles Whitaker, to let him know that something had come up and I didn’t know when I’d make it to work. The call was brief, but the tone of his voice made it clear that he was not pleased. Charles had always been a meticulous, controlling man—and, to be honest, a bit pedantic. He had a peculiar way of making comments that sounded harmless, but always carried a subtle sarcasm that only I seemed to pick up on. This time, though, he got straight to the point. “Kimberly, does this... situation of yours have anything to do with the story going around in the media?” he asked, his tone dripping with disdain. “About you being pregnant with a Brazilian football player’s child?”
AaronThe silence in my office was deafening. Anneliese’s words still echoed in my mind, and I felt as if the ground had vanished beneath my feet. This can’t be happening. Without wasting another second, I grabbed my keys and rushed out of the building like a storm. Employees gave me confused looks, but I didn’t stop. In the parking lot, I got into my car and sped off with no destination in mind. I had to find her. I called Anneliese while driving. “Are you sure she took everything?” My voice was sharp, desperate. “Yes, Aaron. There’s no doubt. The doorman told me she left!” My sister’s panic only fueled my own. “The art school said she withdrew from her classes.” I swallowed hard, gripping the steering wheel tighter. How did I let this happen? I was so caught up in my doubts that I didn’t realize I was pushing her away. “The doorman saw her leave with everything?” I insisted as the car sped through the city streets. “I spoke with him. He said Rebecca called a taxi yester
AaronThe smell of fresh coffee hung in the air as I approached the dining room for breakfast, offering a bit of comfort after a terrible night. But the mood at the table said otherwise. Besides my grandparents, Anton and Anneliese were also seated, but the heavy silence and closed expressions signaled that something was wrong, especially Leonel’s stormy glare. "What’s going on?" I asked, grabbing a cup and pouring myself some coffee. Leonel scoffed, which was never a good sign. "Your brother never tires of disgracing this family." I frowned. "Which one?" Before my grandfather could fully explode, Anneliese jumped in. "Axel," she said, rolling her eyes and grabbing a slice of cake. "The British press is reporting that a woman is pregnant with his child." I grimaced. Again? "This has happened before," I said with a shrug, sipping my coffee. "A hookup that happened during Axel’s vacation in Santorini," Anneliese added. My gaze shifted to Anton, who looked tense. He had been
AxelI was going through my morning routine, trying to push aside thoughts of the night before, when Ettore walked into the kitchen and pulled out a chair across from me."What do you plan to do now?" he asked bluntly, grabbing a cup of coffee before I could even answer.I knew exactly what he was referring to. Kimberly. The scene from the night before still bothered me. I had gone to her house determined to settle the situation, but instead, I was greeted by a man in a plush bathrobe, fresh out of the shower. The discomfort and irritation surged back just from remembering that image."I'm going to train," I said, taking a sip of my coffee. "I’ll decide what to do later."Ettore raised an eyebrow, assessing my reaction.
KimberlyWhen I walked into the house, the last thing I expected was to see my sister coming out of the bathroom with a man I had never seen before. He was wearing a plush robe, his hair still wet like he’d just stepped out of the shower. Kathleen stood beside him with a look that could only be described as a mix of surprise and embarrassment.I had told Kathleen I wouldn’t be home for dinner because I was meeting up with an old college friend at a pub. But in the end, I started feeling incredibly nauseous and canceled. I decided to head home instead, hoping for some peace. Of course, things are never that simple.I didn’t say a word. Not hi, not who are you, not even what the hell is going on here? I just stared at the two of them, feeling a wave of irritation and discomfort rising in my chest.