CHAPTER HUNDRED AND SIXTY - ONE - WHO HAD THE CONTROL.

As the reporters continued to shout out questions, Mateo guided Abuela, Isabella and Marisol towards their waiting car, shielding them from the prying eyes of the crowd. He held open the door, helping them into the back seat with a gentle hand on their backs. Once they were safely ensconced in the car, Mateo turned to the reporters, his expression hardening. "That's enough for now. We'll release a statement later. For now, please respect their privacy." With that, he closed the door, the sound of the latch a firm punctuation mark on the encounter. Mateo knocked on the tinted window of the car, and the window rolled down in reply, Isabella's face coming to view. " I will be right behind you girls, okay?" He informed. Isabella nodded and took his hand. " Don't be long," she said. Mateo patted her hand and stepped away from the car. He stood watching until the car drove out from the venue before he turned toward the parking lot, where his own car is parked. He sighed the moment h