In a quiet, luxurious neighborhood in London, Jack Wilshere finished his usual morning run and returned home.
The house was still calm when he stepped inside.
After a quick shower, he moved into the kitchen and began preparing breakfast for his two children.
Cooking was not his strength. In fact, Wilshere's cooking skills were notoriously poor. Still, finding a proper breakfast shop in London at that hour was not easy, so he had little choice but to do it himself.
In the past, someone else handled mornings like this.
His wife, or rather his ex-wife.
Lauren had been his childhood sweetheart. They had grown up together and eventually built a family.
They had two children. A boy and a girl.
The boy was Archie. The girl was Delilah.
Two lively little ones who filled the house with noise and energy.
But Wilshere had ruined that marriage.
When the media exposed photos from one of his late-night pool parties, Lauren finally reached her limit. Years of rumors and repeated infidelities had worn away the trust between them.
In the end, she chose divorce.
Recently, Wilshere had felt as if his life had reached its lowest point.
His family had fallen apart. His football career was slipping as well.
"Daddy!"
A bright voice echoed from upstairs, followed by hurried footsteps.
A moment later, the two children rushed down the stairs.
They ran straight into Wilshere and clung to him like little koalas.
"When is Mommy coming back?" Delilah asked, looking up with wide eyes.
Wilshere froze slightly.
"Delilah," he said gently, "do you like Daddy or Mommy more?"
"Mommy!" Delilah answered immediately.
Wilshere forced a smile, though the answer stung.
He looked toward Archie, hoping his son might give him some encouragement.
Archie did not hesitate.
"Mommy."
The boy spoke honestly.
"Mommy takes us to the amusement park. She's always with us. Daddy is never home."
Wilshere's shoulders slumped slightly, but he still managed a small smile.
"Daddy will spend more time with you from now on. Alright?"
"Okay!" the two children answered together, even though they clearly did not understand what that promise really meant.
After breakfast, Wilshere drove them to school himself.
Once he returned to the club's training base parking lot, he remained seated in the car for a long time.
The engine was off.
The silence inside the vehicle felt heavy.
Eventually, he reached toward the passenger seat and picked up a document.
The divorce papers.
Lauren had already signed them.
In the past, she had threatened divorce several times, but this time was different. Her decision felt firm and final.
Wilshere had considered trying to repair the marriage, but Lauren no longer trusted him.
He had destroyed that trust himself.
Wilshere let out a long breath.
Then he picked up a pen.
Just as he was about to sign, his phone rang.
The caller ID read: Professor.
Wilshere quickly placed the document aside and answered.
"Wenger."
Arsène Wenger's calm voice came through the phone.
"Jack, come to my office."
"Of course," Wilshere replied quickly.
He stepped out of the car and walked toward the main building.
The short walk felt unusually long.
Wenger rarely called players to his office without reason. Wilshere could feel his nerves tightening with every step.
When he reached the office, the door was already slightly open.
Inside, Wenger sat on the reception sofa.
"Coach," Wilshere said as he entered, his voice carrying a trace of hope.
Wenger looked up and smiled gently.
"Sit down, Jack."
Wilshere nodded and took the seat opposite him.
Wenger studied him quietly for a moment before handing over a document.
Wilshere unfolded it.
His eyes immediately found his own name.
It was the winter transfer list.
Next to his name was a transfer valuation.
Wilshere's face went pale.
Despite the effort he had shown in recent weeks, he still had not regained Wenger's full confidence.
At that moment, he felt lightheaded, as if the world around him had suddenly tilted.
His wife had filed for divorce.
Now the club might be preparing to move him on as well.
For the first time in years, Wilshere truly felt lost.
Wenger spoke calmly.
"This was the original winter transfer list."
Original.
That single word caught Wilshere's attention.
A faint spark returned to his empty expression.
Wenger continued.
"But someone came to see me. He told me that Arsenal still needs you."
Wilshere stayed silent.
Instead, he began thinking about who that person might be.
A member of the coaching staff?
His relationship with most of them was fairly ordinary. Pat Rice respected him, but Pat was not the type to intervene like that.
A teammate?
Wilshere suddenly stopped thinking.
There was only one person in the squad who had the authority and influence to speak directly to Wenger like that.
Arsenal's captain.
Kai.
Wilshere lifted his head slowly.
"Was it Kai?" he asked, his expression complicated.
Wenger nodded slightly.
Wilshere let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
"He has no reason to do that."
Wenger raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
Wilshere opened his mouth but could not find the words.
Wenger continued calmly.
"Because you might threaten his position? Because removing you would make things easier for him?"
