The storm hit the Alexander house hard.
Robert's rage came in waves. Shouting. Doors slamming. The twins retreating to their room, frightened and silent. Kai's mom sitting at the kitchen table, eyes hollow and hands trembling.
"You think you're too good for us now?" Robert spat one night, breath heavy with beer. "Gonna run off to Europe and forget your own damn family?"
Kai said nothing.
He knew better than to argue.
He kept his head down, counted the days, clung to the little shred of hope that Sarah had promised him.
It came faster than he expected.
One afternoon, just after training, Sarah called.
"Kai, pack your essentials," she said, her voice firm. "Your mom and the twins too. I'm sending a car."
Kai blinked, stunned. "Wait — what? Why?"
"I'm moving you into my guest room in my apartment. It is big enough," she said. "Temporary, until everything's sorted. You're not staying in that toxic place another day."
For a long moment, Kai couldn't speak.
Then his throat tightened, and he barely managed to choke out, "Thank you."
"No need," Sarah said gently. "Family looks out for family."
That night, under the cover of darkness, they left.
Kai, his mom, Ella, and Ethan, all crammed into the back of a sleek black SUV sent by Sarah. Kai had told Tez he was leaving for a bit and Tez understood why. He supported his decision.
Robert was out drinking somewhere. Jerry hadn't been seen in days. No one was there to stop them.
Kai sat in the backseat, his arm around his little sister as she leaned against him, half-asleep.
For the first time in what felt like forever, he let out a breath he didn't even know he'd been holding.
Sarah's apartment was nothing like the chaos they'd come from.
It was calm. Warm. Safe.
Madison was there too, greeting them with a smile, helping carry bags inside.
"This place is huge," Ethan said, wide-eyed as he looked around.
"You guys are welcome here as long as you need," Madison said, ruffling his hair.
Kai's mom, Mikayla pulled Sarah aside, tears brimming in her eyes.
"I don't know how to thank you," she whispered. She had finally been brave enough to do this because Kai told her about what is happening in his life and Aunt Mel called to reassure her.
Sarah just hugged her. "Thank me by letting Kai live his life without chains."
Kai watched it all unfold, heart swelling with a mixture of gratitude and sadness.
This wasn't just about football anymore.
This was about saving his family.
The next morning, the call came.
Atlanta United officially accepted PSG's €7 million bid.
It was the biggest sale in the club's history.
The president of the club called Kai personally, congratulating him and wishing him luck.
"Kai," the president said warmly, "you're the best talent to ever come through here. You made us proud. Go conquer Europe, son."
Kai hung up, hands shaking, heart pounding.
It was real now.
The dream he'd clung to through every dark night, every broken promise — it was real.
Contract talks with PSG went smoother than Kai could've imagined.
Sarah handled everything, slicing through legal jargon like a surgeon.
A five-year deal. €40,000 a week, plus hefty bonuses for appearances, goals, and trophies.
Was introduced to the facilities, staff and met with the first team players. He watched them train. Met with Doue who he quickly became friends with.
But, with Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia still at their peak, regular minutes would be hard to come by immediately. And Kai, understood that.
PSG's Sporting Director — a sharp, no-nonsense man named Mr Ocampos, proposed a solution.
A loan to Sporting CP in Portugal.
A club that played in the Champions League.
A club famous for developing young stars. It has been actively chasing him too but couldn't compete financially with those bigger teams.
"Sporting's manager loves your style," Ocampos said during a meeting. "You won't sit on the bench. You'll grow. You'll shine."
Kai looked at Sarah, who nodded encouragingly.
"It's the perfect bridge," she said.
Kai grinned.
He didn't need convincing.
He wanted to play — not rot on a bench.
He wanted to prove to the world — and to himself — that he belonged.
After the meeting, Kai stepped outside into the crisp Paris night air. Tomorrow was his presentation and picking a jersey number.
He sat down on the balcony and faceTimed Madison who was sitting on the porch swing, scrolling through her phone back in Atlanta.
When she saw his caller ID she picked up immediately and she smiled.
"Big news?"
He nodded, sinking into the seat beside a beautiful flower.
"PSG," he said. "Loan to Sporting."
Her eyes lit up. "That's huge, Kai."
"Yeah," he said softly. "It is."
For a moment, they just talked about their dreams back and forth.
Then Madison nudged him with her shoulder. "You're gonna kill it over there."
"You really think so?" he asked, half-joking but half-serious.
"I know so," she said.
Their eyes locked deep over the phone.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Something warm and terrifying and thrilling.
Kai swallowed hard and looked away, heart racing.
But he couldn't stop smiling.
The next few days were a whirlwind.
Medical tests. Signing ceremonies. Photoshoots in PSG gear. He ended up taking the number 25 jersey since the specific ones he wanted were not available.
It felt surreal.
But through it all, Kai kept grounded by two things.
One: Sarah, standing beside him at every step, fighting for him like he was her own son.
Two: Madison, sneaking him notes of encouragement, funny memes, little jokes that kept the pressure from swallowing him whole.
And for the first time in a long time, Kai Alexander felt… hopeful.
Not scared.
Not trapped.
Hopeful.
Back at the Alexander house — or what was left of it, Robert sat alone.
The newspaper on the table screamed in bold letters:
"Kai Alexander Signs with PSG in €7 Million Deal."
Gone.
His meal ticket was gone.
And there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.
Robert crushed the can in his hand and hurled it across the room.
But it didn't make him feel any better.
Nothing would.
Not now.