Football System: Touchline God
Chapter 63: Buying A Car

Chapter 63: Buying A Car

Elira’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. She appeared in the doorway behind Maddox, still wearing his oversized t-shirt. Her hair was tousled from their morning together.

The three of them stood frozen. Maddox could feel the heat radiating from Elira’s body behind him. Could smell her shampoo mixing with the coffee scent from the kitchen.

Alina’s eyes moved from Maddox to Elira and back again. Her face went through a series of expressions. Shock. Hurt. Something that might have been relief.

"So this is why," Alina said. Her voice was different now. Harder. "This is why you’ve been so distant. Why you stopped trying."

Maddox didn’t answer. What could he say? That he’d given up on their marriage long before they started being together? That they’d been secret lovers living in the same house for weeks now?

"How long?" Alina asked.

"Alina—"

"How long have you been sleeping with her?"

The question hit like a slap. Elira tensed behind him, her brow furrowed at Alina’s sudden caring attitude. Maddox could feel her wanting to say something, but she stayed quiet.

"It doesn’t matter," Maddox said finally. "We’re done. You know that. I know that. This—" He held up the divorce papers. "This is just making it official."

Alina laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You’re right. We are done. We were done the moment you decided football was more important than our marriage."

"That’s not fair and you know it."

"Fair?" Alina’s voice rose. "You want to talk about fair? You moved out without a word. You ignored my texts. You act like I don’t exist."

"Because you made it clear I didn’t matter to you unless I was successful!"

The words came out louder than Maddox intended. He could feel Elira step closer behind him. Her hand brushed his lower back, steadying him.

Alina’s face crumpled. Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

"That’s not true," she whispered. "I loved you. I married you because I loved you."

"You married the idea of me," Maddox said. "The young successful coach. The man who was going to give you the life you wanted even if you left your family. When that fell apart, so did we."

Alina opened her mouth to argue, then closed it. The fight went out of her all at once. Her shoulders sagged.

"Maybe you’re right," she said. "Maybe I did. But you gave up too. You stopped trying to save us."

Maddox looked at her standing there in her expensive coat, makeup running down her face. For a moment, he remembered why he’d fallen for her in the first place. Her laugh. The way she’d supported him in the beginning. The dreams they’d shared.

But that felt like a lifetime ago.

"I’m sorry," he said. "I’m sorry it ended like this."

Alina nodded. She wiped her eyes with a tissue from her bag.

"I know you are," she said. "I’m sorry too. For... all of it."

She looked at Elira, who was still standing quietly behind Maddox.

"Take care of him," Alina said. "He’s stubborn and he thinks he has to carry the world on his shoulders. But he’s a good man underneath all that."

Elira nodded. "I know."

Alina turned back to Maddox. "The papers are straightforward. I’m not asking for much. Just a little fee for the time you spent at the villa... sign them when you’re ready."

She started to walk away, her heels clicking down the hallway.

Maddox stood in the doorway for a long moment, holding the divorce papers. The morning sun was getting stronger, warming his face.

Elira’s arms slipped around his waist from behind. She pressed her cheek against his back.

"You okay?" she asked.

Maddox closed the door and turned in her arms. She looked up at him with concerned eyes.

"Yeah," he said, pecking her lips. "I think I am."

He meant it. The papers in his hand felt like an ending, but not a sad one. More like closing a book he’d finished reading long ago.

"Come on," Elira said, taking his hand. "Your breakfast is getting cold."

They walked back to the kitchen together. The coffee was still warm, the bacon still edible. Outside, the city was waking up. People heading to work, kids walking to school, life moving forward.

Maddox sat down and picked up his fork. The divorce papers lay on the counter where he’d set them. He’d deal with them later. Right now, he had more important things to do.

"So," Elira said, settling back into her chair. "What’s the plan for today?"

Maddox picked up his fork and took a bite of bacon. The crispy meat tasted good, but his mind was elsewhere. The divorce papers on the counter seemed to stare at him, reminding him of the conversation that had just ended.

"I’m thinking about buying a car," he said, breaking the silence.

Elira looked up from her scrambled eggs. "Really? That’s exciting. What kind?"

"Something reliable. Maybe a Hatchback or a Vento." Maddox sipped his orange juice. "With this year’s salary and my savings, I can finally afford something decent."

The two hundred thousand terra contract felt surreal. After months of struggling, of watching every penny, he now had financial security. Combined with his previous savings of almost three hundred thousand terra, he was in a better position than he’d been in years.

"You deserve it," Elira said. "After everything you’ve been through."

Maddox nodded. The money wasn’t just about him though. He’d been sending regular payments to his sister Jenna, who was still at university.

Her tuition and living expenses ate up a chunk of his income, but he didn’t mind. She was smart, hardworking, and deserved every opportunity.

"I should probably get something practical," he continued. "Nothing too flashy. Don’t want to give the press more ammunition to criticize me."

"Let them talk," Elira said. "You work hard for your money. You can spend it however you want."

She was right, but Maddox knew how these things worked. Every decision would be scrutinized. Every purchase would be analyzed.

The last thing he needed was headlines about his expensive lifestyle when the team was fighting for qualification.

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