CHAPTER 99

CHAPTER 99
POV ÍSIS (BONUS)

I didn’t regret it.

Not for a second.

Even now, with my chest tight and my eyes burning from crying so much… I wouldn’t take it back.

Every word I said to my mother…

She deserved it.

Maybe it was harsh.

Maybe it was cruel.

But, in that moment, there was no room for calm. For empathy. For trying to understand.

There was only anger.

Pure anger.

The kind that burns inside.

That makes your chest ache.

That makes you say things you never imagined saying.

My own mother.

The person I always admired.

Always defended.

Always looked up to.

Cheating on my father.

With Noah.

Noah.

Just thinking about him made my stomach twist.

My idol.

The guy I admired.

Followed.

Defended in every argument.

Cheered for.

That I… liked.

And suddenly…

He was in the middle of this.

With my mother.

My chest tightened painfully.

A strange pain.

Confusing.

Like two parts of me were colliding.

The fan.

And the daughter.

And neither of them knew how to deal with it.

I had gone to the game to cheer for him.

I was happy.

Excited.

Proud.

I had even imagined what it would be like to see him up close, playing such an important final…

But all of that was destroyed in seconds.

The photos.

The headlines.

The news.

My phone is vibrating nonstop.

Messages are pouring in.

Notifications.

And in the middle of all that…

My mother.

Walking into a hotel with him.

Leaving with him.

Wrapped in his arms.

My stomach churned again.

I couldn’t stay there.

I couldn’t.

I couldn’t look at anyone.

Much less his sister.

That girl who had been so nice to me… who was there, happy, cheering…

My God.

What must she be thinking?

What was everyone thinking?

My face burned just remembering.

I don’t remember exactly how I left the stadium.

I just remember walking fast.

Almost running.

Without looking back.

Without thinking.

Just trying to get out of there.

Like the air was too heavy.

Like that place was suffocating me.

When I realized it, I was already outside.

The noise of the stadium still echoed, but it felt distant.

Muffled.

Unreal.

Like I was in another dimension.

I stopped.

Pressed my hand against my chest.

Took a deep breath.

But the air wouldn’t come in properly.

The tears kept falling.

Nonstop.

One after another.

I raised my trembling hand and hailed a taxi.

The car stopped a few seconds later.

I got in quickly.

Closed the door.

And tried to breathe.

But I couldn’t.

My breathing came out uneven.

Irregular.

Out of control.

The driver looked at me through the rearview mirror.

Concerned.

“Are you okay?”

I shook my head immediately.

“Just… just drive, please…”

My voice came out weak.

Almost inaudible.

He didn’t insist.

Just nodded.

And the car started moving.

The ride felt endless.

Every second dragged.

My mind wouldn’t stop.

The images came back.

The photos.

The comments.

The words I said.

The words she said.

Everything.

Repeating.

Over and over.

My chest tightened more with each memory.

And in the middle of it all…

A feeling began to grow.

Shame.

Shame about everything.

Shame about the situation.

Shame about my family.

Shame… on her.

When the taxi stopped in front of the house, I barely noticed.

The driver told me.

I paid quickly, my hands still shaking.

Got out of the car.

And stood there for a few seconds.

Staring at the door.

Taking a deep breath.

Like I needed to gather strength.

Like I knew that, once I stepped inside…

Nothing would ever be the same.

I opened the door.

And walked in.

My father was in the living room.

As soon as he saw me, he stood up immediately.

“Isis?”

His voice came out worried.

But I couldn’t answer.

I just ran to him.

And threw myself into his arms.

Like a child.

Like someone who desperately needed protection.

And then I broke down.

I cried.

Uncontrollably.

Without shame.

Unable to stop.

“Dad…” My voice came out broken. “I’m so sorry…”

He held me tightly.

Firmly.

As if trying to keep me together.

As if trying to stop me from breaking even more.

“Hey… hey…” he murmured. “It’s okay… I’m here…”

But it wasn’t okay.

Nothing was.

“Me too, sweetheart…” he said softly.

That hit me.

Harder than anything.

Because, in that moment…

I realized.

He already knew.

Everyone already knew.

My chest tightened even more.

I pulled back slightly.

Looked at him.

And my heart broke again.

My father looked… destroyed.

Tired eyes.

No light.

A heavy expression.

As if he had aged years in a few hours.

“How…” I swallowed hard. “How are you?”

He let out a long, heavy sigh.

“Destroyed…”

The word dropped inside me like a stone.

“I never imagined…” he continued. “After everything we’ve been through…”

I closed my eyes for a second.

Feeling more tears fall.

“Fifteen years…” he murmured. “Fifteen years together…”

Fifteen years.

A whole life.

A whole story.

And suddenly…

Everything was stained.

Everything is broken.

“I can’t believe she did this to you…” I said, my voice trembling.

He tried to smile.

But it was weak.

Painful.

“You never expect it…” he said.

Silence.

Heavy.

Full of things left unsaid.

“Do you…” I hesitated. “Do you plan to separate?”

He looked at me.

Straight on.

And, to my surprise…

He shook his head.

“No.”

I frowned.

“No?”

He took a deep breath.

“I’m destroyed…” he said. “Hurt… disappointed…”

My chest tightened.

“But I’m not going to end our family.”

I stayed silent.

Confused.

“I love you all…” he continued. “I love you… I love your mother…”

That part hurt.

“And I’m not going to throw everything away because of a mistake.”

Mistake.

The word echoed in my mind.

A mistake?

That didn’t feel like a mistake.

It felt like a choice.

But even so…

Something inside me settled.

Because he was there.

Strong.

Trying to hold everything together.

“I forgive your mother…” he said. “It won’t be easy… but I forgive her.”

I swallowed hard.

“For the family…”

My chest tightened.

Hard.

“You’re… incredible…” I murmured.

And I believed it.

In that moment…

I truly believed it.

He ran his hand through my hair.

Gently.

“I’m just trying to do what’s right.”

I stayed quiet.

Thinking.

Absorbing.

My father was destroyed.

Betrayed.

Exposed.

And even so…

Choosing to stay.

Choosing to fight.

While my mother…

Risked everything.

For a lie.

For a betrayal.

For… him.

My chest tightened again.

“I’m ashamed of her…” I murmured.

This time, my voice came out firmer.

Colder.

He didn’t respond.

He just pulled me into another hug.

Tighter.

Quieter.

“It’s going to be okay…” he said.

But, for the first time…

I wasn’t sure that was true.

Because, in that moment…

Everything felt too broken.

And I didn’t know…

If it could still be fixed.