OFFSIDE

76

❝ I stand up with shaky hands, all eyes on me. ❞
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Pedri's POV
I see Elena clutching the table. I blink a few times, trying to process what just happened.

The slap her mother gave her was a dull, hard sound that reverberated through my bones. I can feel the goosebumps on my arms, not because I'm cold, but because it's so distressing to witness.

Pablo looks at me in shock, then bends down to Elena. She has collapsed and is holding her hand to her cheek.

I look at her mother, who is staring coldly at her daughter and still yelling. What is wrong with this woman?

"STOP!" I shout at her. Everyone turns to me, apparently surprised that I have vocal cords. Earlier, I hadn't intervened because I had no idea what to do. I was....

Speechless.

Powerless.

Frozen.

I should have realized that these kinds of things happen within families. I should have understood that Elena's relationship with her parents is strained for a reason, and of course, I should have believed what Emma said was indeed true.

But I hadn't thought of any of it.

I step forward, feeling the surge of anger and protectiveness rise within me. I cannot stand to see Elena in pain, especially at the hands of her own mother.

"How dare you hit her!" I shout, my voice trembling with rage.

Her mother glares at me, her eyes narrowing. "This is none of your business," she spits. "Everything was fine until you showed up in their life."

I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I take a step closer to her, my fists clenched at my sides. "You're wrong," I say, my voice low and dangerous. "Elena is innocent. She hasn't done anything wrong. You have no idea what you're talking about."

Elena may have been wrong. Our affair, no matter how much we tried to justify it, was a betrayal. She cheated on Pablo with me, and only Fernando and Emma know the truth. Nobody knows, so I can deny it.

I glance over at Elena, who is still trying to process the tumultuous encounter with her mother. Her eyes are red from crying, and there's a faint bruise already forming on her cheek where her mother struck her. My heart aches for her, but there's also a pang of guilt gnawing at me.

We did something we shouldn't have, I think to myself. Elena and I crossed a line that should never have been crossed.

But we've ended it now. It's over. We both knew it was wrong, and we've stopped. She's no longer doing anything wrong.

The thoughts swirl in my head, and I find it hard to reconcile my feelings. On one hand, I care deeply for Elena and want to protect her. On the other hand, the reality of our actions weighs heavily on me.

I look at Pablo, he has no idea about what happened between Elena and me, and the guilt gnaws at me. He's a good friend, and he deserves the truth. But at the same time, I know that revealing the truth would only cause more pain and chaos.

Elena's mother scoffs and takes me out of my thoughts, crossing her arms over her chest. "Of course you would say that. You're the reason she's in this mess. But don't worry I always knew she would ruin her life. Elena has everything her heart desires, rich parents, a sweet boyfriend with a lot of money, a mega house, she doesn't have to do anything all day and yet it's not enough for her."

I can't believe what I'm hearing. How can a mother be so blind to her own daughter's worth? "You don't see her for who she really is," I say, my voice rising with each word. "Elena is kind, intelligent, and incredibly talented. She's one of the most caring and hardworking people I know. She doesn't deserve this, least of all from her own mother."

"Do you think I don't know my own daughter?" she snaps, her voice dripping with venom.

"It sure doesn't seem like it," I retort. "You're too busy blaming her for things that aren't her fault to see the amazing person she is."

Her eyes narrow further, and she steps closer to me, pointing a finger in my face. "You have no idea what you're talking about. This is all your fault. If you hadn't come into her life, none of this would have happened. The media loves her with Pablo, because they love Pablo but now you ruined that with your stupid dinner."

I feel my blood boiling. "You're wrong," I say, my voice shaking with anger. "Elena hasn't done anything wrong. The girl in the photo isn't her; it's my girlfriend, Emma. They just happen to look a lot alike."

Her mother looks taken aback for a moment, but then her face twists in a sneer. "It doesn't matter. She's still ruined her life by getting involved with you. It's her own fault that the media thinks it's her. If she was just obedient and in the background they would never have thought that. But honestly. She doesn't deserve Pablo. Pablo is way too good for her and I am extremely grateful that he sees something in my daughter. Otherwise nothing would have come of her. But Elena doesn't see that herself, she doesn't see that she has no chance without Pablo. He saved her from a lonely, measly life and she's ungrateful even for that."

I shake my head, feeling a mix of anger and despair. How can someone be so cruel and unfeeling? "Elena is one of the strongest and most resilient people I know," I say, my voice filled with conviction. "She's been through so much, and she's come out stronger every time. You should be proud of her, not tearing her down."

Her mother's face turns red with rage, and she opens her mouth to say something, but I don't let her. "You don't deserve a daughter like Elena," I say, my voice firm and unyielding. "She deserves to be loved and appreciated for who she is, not constantly criticized and torn down."

Elena's mother takes a step back, looking shocked and furious. "How dare you speak to me like that," she hisses.

"I dare because someone needs to stand up for Elena," I say, my voice unwavering. "She deserves so much better than this."

I look over at Elena, who is still holding her cheek and cries softly, her eyes filled with pain and sadness. My heart aches for her, and I wish I could take away all the hurt she's feeling. "You're not alone, Elena," I say softly, my voice filled with love and support. "I'm here for you, and I always will be."

Elena's mother glares at me one last time before turning on her heel and storming out of the house. The room is silent for a moment, the tension still thick in the air. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.