Fragments of Us ⏩ Max Verstappen

3. Facing Reality

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The photo on the screen taunted me, Max smiling at some bar with a beautiful woman by his side. My heart hammered painfully against my chest as tears welled up in my eyes. I wanted to deny it, to scream that it wasn't real, but deep down, I knew I had to face the truth.

With trembling hands, I opened the location-sharing app we both used, hoping against hope that somehow, there had been a mistake. But as I scrolled through Max's recent history, the reality hit me like a freight train. There it was, plain as day—his visit to "The Black Dog " some bar in Monaco, right around the time the photo was taken.

My breath caught in my throat as tears streamed down my cheeks. He had forgotten to turn off his location sharing when he left me. A cruel twist of fate had laid bare the truth I wasn't ready to confront. Max had moved on, leaving me behind without a second thought.

As despair threatened to overwhelm me, a soft weight settled on my lap, and I looked down to see Benji, our beloved ragdoll cat, nuzzling against me. His paws stretched around my neck in a comforting embrace, a gesture that never failed to melt my heart. I buried my face in his soft fur, letting out the sobs I had been holding back."Hey, baby boy," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. "I missed you too."

The cats, Meredith and Benji, had been our little family. Max and I had adopted them together, each one a cherished companion who had filled our home with warmth and joy. But now, they wandered through the empty rooms, searching for a presence that was no longer there. It broke my heart to see them yearn for Max, especially when Meredith found her way into his streaming room and settled into his simulator chair, where he had spent countless hours racing and streaming.

Unable to bear the pain any longer, I had made the difficult decision to leave them with a trusted pet sitter in New York when I fled to Rhode Island. I knew I wasn't in a place mentally to care for anyone, let alone our babies. But seeing them now, feeling their silent plea for their dad, I couldn't help but feel like I had failed them too.

A soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, and I looked up to see Noah standing in the doorway, his expression dark with anger. "Aria, can I come in?"I nodded, wiping tears from my cheeks as he entered and sat beside me on the bed. "I can't believe him," Noah muttered, his voice tight with fury. "How could he do this to you?""He just... moved on," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Like I never mattered."Noah wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. "He's a coward, Aria. Leaving you like this, hurting you... He doesn't deserve you."Katie appeared in the doorway, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. "I can't believe he would do this. After everything.""He was supposed to be family," Noah growled, his protectiveness flaring. "I'll find him, and I'll—""Noah, please," I interrupted, shaking my head. "It won't change anything. He made his choice."

Silence settled between us, broken only by the soft purring of Benji in my lap. Katie spoke up, her voice trembling. "What are we going to do, Aria? The world thinks you're still in a relationship"Holly entered the room, her expression thoughtful. "We need to handle this carefully. Aria's public image—"

"My life is not a PR stunt!" I snapped, my grief giving way to frustration.

"I loved him, Holly. I trusted him."Holly held up her hands, her eyes filled with sympathy. "I know, Aria. And we'll protect you. But we need a plan."Lily appeared in the doorway, her presence a calming influence. "We'll figure it out, sweetheart. You're not alone in this."With a heavy heart, I nodded. My family was right. I couldn't let Max's betrayal define me. I had to find the strength to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart and move forward.

But as I looked down at Benji and Meredith, their soft fur warm against my skin, I knew it wouldn't be easy. They were my constant reminder of the love I had lost, of the family we had built together. And as much as I tried to deny it, a part of me still hoped that somehow, things could go back to how they used to be.But for now, I had to focus on healing, on rebuilding my life without Max by my side. It was a daunting task, but with my family's love and support, I knew I could face whatever lay ahead.As the evening wore on, the conversation drifted to tentative plans and cautious optimism. But deep down, I knew that the road ahead would be filled with challenges. And as I closed my eyes that night, the image of Max's smile and the woman by his side haunted my dreams, a painful reminder of what once was, and what could never be again.

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The weight of Max's betrayal hung heavy in the air as I sat with my family and Holly, trying to make sense of the chaos my life had become. The revelation that he had moved on so quickly cut deep, shattering the fragile hope I had clung to. But amidst the pain, there was a bittersweet nostalgia for the days when keeping our love a secret had been a thrilling game.

It had started in 2019, a tumultuous year that had turned our lives upside down. I remember sitting in that dive bar in New York, nursing a drink and drowning in my own doubts. Little did I know, the man sitting beside me, Max, was a world-renowned Formula One driver seeking refuge from the relentless scrutiny of his fame.

We had both craved anonymity, an escape from the prying eyes and harsh judgments that came with our public personas. So when we discovered each other's true identities that night, we made a silent pact to keep our budding relationship hidden from the world.

The pandemic made our task easier. We moved in together, splitting our time between his home in Monaco and my sanctuary in Rhode Island, with occasional escapes to New York City. We perfected the art of disguise, slipping past paparazzi with eerily similar-looking body doubles and strategic Instagram posts that misled fans about our whereabouts.

What had started as a necessity soon became a game—a delightful secret shared between two people who reveled in the thrill of fooling the world. We laughed at the ridiculous theories fans concocted about my mysterious boyfriend, while secretly relishing our stolen moments of normalcy.But as the months turned into years, our bond deepened. Max became my confidant, my partner in crime, and eventually, the love of my life. We dreamed of a future together, of a time when we could proudly walk hand in hand without fear of judgment or scrutiny.

Now, as I stared at the shattered remnants of that dream, I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. Had our desire for privacy pushed us too far apart? Had I been so focused on protecting our love that I had failed to see the cracks forming beneath the surface?

"He fooled us all," Noah muttered, breaking the silence that had settled over the room.

Holly leaned forward, her expression thoughtful. "We need to control the narrative, Aria. The world knows you were in a relationship. We can't let this turn into a media circus."Lily placed a comforting hand on mine, her eyes filled with maternal concern. "Sweetheart, we'll get through this. Together."

I nodded, grateful for their unwavering support. They were right—we couldn't change what had happened, but we could control how we responded. And as much as I wanted to hide away from the world, I knew I had to face this head-on.

"I'm not hiding anymore," I said, my voice firm despite the tremor of uncertainty within me. "I won't let Max's betrayal define me. I'm ready to reclaim my life."Noah nodded, a fierce determination in his eyes. "We'll figure this out, Aria. And when we do, he'll regret ever hurting you."With a deep breath, I wiped away the last of my tears and stood, a newfound resolve settling over me like a cloak. I had faced challenges before—heartbreak, scrutiny, and the relentless demands of fame. This would be no different.

As I walked away from the shattered remnants of my old life, Benji and Meredith followed close behind, their presence a silent reminder of the love I had lost and the strength I had gained. Together, we would navigate the storm ahead, knowing that with my family and friends by my side, I could weather any tempest that came my way.And as I looked to the future, a flicker of hope ignited within me. The game we had played to protect our love may have come to an end, but the story of Aria Starling was far from over.