The audience peak only increased as the documentary portrayed the last years of Ares' life. The harassment of the press, fans, threats and indecent proposals... Certainly the public would be eager to know more, what made that special program considered a success.
The last block of the program retracted the part that probably everyone expected.
The accident.
2007
— Are you saying that a maid gave news about me sleeping with Nath? — Ares looked incredulously at his agent.
Despite the noise around him, and all the celebratory atmosphere of the American holiday, the fighter did not seem so happy after hearing that news. Ares' agent drank a sip of his drink and, disguised, looked around before approaching the fighter and continue talking in low tone.
— She gave an interview where not only told the details of what she supposedly saw, but also showed photos.
Ares' eyes widened immediately, and it did not take much thought to understand what was happening.
Even because Ares has never hired a maid.
And if photos were involved, then it could only be that crazy one.
— Be careful, Ares. She's getting away from the police and keeping an eye on you. Don't leave without the security team, got it?
The first thing that Ares did was agree with his head. He was pale, a sign that the news was not so well received.
The phone in his pocket ring, and the display with Nathaniel's name appeared. The fighter answered the call and went to a corner where he could hear better.
— Hey, champ! Did you enjoy the party?
— Yes, it was fun. Could you come and pick me up?
— Sure, I'm coming over there now.
After hanging up the call, Ares did not take long to get the car keys and go for Nathaniel. On that holiday he went to a party with some friends from school, after all one week the two would go to Brazil to spend the holidays together with the Mantovani.
As soon as Nathaniel got into the car, a few minutes later, Ares messed with his hair and smiled openly.
— You have confetti on your hair, is it some kind of kids' style?
Nathaniel made a face and took the confetti out of his hair.
— Funny. They called a DJ who made a hell of a show and even had these confetti.
— DJ? How fancy — Ares took a look at the facade of the house, say by the way it was clear that belonged to someone with money — And your friends will not want a ride home?
— They will stay a little longer. I'm already tired of all this noise.
— What kind of teenager are you, Niel? Shouldn't you like parties and stuff?
Nathaniel grimaced again, but in the end he laughed when he realized that not even his father was the kind of person who liked parties.
— I prefer quieter places.
Well, why would he complain about his son not enjoying his youth like all the other teenagers? Nathaniel seemed to see the world in a different way and as long as he was happy and happy, Ares was also happy.
Before leaving, Ares took a look at the house where the party was sharp. And among the guests, he recognized someone with a camera.
Again the fighter became pale and quickly started the car.
— Let's go home, you must be tired, right?
— Hm? Ah, right — Nathaniel replied, putting on the seat belt.
The Ares' nervous eyes went to the garden of that house, no longer seeing that woman holding the camera. Swallowing dry, he quickly started and drove down the street going as far as possible from that place.
He must have seen it wrong, right?
No way that crazy had gone to that party of a bunch of teenagers...
Pressing his fingers on the steering wheel, Ares felt his heart accelerate.
Yes, she was crazy enough to infiltrate a youth party and try to do something for Nathaniel.
— Son, no stranger approached you at the party, did they?
— There is always someone who tries to approach, but today was all quiet.
— Great... That's good. Be careful, right? If you go out, ask Frank or Michael to accompany you.
The boy cast a suspicious look on Ares, but obediently Nathaniel agreed with his head.
— All right, dad.
That's it. Nathaniel was a good boy, he would be safe if accompanied by someone. And he would also be fine when he was inside the school. All he had to do was ask his friends to pick up Nathaniel at school.
Everything would be fine...
Looking in the rear view mirror, Ares realized that he was being followed by another car. As soon as the suspicion arose, the fighter took other paths trying to lose those who followed him.
— Dad, this is not the way home.
— I know, I just want to try some shortcuts. But could I have been wrong...?
Nathaniel imagined that his father spoke about the path of the shortcut, but Ares kept looking in the mirror with concern. When he thought he had been mistaken about being followed.
However, the car would soon come back behind him.
He needed to think of something, should take advantage that Nathaniel told cheerfully about the party, receiving answers from Ares that tried not to worry the boy. Even tried to play with him, make some joke that pulled a funny laugh from Nathaniel, yet he was still anxious. It would be dangerous to go straight home, since if it was that crazy woman, she could take the chance to break into their house.
