"Dad, the transfer's confirmed. Manchester City wants me there by Monday."
Ethan's voice floated in from the kitchen, where he packed his belongings into cardboard boxes that would carry his childhood into a new future. Jake sat in his home office, surrounded by tactical notes and memorabilia from European finals that chronicled three seasons of extraordinary achievements.
The Europa Conference League trophy occupied a corner of his desk, its golden surface reflecting the lamp light that had been casting strange shadows for the past hour. Jake had noticed the oddities earlier but dismissed them as fatigue from weeks of media obligations and celebrations.
"Your mother's taking you to Manchester tomorrow," Jake called back, his voice heavy with exhaustion that ran deeper than physical tiredness. "It's an early start, so get some sleep."
Emma appeared in the doorway, car keys jingling in her hand. "I'm heading to the mall for groceries. Do you need anything?"
