Ultimatum

Part 4

MAX

I can't move. Why can't I move? 

I have so much I want to say right now but I don't know how. What is this that I'm feeling right now?

I feel as though something's stuck in my throat - and it feels like it's closing up. I feel lightheaded. What am I supposed to do?

I look up at Chiara and she's crying. I don't know if I love her or hate her right now. I don't know what to feel.

"Emilian, please say something." she pleads.

"What do you want me to say? How am I supposed to feel? You're telling me this after 3 years. THREE FUCKING YEARS CHIARA." I'm about to have a breakdown right now. I have to leave before I do something I regret.

"I need some air." I tell her before I get up and leave.

I'm sitting in my car, alone with my thoughts. I'm trying to make sense of what she just told me, but I don't know how. 

I call my little sister Victoria. I need someone to talk to right now and Vic's like my best friend.

*ON CALL WITH VICTORIA*

VIC: Hey Max! Congrats on the win - we all were watching. I'm so proud of you as always.

MAX: Thanks Vic

VIC: Are you okay?

MAX: I'm at Chiara's house

VIC: Why? Wait did something happen? Is Chi okay? Are you guys back together?

MAX: She told me that she needed to tell me something. I've been avoiding her for a few months now. But....

VIC: Max, are you okay? What happened? Please tell me I'm getting scared.

MAX: She told me she was pregnant when she left me Vic. It's been three years and this is the first I heard of this. She was pregnant with my child and she didn't even tell me. Who does that? WHO TF DOES THAT? I LOVED HER AND SHE LEFT ME WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH MY CHILD.

VIC: Max Max Max deep breaths. I'm in shock. I don't know what to say either. You have every right to be upset but you don't know the whole story yet. She's definitely in the wrong but I still think you should know everything before you leave. 

MAX: You're right but I'm just so upset.

VIC: I get it and you have every right to be. I'm not telling you that you shouldn't be upset - because you should. Just hear her out fully though.

MAX: Okay sis. I will.

VIC: I love you Max. Tell me how it goes.

MAX: Love you too Vic. I'll talk to you soon,

*CUTS CALL*

I walk back into the house.

I see Chiara sobbing on the sofa. She looks up at me and tells me that she didn't expect me to come back and I tell her that I didn't either. I tell her to tell me everything and not to leave out any details.

CHIARA

He came back. He actually came back. I thought he was gone for good.

"Tell me everything Chiara" he says sternly.

"I think I got pregnant after you won the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2019. You were very excited that night and eager to celebrate. I didn't realise I was pregnant until it had been 10 weeks. After that I went to the Doctor to make sure that I was actually pregnant or if the test was showing a false positive. I was scared Max. I didn't regret it and obviously I knew we were going to have kids but I just didn't think we would have them so young. We were just 22 years old and you were under so much stress at that time. We weren't ready for kids."

"So what did you do, Chiara? Did you have an abortion or......We don't actually have a child that you've hidden from me for the past three years?" he asks me worried.

"Emi, tranquillo mi amor. I did neither of those things. I could never get myself to have an abortion because it was our child. Especially not without telling you. I was trying to tell you that I was pregnant. I was planning on it but I just couldn't get myself to. So, I kept on pushing it back because I didn't want things to change between both of us. I thought you'd feel pressured into marrying me to save face - so I just kept on waiting and waiting. I wanted to tell you in a special way, when it was just the two of us but with the championship we were never alone."

"PRESSURED INTO MARRYING YOU? IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK OF ME? CHIARA ALESSIA PIRELLI I'VE WANTED TO MARRY YOU SINCE I WAS 18. I'VE HAD A RING READY FOR YOU FOR THR PAST SEVEN YEARS." he says.

I've never seen Max this upset before. I need to hug and kiss him. I can't bear to see him like this. I go closer to him and hug him. I whisper softly "I'm sorry, mi amor. I didn't know. I was young and stupid, Emilian. I'm so sorry." and I kiss his cheek.

"I finally brought myself to tell you in December. I had it all planned out. There was going to be this little scavenger hunt that I planned. But last minute, there was a family emergency. Don't you remember Uncle Giancarlo had an accident? Anyways, I had to go with my dad."

"Why didn't you ask me to come Chiara? I would've followed you anywhere." he asks me

"Max...you know how my dad is. He's traditional. Also, you had plans the next week to meet your mom. I didn't want to burden you. I'm sorry."

"Chi, please just tell me what happened. Apologise later."

"Okay, so I was with my family in Florence at our house when something felt wrong. It was very early on in my pregnancy but I could sense something was off that day. But I decided to ignore it. I woke up that night covered in blood. I was so scared Max. I didn't know what to do. I went to my parents and they froze. One of my cousins called the family doctor, who told me that I had lost our baby." I start crying once again.