Should he go to the police?
Accelerating the car to take the main street and go to the police station, Ares divided his attention between driving and looking in the mirror. The fear increased as the car approached, making him accelerate even more.
— Dad... you're going too fast.
— Sorry, Nath... is that we are being followed.
Nathaniel widened his eyes and turned on the bench noticing the baby blue car that followed them closely. And even after Ares overtook a few cars, stitching up the race completely, the blue car was still diligently behind.
— But what...
— Nath, call someone at the gym.
— O-Okay!
The boy picked up his phone with trembling hands and trying to dial the first number he saw in his contact list.
What nobody expected was that when crossing the avenue above speed, on the other side of the road a truck lost control going in front of Ares' car.
— Melony was also involved in the accident since she was behind his car, and she died instantly. We are finishing collecting the evidence to take care of the case as soon as possible, then you can focus on your recovery — Said the police officer, reading the reports and trying, in the best way possible, to give some comfort to the fighter.
Ares let out a heavy sigh, caressing his temple despite feeling every part of his body sore because of the accident. It had been a few days since he woke up from the accident, and now he's aware of what happened in the accident. Despite being a scary stalker who have made his life miserable in recent years, at no time did Ares wish she would die.
Raising his light brown eyes, he looked at the glass where Nathaniel was in a coma. The boy's face was completely bandaged, his life being supported by machines. When he accompanied the medical team changing the bandages, Ares collapsed in tears to see the face of his son completely wounded full of deep wounds.
— It's my fault. It's all my fault.
— Antonio, don't say that — Arabella said with her eyes swollen — The fault is that... Crazy bitch. Death was little to her.
— Bella!
— Look what she did to our son! — Arabella screamed, crying again — Why is my boy in this state, fighting for his life, because of a crazy one? What has the police done in all these years that they never managed to catch her? Tell me, Antonio!
Ares could not blame her anger, he also felt anger. But he also blamed himself.
If he had not kept Nathaniel living with him for all these years even knowing the danger... He should have sent him to live with his mother as soon as he received the first threat years ago.
Repentance swallows Ares alive.
Ares' intention has always been to protect his child, to ensure that he had a good life. All your decisions have been guided by this desire.
Did he make mistakes in making every decision?
Loreto hugged Arabella trying to calm her, and Ares could only look at the room where Nathaniel was hospitalized.
How that huts.
It hurts so much.
Receiving a squeeze on the shoulder, Ares raised his eyes finding comfort in the look of Loreto.
— You also need to take care of yourself, friend. When the kid wakes up, he will also be worried about you.
A knot has formed in Ares' throat.
— Let her burn in hell. May the devil make her a slave to pay for every sin she committed in life.
— Bella, calm down.
— My boy... — Crying Arabella, being embraced by Loreto — God, please save my boy, I beg...
A few hours later, Loreto took Arabella back to Ares' house so that she could rest. From the moment they arrived in the country they were in hospital, and barely had time to rest properly. Now that Ares was awake, able to walk through the quiet corridors, he managed to convince them to sleep in his house.
When the lights went out and the ICU was quiet, Ares evaded the nurses and the doctor on duty to enter Nathaniel's room. The noise of the machine that showed Nathaniel's low beats was the only sound he heard.
And it was agonizing.
The fighter dragged the serum holder, from which he was still taking, to the side of the bed and sat in the chair watching Nathaniel's eyes closed. It was the only thing that wasn't bandaged.
— Sorry, Niel... — Whispered Ares, crying again, reaching out his hand about to touch your face, but hesitating for fear of making your wounds worse — Forgive me, forgive this failing father you have. Forgive me... You do not deserve this life that I am giving you, you deserve more... So wake up, grow up and live a happy life. I will do anything for you, my son, just wake up...
Ares lay his head on the bed, and held Nathaniel's hand. A somewhat familiar scene when he watched his son sleep as a baby. However, he did not have a proud smile on my face, but tears and regret.
— I should have protected you better. I was a coward. Please, I ask you to improve, my son. Please, please, please...
— I should have guessed you were here.
