Eyes Don't Lie | Charles Leclerc

Part 42 | Teardrops In My Eye

Done in Aria POV
June 20th, 2023

It was a quiet afternoon and I was sitting on the couch, scrolling through my phone, waiting for Charles to come home after therapy. We had one last night together before he'd fly out to Austria, and I was heading to London. 

Earlier, Charles had come with me to my apartment so I could pack for my trip to London. I was grateful he did, even though I hadn't asked him to. He always made things feel lighter, more manageable. As I packed my clothes for the photoshoot, he didn't hover, but I could sense his presence always close, like a comforting safety net. 

I smiled, thinking about how he made sure I had everything I needed, silly things like reminding me not to forget my charger or favorite skincare. But more than that, I loved staying at his apartment these days. It felt like we were creating our own little world, just the two of us, whenever we had time together. I felt safe there, wrapped up in his arms at night or even just watching a movie on his couch. 

His apartment had become my second home, and I never wanted to leave. It was a place where I could let my guard down, a place where the shadows of my past didn't feel so threatening. And spending all this free time together had brought us closer than ever. Each quiet moment, each laugh, each kiss, it was like the space between us had melted away. I felt more connected to Charles than I ever thought possible, like we were becoming something deeper, something lasting. 

I had planned out our evening together, a simple dinner, some time on the couch, and just being close to him. In the middle of sending Charles a text to remind him to pick up some vegetables I needed for dinner, my phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. I hesitated for a second, my finger hovering over the notification. 

Usually, I ignored messages from unknown numbers, but something was telling me to check it. I tapped the message open. 

"Meet me at Cafe de Paris. You know who this is, cherie." 

My breath caught in my throat as I read the next line. 

"I ran into your new boyfriend. He didn't seem to recognize me. Let's keep it that way. Meet me in twenty minutes." 

It was like time slowed down. My vision tunneled as I stared at the words on my screen, my heart racing. My father. I hadn't heard from him since I was a child, since my mother and I walked out of that chapter of our lives, trying to leave behind the darkness he brought into it. And now...he was back, with another threatening message. I felt cold, my hands starting to shake. 

He had run into Charles? My stomach twisted painfully at the thought. The last thing I wanted was to drag Charles into my past, into the mess I didn't even know was forming. He didn't need this. We didn't need this. My first instinct was to text Charles, to tell him everything, but then I hesitated. If I did that, he'd be right in the middle of it. And the way my father was, he wouldn't just leave things alone. 

I couldn't risk Charles getting involved, not when this was my problem to deal with. I stood up, my legs feeling shaky as I grabbed my jacket and threw it on. My mind was racing, filled with questions and fears. How did he know where I was? How long had he been watching me? I looked at my phone, his message still glaring at me like a threat I couldn't escape. I have to do this alone, I thought, biting my lip as I typed a quick reply, agreeing to meet him. I couldn't let this shadow of my past ruin what I had with Charles. Not now, not ever.

Charles had enough on his plate, and I had to be strong enough to handle it alone. I didn't want to let this ugly part of my life taint what Charles and I had built. I had to protect him. I had to protect us. 

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 

My hands were trembling as I pushed open the door to the cafe, a loud bell ringing as I stepped inside. The familiar smell of coffee did little to calm my nerves, and the warmth of the space felt suffocating rather than comforting. My heart was hammering in my chest, every muscle in my body aching.