ma chérie | cl16

chapter forty-five

🏁 only a slight mention of Addy's past <3

Adeline's stomach twisted with nervous excitement as she held onto Charles' hand firmly. They didn't care about being seen in the calm streets of Monaco—they had soft-launched relationship on their social media, after all. It was a starting ground for the announcement of their relationship in ten days in Abu Dhabi, the final race.

Hazel kept checking the gossip sites and informing Adeline, and it truly seemed that everyone started to be suspicious of Adeline and Charles. Some believed that the pictures were just a coincidence, but the majority of fans suspected it was on purpose. The attention and speculation on their relationship was growing with each day, yet Adeline and Charles paid little attention to it.

"You're gonna destroy my hand if you keep on doing that," Charles chuckled. Adeline, startled by her unintentional grip, immediately eased her hold on Charles' hand, realizing she had been too tense. "You don't need to be nervous, ma chérie."

Adeline wondered if those two magical words would ever make her not feel those butterflies in her stomach, but she was convinced that it simply wasn't possible. The first time he had called her ma chérie, was six months ago in Barcelona. And she still felt the same tingling sensation surging through her body—but this time, she enjoyed the feeling and didn't fight against it. She embraced it.

"I know," Adeline let out a sigh, and even though she knew she had no reason to be a bundle of nerves, there were too many thoughts in her head.

As Charles prepared to leave for Brazil, being under immense pressure as he was fighting with Perez for second place in the championship, Adeline found herself with some time off work. She immediately offered to go to Monaco and try to lift Charles' mood. Hazel thankfully had enough time to watch over Knightley—even Olivia offered to watch over him.

And yesterday, when Adeline and Charles had been lying on a couch, watching Gossip Girl, Charles' mom had called, inviting them to have dinner with the whole family.

That was the reason why Adeline's heart was now pounding quickly in her chest. She had seen Arthur and Lorenzo at Charles' party, but she hadn't seen Pascale for quite some time. She had met her once, and they had gotten along so well. Adeline was afraid (even though Charles had taken the blame for everything) of meeting her. Would she still like her just like the first time?

Adeline's doubtful mind was calmed by the warm welcome of Pascale who opened the front door of her apartment. "Charles! Addy! Ma belle, it's so good to see you again!"

Adeline couldn't help but beam at Pascale and her other two sons standing behind her. "Hi! I couldn't wait to see you again, either!" As soon as Pascale embraced the blonde woman into her arms, Adeline could smell Pascale's familiar scent—peonies and lychee. It was somehow comforting, but maybe it was simply her presence.

"Maman, let go of Addy! I need to hug her!" Arthur exclaimed, and Pascale gently pulled away from Adeline to create space for Arthur, who wasted no time in wrapping her in his arms.

"I guess you really missed me," Adeline pointed out with a chuckle.

"Of course I did! Someone needs to make fun of Charles with me," Arthur giggled, and even though Adeline couldn't see Charles since her back was turned to him, she could almost envision his eyes rolling with the playful smile on his lips.

"Stop blabbering. We all make fun of you," Lorenzo said, giving Arthur a slight nudge before turning his attention to Adeline to hug her.

Adeline was amazed by the warmth of Charles' family. It felt similar to being cocooned in a soft blanket on rainy days—holding a mug of hot chocolate with cream, observing the colorful leaves gracefully cascade from trees, and listening to the gentle drumming of raindrops against the windows. All accompanied by a Taylor Swift's album, ideally.