Ares did not raise his head to recognize the voice of the doctor who was responsible for his case. He kept looking at Nathaniel and crying.
— Doctor, tell me my son is getting better.
The doctor entered the room and went to the other side of the bed where he remained silent. Ares closed his eyes leaving more tears running with that veiled response. The two, immersed in silence, heard that machine working keeping the boy alive.
Ares could not think of anything else at the same time he thought of everything. It was as if his brain was flooded with hundreds of thoughts at the same time, to the point that he was unable to discern which one to pay attention to and what to do.
— Tell me, doctor. What does he need?
The doctor looked at Ares, who had not raised his head yet. But just by his trembling voice he already knew that the fighter was crying more and more, despite trying to make it seem otherwise.
— What makes you think he needs something?
— For your hesitation. You didn't come here to see Nath, you were looking for me, right?
Sighing, the doctor scratched his head and then created courage.
— A heart — Ares raised his head immediately, with surprised eyes and face all wet — Urgently.
That last word made Ares close his eyes and lower his head. What an endless nightmare...
— We are looking for a donor at this time, but it is difficult to find someone who is compatible with him.
Without saying anything, Ares looked at his son unconscious and felt his despair increase. For long minutes he stood in silence looking at Nathaniel, listening to the rhythmic sound of the machine and trying to find some way out.
But even in the hours following that dawn, all he could do was sit on that chair, watching Nathaniel and feeling his world collapse. He even heard Arabella and Loreto coming, talking to him something, but for Ares none of it mattered.
Silently he agreed to exchange places with Arabella, and said that he would go to his room to rest. However, instead of going to his room, the fighter followed the long corridor and went to the doctor's office.
As soon as the doctor saw Ares, he just took a deep breath.
— What is it, Ares?
The fighter looked up at the doctor and whispered.
— Doctor, could you examine me?
— Are you feeling anything strange, Ares?
— No. If I'm compatible, I want to give my heart to my son.
The following moments were an extensive discussion. The doctor refused to perform the tests on Ares, but the fighter managed to calm the doctor by saying that it would be fine if he was not compatible.
All Ares needed was an answer.
The doctor believed that the negative of the tests would be enough for the fighter to give up that idea. The medical team was still looking for a donor, and Nathaniel could still be supported by machines for another two days. To calm the fighter and ensure that he understood that he could not make the donation, the doctor agreed to do the tests.
The problem was that the result was not as expected.
Ares was compatible.
After a long discussion, again, Ares met with the psychological staff of the hospital where he did an interview to ensure that he was aware of that proposal. Over the next few hours, Ares was subjected to several physical and psychological examinations, although the doctor still did not accept his decision.
But Ares was aware of what he asked.
And then the decision was made.
All that Ares asked was for Frank to take his camera to the hospital, and then the fighter used the doctor's office and locked himself in there for a while. Then he handed the camera to Frank, giving him instructions on what to do with the recording. His colleague did not understand at first, and found ARes' behavior quite strange, but he did not discuss since he was shaken by the state of his son.
In the early morning of the first day, Ares left a kiss on Nathaniel's forehead and cried caressing his hair.
— I love you, champion. And I will always love you. Always.
When the doctor told Arabella and other companions who came to visit Ares and Nathaniel about the decision of the fighter, Ares was already entering the surgical center.
Arabella screamed, tried to enter the surgical center to stop the procedure.
Ares' fellow fighters were pale and frightened by the sudden decision.
That morning, Nathaniel won a heart.
They repeated the shift that reported the event.
— Good afternoon, we are in live to bring urgent news. We have just received the information that the famous Brazilian fighter, Ares, 35 years old died. The fighter did not resist the injuries of the accident he suffered a week ago, and died this morning. We do not yet have more information on the exact cause of death, and will return at any time to report on the situation.
Throughout the week, the news only talked about Ares, emphasizing reports that portrayed the scandal of him dating a minor boy. Many speculated that the fact that the boy was in the car in the accident would be conclusive proof that, in fact, the rumors were true.
The journalist of the documentary that honors the fighter walked through the scene with a serious countenance, the scenery behind him changed to images of the car of Ares, which was beaten.
