𝐀 𝐁𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐬︱Pablo Gavi

40: Juicy gossip

Isabella's Pov

The clinic was quieter than usual today. Lamine's appointment was just another part of my day, but I was still reeling from the emotional fallout of the past week. My new position at Barcelona, which I had eagerly accepted, was supposed to be a fresh start, but the shadows of recent events seemed to follow me wherever I went.

Lamine arrived with his usual energy, though there was an undercurrent of seriousness in his demeanor. We went through his check-up routine, and I could tell that he was trying to maintain a light atmosphere despite the underlying tension. As we wrapped up, Lamine leaned in with a conspiratorial grin.

"You know, Isabella, I've been hearing some juicy gossip," he said, his tone a mix of intrigue and mischief.

I raised an eyebrow, curious despite myself. "Juicy gossip? Now you've got my attention."

Lamine's grin widened, and he glanced around as if to make sure no one else was listening. "Well, it turns out Pablo's been going through a rough patch since everything fell apart. He's barely been eating, hardly sleeping, and generally not taking care of himself."

My heart sank at his words. Despite the hurt and betrayal I had felt, it was difficult to hear that Pablo was suffering. The images of him moving on so quickly with Sofia had been hard to process, but now hearing that he was struggling emotionally added a new layer of complexity to the situation.

"Really?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. "Why's he been struggling so much?"

Lamine's expression shifted to one of concern. "From what I've heard, it's a mix of regret and heartbreak. He's been consumed by guilt and the fallout from everything that happened. It's not just about you; it's like everything that's been building up is hitting him all at once."

I took a deep breath, processing Lamine's words. It was difficult to reconcile this image of Pablo with the one I had seen in the paparazzi photos and the way he had acted so cavalierly with Sofia. But hearing that he was struggling in such a profound way made me pause.

Lamine continued, his voice filled with empathy. "He's been putting on a brave face for the public and the team, but it's clear that he's struggling behind closed doors. His performance on the field has suffered, and he's not handling things well at all. He's not the same person he used to be, and it's taking a toll on him."

A wave of conflicting emotions washed over me. Part of me felt a deep sadness for him, recognizing that his pain was real and significant. It was hard to ignore the fact that despite everything, he was still someone I had cared for deeply. Another part of me was frustrated, feeling that his suffering was a consequence of his own actions and choices.

"Thank you for telling me," I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. "I appreciate you being honest with me."

Lamine nodded, his expression earnest. "I just wanted you to have the full picture. I know it doesn't change what happened, but I thought you should know what's really going on. It's important to understand that there's more to the story."

The clinic was unusually quiet as I finished up Lamine's check-up. His demeanor was lighter than usual, but there was an edge of seriousness to his tone that caught my attention. After a few routine questions and answers, he leaned in slightly, his expression shifting to something more serious.

"You know, Isabella, I forgot to mention something else," he said, his voice lowering as if he was about to share a secret. "I've heard more about what's going on with Pablo and Sofia."

I looked up, curious despite the emotional exhaustion I was feeling. "What else is there to know?"

Lamine's face softened with empathy. "I found out that nothing between Pablo and Sofia is real. The other day, Pablo actually shouted at her, really lost his temper. He made it clear that he didn't want anything to do with her and that she was just making things worse."