Chapter 131
Ares’ POV.
I found myself staring up at the man—Emilio, was it? I wasn't entirely sure where Isabella knew him from, but it was evident he wasn't family. Were they friends? The uncertainty gnawed at me, and I couldn't shake a hint of jealousy as I observed the way he looked at Isabella. Even Lionel, who typically showed little interest, especially in me, seemed to genuinely like the guy. They exchanged hugs and fist bumps, a friendship that left me astonished because the most he gave me was a half smile.
"Who is he?" I muttered to Seyra, who had settled down right next to me. She frowned and let out a sigh as if bracing herself for a revelation.
"He's, uhm... He's kinda the one that got away," she confessed in a hushed whisper.
"What now?" My brows furrowed in confusion, and Seyra simply hummed, confirming that I had indeed heard her correctly.
My jaw practically dropped to the floor. The phrase 'the one that got away' was never associated with good things. Especially when they came back. I was all too familiar with the emotions that accompanied such a label, having my own 'one that got away' in Isabella. The weight of those ‘unspoken’ jealous feelings pressed upon me, and a sense of concern settled in slowly. I couldn't help but wonder what the reunion might stir in Isabella and how it could impact us.
"Oh my god, is that your son?" Emilio gasped. What did he know about Slade?
"Daniela? Emilio? My god, it has been ages," Giovana exclaimed, walking over to them and giving both Emilio and Daniela tight hugs.
"Hello, it's so good to see you again," Emilio greeted, engaging in a cheerful conversation with Giovana.
"Yes, this is Slade, my little guy," Isabella introduced Slade to Daniela, who lowered herself to Slade's level on the bench.
"Wow, such a handsome little man," Daniela hummed, her warm smile causing Slade to hide in my arms while sneakily peeking at the lady with a shy smile.
"Speaking of, I think something went wrong. I sent you a package for his birthday, but it got sent back," Emilio turned back to Isabella. Discomfort settled within me. "I'm sure I have the right address because you did accept the flowers for your birthday," he continued, deepening my unease. Where had they even met?
"I think you had the address right, but there was no one home. I spent the past few months back in the States," Isabella explained, her tone remarkably cheerful. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story than met the eye. The mention of flowers and a birthday package left me with a lingering sense of uncertainty, and I couldn't help but wonder about the nature of Isabella's past interactions with Emilio. Or more importantly, what Emilio wanted from her. Isabella, I trusted. Emilio? Not so much.
"Oh, right," Emilio frowned. "Why did you go back?"
"Dude, don't you know who that is?" Daniela nudged her brother, tilting her head in my direction. I offered a nod, and it seemed like he finally acknowledged my presence.
"Between training and sleeping, I barely have enough time to enjoy social media, so excuse me," Emilio said, sounding somewhat embarrassed. "I'm Emilio Martinez," he introduced himself. I could tell he was a renowned soccer player, though the extent of his fame was beyond my immediate knowledge. I’d have to google him later…
"Ares Volkov," I stated, shaking his hand firmly.
"He's Slade's father," Isabella revealed, prompting both twins to drop their jaws in surprise before sharing a peculiar look between them.
"Oh... Oh, wow. I feel stupid for not seeing the resemblances earlier," Emilio admitted, breaking into laughter.
I strolled over to the nearby bin, spotting Toni, my target. He would spill everything, and right now, that's precisely what I needed.
"Toni, how was the gelato?" I inquired, approaching him with a friendly demeanor.
"Splendid, but I'm full once again," Toni groaned, his hand pressed against his stomach.
"Well, you did have two servings," I pointed out with a smirk.
"Hush," Toni narrowed his eyes at me, clearly not appreciating my honesty. Despite his protest, I do hope that he will offer me the truth soon.
"Do you know what Emilio over there meant by flowers and gift basket?" I questioned, attempting to keep my tone subtle, though the words spilled out rather straightforwardly. Shit.
"Oh yeah, every year for her birthday, he sends her flowers. He used to send more things, but she banned him from spending so much money, so he just shows his gratitude with the simple most amazing flowers," Toni explained.
"And the gift basket?" I frowned, my curiosity growing. Why did they care about Slade? How close were they exactly?
"Emilio, Daniela, and Isa go way back. When the twins found out she was pregnant, Daniela was around for that year, but after that, she went to Switzerland for her job, I believe? Emilio was busy with his soccer tournaments and such, so they always just send gifts for Slade on his birthday," Toni elaborated, crossing his arms over his chest and fixing me with an intense stare.
"This is the first time Emilio's met Slade?" I followed up, turning around to see Slade offering Emilio a fist bump – no. The betrayal.
"No, I think he was around when Slade was a month or two old. But then the World Cup was around the corner, so he went back to Spain," Toni replied, shrugging and shaking his hand back and forth as he pondered the timeline.
"Toni... Seyra said that he was the one that got away. What did she mean by that?" I finally asked, my gaze shifting to Toni. I knew he'd give it to me straight, and Rosa, who was beside him, was nose-deep in her phone.
"Well... I'm not sure I should be telling you this," Toni muttered.
Desperation clawed at me right now and I needed this man to pity me and tell me. There has been a feeling of worry that has been lingering since Isabella and I first got together. Initially, I thought it might be issues with Rishma and Adelaide, but those concerns had been addressed. Still, an ominous sense persisted, and now, with the emergence of Emilio, it felt like the storm I had anticipated was finally coming. Something told me this wouldn't be the last we saw of him, and I shouldn't expect it to be. Everyone in her family seemed so close with Emilio and his sister, and the uncertainty only fueled my worry.
We all carried our baggage from the past. I never expected Isabella to simply sit around and wait for me. When she casually mentioned going on only one date after having Slade, a wave of relief washed over me. Deep down, I was glad there was no competition. As much as I reveled in competition and had a track record of emerging as the winner, I didn't want to risk losing Isabella. She was mine, just as I was hers – a connection complete in every sense. She was the missing puzzle, and words fell short of describing how she made me whole.
Seyra's cryptic reference to Emilio being the one who got away raised concerns. Isabella rarely let her guard down, and Seyra's words hinted at a chapter of Isabella's life that held a weighty significance. Despite the uncertainty, there was an undeniable bond between Isabella, Emilio, and Daniela. Even after all these years, their friendship remained as vibrant and cheerful as that of best friends. It left me pondering the complex threads of their shared history and how it might intertwine with the present and future. I mean… Would it be a problem?