A Bet That Changed Us ︱Pablo Gavi

34: Back at work

Isabella's Pov

Isabella lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as the morning sun filtered through the curtains. She knew she had to go back to work, but the thought of seeing Pablo made her stomach churn. She wasn't ready to face him—not yet. Not after everything that had happened. The pain of betrayal was still fresh, and the last thing she wanted was to be anywhere near him.

But she couldn't avoid her responsibilities forever. After hours of tossing and turning, she finally forced herself out of bed, determined to get back to her normal routine, even if it meant putting on a brave face.

As she walked into the training facility, the familiar sights and sounds offered a small sense of comfort. The hum of conversation, the clatter of equipment, and the distant shouts from the pitch—it all reminded her of why she loved her job. But there was an undercurrent of anxiety that she couldn't shake, a tightness in her chest that grew with every step.

When she entered the treatment room, her heart skipped a beat. Lamine was sitting on the examination table, waiting for her to check on his wrist. He greeted her with a warm smile, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes.

"Hey, Isabella," Lamine said, his voice soft. "How are you holding up?"

She forced a smile, trying to keep things professional. "I'm okay. Just... getting through it."

Lamine nodded, watching her closely as she began to examine his wrist. "I know it's not my place, but I wanted to talk to you about what happened with Pablo."

Isabella stiffened slightly, her fingers pausing on his wrist. She hadn't expected this conversation, especially not with Lamine. But she knew he meant well, so she took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay."

Lamine hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "Pablo never intended to hurt you. The bet, it was stupid, I know but it wasn't something he took seriously at first. None of us did. It was just a dumb joke. Pablo didn't think he or you would actually fall in love."

Isabella's heart ached at his words, but she kept her focus on Lamine's wrist, checking for any lingering tenderness. "But we did fall in love," she murmured, more to herself than to him.

"Yeah, you did," Lamine agreed, his voice gentle. "And once that happened, the bet didn't matter anymore. Pablo never thought about it again, and honestly, none of us did. But Ferran... he said something stupid. He wasn't thinking, and I'm so sorry that it hurt you like this."

Isabella swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over. "It just felt like... everything was a lie."

Lamine shook his head, his expression earnest. "It wasn't a lie, Isabella. What you two had—it was real. Pablo fell for you, hard. And he's been a mess since you found out. He never wanted to hurt you. He cares about you more than anything."

She bit her lip, her emotions swirling inside her. She wanted to believe Lamine, to hold on to the love she and Pablo had shared. But the wound was still raw, and the fear of getting hurt again was too strong.

"I just... I don't know what to do," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Lamine reached out, placing his uninjured hand gently on her arm. "Take your time. No one's rushing you. But just know that Pablo's hurting too, and he'd give anything to make this right."

Isabella nodded, appreciating Lamine's honesty and support. She finished the examination, noting that his wrist was healing well and that he'd be ready to play in the next match. As he left the treatment room, she was left alone with her thoughts, the weight of the conversation heavy on her mind.