Wilshere remained silent.
His silence was answer enough.
If their roles were reversed, he might have done exactly that.
The room fell quiet.
After a moment, Wenger spoke again.
"This is the first time Kai has truly exercised his authority as captain. What surprised me was that he chose to speak on your behalf."
Wilshere stared at the floor before finally responding.
"He wants me to submit."
Wenger looked at him steadily.
"Is that not enough?"
Wilshere opened his mouth again, then slowly lowered his head.
It was enough.
In fact, it was more than enough.
For the first time that day, Wilshere felt something other than despair.
A small trace of gratitude.
The complicated emotions inside Jack Wilshere only grew stronger.
He sat quietly, trying to process everything he had just heard.
Arsène Wenger raised one finger.
"One year," he said calmly. "You sign a one-year extension."
Wilshere looked up in surprise.
Wenger continued in a steady tone.
"But during that year, I want to see real change. No alcohol. No smoking. No late-night parties. None of it. You focus on football and on fixing your life."
Wilshere blinked, still stunned.
"Professor…"
Wenger waved his hand gently.
"Your situation has been all over The Sun. I would have to be blind not to know about it."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I also know Lauren very well. She is a good woman. She has always cared about you, and too many times you have disappointed her."
Wilshere lowered his eyes.
Wenger's voice softened.
"So go and win her back. Win back your marriage. Learn how to take responsibility."
He paused before adding quietly.
"Become a real man."
Wilshere's lips parted slightly.
No one had spoken to him like this before.
It did not feel like a manager speaking to a player. It felt like a father correcting a son who had lost his way.
. . .
At the Arsenal training ground, Pat Rice stood beside Kai near the touchline.
"The club agreed," Pat said. "They're willing to give Wilshere a one-year extension."
Kai smiled faintly.
"Well, it's the first request I've made as captain. It would have been awkward if they refused."
Pat chuckled.
"No regrets?"
Kai shook his head.
"Wilshere still has qualities we need. His form can be inconsistent, but if he keeps the discipline he's shown recently, his career can last much longer."
Pat folded his arms.
"And if he disappoints you?"
Kai answered without hesitation.
"He only gets one chance. I'll help him once. The rest is up to him."
Just as he finished speaking, a figure appeared at the entrance of the training ground.
Wilshere stood there quietly.
He looked hesitant, almost unsure whether he should approach.
Pat and Kai exchanged a glance.
Pat smiled.
"Looks like it's time for me to leave you two alone."
Kai grinned slightly.
Pat walked past Wilshere on his way out, giving him a brief nod.
Wilshere returned the gesture and then slowly walked toward Kai.
When he arrived, neither of them spoke for a moment.
Kai broke the silence first.
"Going for a run? Warm-up?"
Wilshere paused, then nodded.
"Yeah."
"Alright."
The October air carried a slight chill.
Both players wore their Arsenal training kits as they began jogging around the pitch.
They ran side by side in silence for a while.
Eventually, Kai spoke again.
"The Professor renewed your contract?"
Wilshere nodded.
"Yes."
Kai glanced at him.
"You don't need to thank me."
Wilshere exhaled slowly and nodded again.
Another stretch of silence followed before Wilshere spoke.
"I thought I could deal with all of this calmly," he said. "But when everything actually happened, I realized I had no idea what to do."
He stared straight ahead as they ran.
"Arsenal almost let me go. But the moment that will hurt the most if that happened is when my children ask me why the club didn't want to renew my contract."
Kai glanced toward him.
"What will you say?"
Wilshere gave a hollow laugh.
"I wouldn't know. Wouldn't know Kai."
His voice grew quieter.
"I am sure I wouldn't be able to look them in the eyes."
They kept running.
Wilshere continued after a moment.
"People say you grow when you face difficulties. I don't think that's true."
Kai turned his head slightly.
Wilshere's expression had hardened.
"It doesn't feel like growth," he said through clenched teeth. "It just shows you how pathetic you were before."
His breathing grew heavier.
"It keeps reminding you how badly you messed everything up. Every stupid mistake. Every terrible decision."
He shook his head.
"Again and again. Over and over."
His voice dropped.
"Until you start feeling afraid."
They slowed their pace slightly.
"Afraid of losing everything. Afraid of ending up alone."
Wilshere finally looked toward Kai.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"It won."
He spoke quietly.
"I'm scared now. I'm scared of losing Lauren. I'm scared of leaving Arsenal."
He paused.
"And I'm scared of ending up with nothing."
For a moment, the only sound was their footsteps on the grass.
Wilshere looked directly at Kai.
"Help me."
. . .
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