Velocity - Daniel Ricciardo

Chapter Twenty Nine - Test Request

📍24th April 2019 – Baku, Azerbaijan
Amelia's POV

I sat alone in the hotel bedroom, the weight of the news pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket. The walls seemed to close in, the silence punctuated only by the muffled sounds of the city outside. I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

Twenty weeks.

How could she keep this a secret for so long?

A fresh wave of tears threatened to spill over, but I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I needed to think clearly, to figure out what this meant for me, for us.

But every time I tried to focus, the image of Heidi being pregnant flashed before my eyes—her smiling face, her hand resting protectively on her growing belly.

And now, there was a media storm swirling around Daniel, and by extension, me.

A soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I looked up, my heart heavy. "Amelia," came his tentative voice from the other side.

"Come in," I managed to say, my voice weak.

The door creaked open, and Daniel entered, carrying a cup of tea. He approached me slowly, concern etched across his face. "I thought you might want some tea," he said softly, extending the cup toward me.

I took the cup, the warmth a small comfort against the cold chaos inside me. "Thank you," I muttered, taking a sip.

He sat down on the edge of the bed, maintaining a respectful distance. "Can we talk?" he asked gently.

I nodded, setting the cup on the nightstand. "How are you feeling about all of this?" I asked, my voice trembling.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, honey. It's a lot to take in. I never expected this. Never in a million years. But I know I have to meet with Heidi soon to discuss what to do about... arranged parenting." He paused, looking down. "And then there's her dad. Considering the problems we've already caused, this will only make things worse."

I watched intently as he rambled on.

"And then there's my career," He looked up, his eyes filled with worry. "I'm not a person who exactly has time to look and care for a child, so I really don't know how anyone expects this to work."

I took a deep breath, feeling a surge of anger and hurt. "Have you thought once about what this means for me? For us?"

His face fell, and he reached out as if to touch my hand but stopped himself. "Honey, of course I've thought about us. I'm scared of what this could do to our relationship. I don't want to lose you."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. "Dan, we've only just got back on track," I said, my voice trembling. "The idea of me having to become a stepmom, and for you to have a child with another woman... it's going to be very difficult for me to deal with. I-I don't know if I can deal with this."

Daniel's expression shifted, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. "Do you think I wanted this shit to happen?" he suddenly shouted, his voice rising with agitation. "Do you think any of this is what I wanted?"

I recoiled slightly at his outburst, the shock and pain evident in my eyes. "I know you didn't want this," I said, trying to keep my voice calm, even though I could feel the tears threatening to spill again. "But that doesn't make it any easier for me."

He stood up, pacing the room, running his hands through his hair. "I'm trying to deal with this as best as I can, Amelia. I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted any of this mess."