the wildcard ( Charles Leclerc)

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Kylie Ricciardo had always been the wildcard in the family. While her brother, Daniel, became a world-renowned Formula 1 driver, she had carved out her own path in the music industry. With her powerful voice and charismatic stage presence, Kylie had become a household name, selling out arenas across the globe. Despite their hectic schedules, the Ricciardo siblings remained close, always making time to catch up whenever their paths crossed.

But recently, it had been ages since Kylie had seen Daniel. Her world tour had kept her away from him, and she missed their spontaneous hangouts, the inside jokes, and the way he could always make her laugh, no matter how stressful life got. So when she realized she had a few days off during the Miami Grand Prix, she decided to surprise him.

Kylie’s arrival at the Miami GP was a whirlwind. She’d barely touched down before she was whisked through security and led to the paddock, where Daniel was preparing for the race. She had kept her visit a secret, so when she walked into the Red Bull garage, the look on her brother’s face was priceless.

"Kylie! What are you doing here?" Daniel exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug.

She grinned, ruffling his hair. "Surprising you, obviously. It’s been too long, Danny. I missed my annoying big brother."

Daniel laughed, shaking his head. "I missed you too, sis. This is awesome! You picked the perfect race to come to. Miami’s always a blast."

The race itself was thrilling, with Daniel finishing strong, much to Kylie’s delight. She watched from the sidelines, cheering him on with the same enthusiasm she had as a kid, when they’d race go-karts together. After the race, Daniel insisted she join him at the after-party, a glitzy event filled with drivers, celebrities, and the who’s who of the racing world.

The party was everything she expected and more—lavish, loud, and buzzing with energy. Music pulsed through the venue, and everywhere she turned, there were faces she recognized from TV or social media. But despite the glitz and glamour, Kylie was content to stay close to Daniel, catching up with him over drinks and enjoying the night.

As the evening wore on, Kylie found herself in a conversation with a certain driver—none other than Charles Leclerc. She had met Charles a few times before, but they had never really had a chance to talk. He was charming, with a quick wit and a smile that seemed to light up the room. Their conversation flowed easily, and before long, they were laughing and sharing stories as if they had known each other for years.

Charles was different from the usual guys Kylie encountered. There was a down-to-earth quality about him, a genuine kindness that she found refreshing. As the night progressed, they gravitated toward each other, the chemistry between them undeniable. The drinks kept flowing, the music got louder, and before they knew it, they were dancing together, lost in the moment.

It wasn’t long before the party began to wind down, but neither Kylie nor Charles were ready for the night to end. One thing led to another, and before she knew it, they had left the party together, heading back to Charles’ hotel room. The night was a blur of passion and laughter, the kind of reckless, carefree night that Kylie had always loved but rarely indulged in anymore.

The next morning, Kylie woke up in Charles’ bed, the sunlight streaming through the curtains. Her head pounded slightly from the drinks, but she couldn’t help but smile as she looked over at the still-sleeping Charles. It had been a fun, unexpected night—one that she didn’t regret, even if it was just a one-time thing.

She slipped out of bed quietly, gathering her things and getting dressed. She scribbled a quick note for Charles, thanking him for the night, and left without waking him. As she walked back to her hotel, she couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. What a night.

Back home in Los Angeles, the whirlwind of her life picked up again. Kylie was back in the studio, working on her next album, preparing for more shows, and balancing a million other things. The night in Miami was a fond memory, one that she thought about from time to time, but she didn’t expect anything more to come from it. It was just one of those crazy nights that would make for a good story someday.

But then, a few weeks later, something unexpected happened. Kylie started feeling off—nauseous in the mornings, more tired than usual. At first, she thought it was just the stress of work catching up with her, but when the symptoms didn’t go away, she decided to take a pregnancy test, just to be sure.

When the test came back positive, Kylie’s world flipped upside down. She sat in her bathroom, staring at the little stick in disbelief, her heart racing. This wasn’t part of the plan. She had always been careful, always made sure to be responsible, but somehow, this had happened. And there was no doubt in her mind who the father was.

Kylie spent the next few days in a daze, trying to process the news. She knew she had to tell Charles, but she had no idea how to even begin that conversation. How do you tell someone you barely know, someone you shared one wild night with, that you’re pregnant?

Finally, after days of agonizing over it, Kylie decided to call him. She waited until she knew he was back in Europe, his racing schedule calming down after a few hectic weeks.

When Charles answered the phone, he sounded surprised but happy to hear from her. "Kylie! It’s been a while. How are you?"

Kylie took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Hey, Charles. I’m… well, I’m not sure how to say this, but I need to talk to you about something important."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Kylie could almost hear the shift in his tone as he picked up on the seriousness in her voice. "What’s going on, Kylie? Is everything okay?"

She closed her eyes, bracing herself. "I’m pregnant, Charles. And… it’s yours."

The silence that followed was deafening. Kylie could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for his response. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Charles spoke, his voice calm but tinged with shock. "Wow… okay. I wasn’t expecting that."

"Neither was I," Kylie admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I don’t know what to do, Charles. This wasn’t something I planned, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it."

Charles was quiet for a moment, then he sighed softly. "I’m in shock too, Kylie, but I want to do the right thing. Whatever you decide, I’ll be there to support you. We’ll figure this out together, okay?"

His words brought a wave of relief over Kylie, and she felt a little of the tension ease from her shoulders. "Thank you, Charles. That means a lot."

The conversation that followed was difficult but necessary. They talked about their options, about what this would mean for both of them. Charles assured her that he was ready to step up, to be there for her and the baby, no matter what. It was a daunting prospect, but knowing that she wasn’t alone made it a little easier for Kylie to face.

Over the next few weeks, Kylie and Charles stayed in close contact, talking about their plans and how they would navigate this unexpected turn in their lives. Slowly, the shock wore off, and they began to adapt to the idea that they were going to be parents.

As the news began to sink in, Kylie realized that this surprise might not be the disaster she had first feared. It was going to be a challenge, no doubt about it, but it was also a new chapter in her life—one that she hadn’t seen coming, but one that she was starting to feel ready for.

Kylie knew her life was about to change in ways she couldn’t even imagine, but as she looked ahead, she found herself feeling a cautious kind of optimism. She had always been a wildcard, after all, and maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of a whole new adventure—one that she wouldn’t have to face alone.

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