— The news of that fateful day did not show the truth. The information released by the medical team that attended Ares and Nathaniel Callegari was vague, which left many admirers of the fighter disappointed that the tabloid headlines were right about the dubious conduct of Ares.
— What no one imagined was that in his last hours of life, Ares fought in a completely different ring than he was used to. This time, his opponent was more difficult to face, cunning and even infuriating. On the other side of the ring Ares fought bravely for his son's life.
— Document prove that Ares asked for the heart transplant, the tests confirm the compatibility and the medical team carried out assessments to ensure that Ares knew what the transplant was about. Among these documents, some of them are terms of responsibility, where Ares signed stating that he was aware and still wanted to perform the surgery.
A woman, who presented together, turned to the camera and continued with the report.
— In his last moments before entering the surgical center, Ares recorded a message for his son. With the permission of all involved, we will show the message in full and first hand.
The video began with Ares sitting in a chair inside the doctor's office. He supported the camera on the table and swung his hand in front opening a nervous smile.
— Is it working? I hope so, haha. I'm not very good with technology. Anyway... I know that when you see this you will be angry with me, and that you will probably blame yourself for a lot of what happened. But know that it is painful for me to stand still, so I do not regret my decision.
— At that moment it hurts me to see the little boy I raised with so much love and affection lying all wounded, carrying with him the most bitter memories. If I could, I would run all over the world after a donor to bring you back from my side. I'm holding myself to not go crazy. Is it okay if I'm selfish just this once?
— Viva, Niel. You are my greatest pride. You do not need to follow my steps, just live and I will always be protecting you. I know that at first it will be very difficult, maybe you feel alone, but if you move on, you will meet wonderful people who will make your world colorful again. And then, when you feel your chest tickling and everything shine blindly, know that I also felt it when I held you in my arms for the first time. The fame, the victories in the ring... None of this is more valuable than the gift I got when a little baby with a knee face held my hand and smiled. Thank you for being born, my son. I love you, and with my heart beating in your chest, I will be living forever by your side.
The Mantovani's house was not so silent, Arabela wept copiously in her husband's arms, and was comforted by him and by Guilherme. Surely she remembered every moment of that time, when everything was too painful.
But the eyes of those people turned to the only boy who should be feeling something.
Throughout the program, Nathaniel was silent and unexpressive.
For Jake, that was strange. Not for the reason of his boyfriend not to show, but he knew through the bite that Nathaniel felt, and very much, something. In fact, there were so many strange sensations that Jake felt because of the bite, that he could only be worried.
For the first time Jake understood what his mother-in-law meant when she commented that she would like Nathaniel to say that nothing was right. Because even with the bite connecting his feelings, Jake could not tell what Nathaniel felt. And his inexpressiveness only worsened.
When the Ares' recording was transmitted, Nathaniel's light-brown eyes widened. It was the first time he had heard about that recording, probably it should be some element of surprise in the show, or something like that, since they never mentioned such a recording.
Nathaniel got up from the couch and went to the front of the television, touching the image of Ares that was still there frozen.
Everyone watched him with extreme attention when the show ended. But he did not leave the front of the TV, as if he was stuck in thoughts.
So, Jake took a deep breath.
— Nath... — The omega turned back, seeing those four people looking at him worried. Jake's eyes were swollen, as if he was holding out to not cry. But the alpha opened a light smile when he said — It's over.
That word had so many meanings.
The alpha could be referring to the fact that the program is over. Or the fact that media persecution would finally stop taxing him as a lover.
However, for Nathaniel, that meant something else.
That his suffering is over.
Without realizing it, that word had a great impact.
After three years without demonstrating anything, Nathaniel finally cried.
The first tears ran down his face so hard, as if his feelings and emotions fight against each other to get out of his chest. The omega covered his mouth when releasing a choke, and he bent forward still trying not to lose control in tears.
But a pair of loving and welcoming arms embraced his pain. The woody smell made him fall to tears and cling to Jake's shirt and cry loudly.
Nathaniel cried, cried with all his strength. He cried to the point of feeling his throat ache, his chest burning and his heart racing.
Soon he was involved by all, who embraced his pain when he fell on his knees in the middle of the room.
Finally Nathaniel would be able to move on.