When 3 turns into 4

They got close.... But so did i.

Lucy sobbed into my neck, hiccuping, "He doesn't want us."

"Yes he does," I whispered, even as my own voice cracked. "He does."

"No, he doesn't," Eli said, shaking in Laia's arms. "He left."

⸻

Renee knelt beside us, quiet and present, her hand on my back.

"We can reschedule this meeting," she said softly.

The room was full. Teammates, coaches, staff.

No one said a word.

Because this wasn't just a moment.

It was a reality.

This was our life — the one I tried so hard to keep separate from everything else.

But my kids broke first.

And there was no hiding anymore.

Arsenal Training Grounds, Strategy Room to Outside Corridor

I stood.

"Renee, can I have ten minutes?"

She nodded immediately. "Take all the time you need."

I picked Lucy up, her little arms locked around my neck, tears soaking through my shirt.

Eli was still kicking the glass door, sobbing, "I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!"

I opened the door, my voice breaking. "Eli—stop."

He collapsed against me, still heaving, fists pounding weakly at my legs.

Behind us, the entire room — teammates, staff — watched silently through the glass.

We weren't a distraction.

We were a storm.

And I had no choice but to stand in it.

⸻

Inside the strategy room — Arsenal Women's POV

The room was frozen. Silent. Eyes locked on the mess unraveling just outside.

Katie whispered, "He did this."

Viv Miedema stood, slowly. "The kids... they're grieving him like he died."

Alessia had one hand over her mouth, the other clenched on the table.

Viv turned toward the back hall. "He's here."

⸻

Men's team lounge — Riccardo Calafiori

He had just come out of physio when he heard the first scream.

Muffled.

Then louder.

Then: glass shaking.

He followed the sound to the hallway junction and stopped cold.

Lucia — in Elenora's arms, wailing.

Eli — in full meltdown, face red, fists flying, kicking the wall, his bag, the ground.

Ric froze.

"Jesus Christ," someone muttered behind him.

"That's Lenny's kids," another voice whispered.

Laia appeared in the corridor, pale but calm.

She looked right at Ric.

"You should go out there."

He shook his head. "She doesn't want to see me."

"Maybe not," Laia said, voice soft. "But they do."

He didn't move.