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Three days had passed since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and Monaco was back to its usual serene, sun-drenched self. The city's calm was a stark contrast to the adrenaline-filled race weekend they had just left behind. But Ivie Meulenbelt's mind was far from calm as she stood at the edge of the driveway leading up to their new house, a sleek, architectural marvel perched high above the Mediterranean. The soft sound of waves crashing against the rocks below barely registered. All she could think about was the life she was about to step into.
It had been just over three weeks since the drunken Vegas wedding that had thrown her and Max Verstappen into this situation. A media frenzy followed, pushing them to maintain appearances as a picture-perfect couple. Now, under the demands of their PR teams, and with pressure from both their families, it was finally time to move in together. Not out of love, but out of necessity.
Max had found the house, of course. It was a stunning blend of glass, steel, and stone, all clean lines and minimalist design—a house that screamed "Verstappen." For Ivie, it felt cold, impersonal, but they were here to turn it into a home for the sake of their daughter, Ella. The thought of their five-year-old daughter made her heart ache. If nothing else, they were doing this for her.
The sleek sound of an engine pulled Ivie from her thoughts. She turned to see Max's car roll smoothly up the drive. He stepped out with an easy confidence, his tall frame relaxed but commanding, dressed casually in a black t-shirt and jeans. His sunglasses shielded his eyes, but Ivie didn't need to see them to know what was going on behind them. He was dreading this as much as she was.
He gave her a slight nod as he approached. "You ready for this?"
Ivie sighed, crossing her arms. "Is anyone ever really ready to move in with someone they're not... involved with anymore?"
Max smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Guess not."
They stood in awkward silence for a moment, both staring up at the house that loomed before them. It was beautiful, no question about it. Expensive, modern, the kind of place that screamed success. But for them, it was just a reminder of how much had changed since they first met, and how complicated their lives had become.
