Can Ferrari's golden boy outrun the crushing weight of his own expectations, or will he crumble as the darkest corners of his mind become his most dangerous comfort? When fate brings him to Aria, who is fighting her own inner battles, will she be hi...
Walking into the paddock, I felt a charge in the air like never before. Everything I'd worked for this season...every moment of doubt, every sacrifice, led to this day. And here I was, hand in hand with the woman who'd helped me piece it all together. Aria's fingers were intertwined with mine, grounding me as my heart raced. Behind us, I could hear my family, their quiet support a comforting presence in this crucial moment.
I turned to Aria, feeling the weight of everything I wanted to say, and brought her hand to my lips, pressing a slow kiss to her knuckles. Her engagement ring caught the sunlight, sparkling beautifully, almost as beautiful as her. I couldn't help but admire it, that perfect symbol of our love for one another...a promise, a future, a love deeper than I'd ever thought possible.
I caught Arthur suddenly smirking beside us, mischief in his eyes. He raised an eyebrow and leaned in close.
"Hey, Charles, you sure you want to go through with this whole racing for the title thing today?" he teased. "I mean, I can hotwire a car and get you out of here, just say the word and we can be halfway to Bali why the time the race starts.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help but laugh, nudging him with my elbow. "Don't worry, Art. I think I'll manage."
Aria let out a laugh, shaking her head at the two of us. "Charles is very focused," she said, pretending to scold Arthur with a playful wink, "I hope you don't offer him the same getaway car for our wedding, Arthur."
Arthur laughed, giving my shoulder a light shove. "If anything Aria, I'll be offering you the getaway car!" he teased. "But good luck, big brother. You're going to kill it today!!"
Just before I headed toward the car, Lorenzo clapped me on the back, his hand lingering there as he gave me a supportive squeeze.
"Go show them what you're made of, little brother," he said, his voice full of pride. "No matter what happens, we're all proud of you."
My mom pulled me into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to my cheek as she always did before a big race. "Drive safe, cherie," she whispered, her voice filled with love. Her eyes watered slightly as she looked up at me. "Today is your day. No matter the outcome, we know you've given it your all."
I nodded, feeling the reassuring weight of their words settle in. I watched as she disappeared into the garage with Lorenzo and Arthur close behind her, joining the rest of my friends and family as they prepared to cheer me on.
Aria looked up at me, a small smile on her face, her eyes filled with a quiet strength that steadied me more than she'd ever know. "This is it," she whispered. "No matter what happens, you've already won, Charles."
I felt my heart swell, that familiar feeling of her words somehow always being exactly what I needed to hear. "With you here," I whispered back, "I feel like I have."
She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek. "Then go make it official, my champion," she whispered.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞
As I stood by the car, adjusting my gloves and going over the last checks, I took one last look up at the people who mattered most. There was my family, the people who kept be grounded and supported me unconditionally. And next to them was Aria, my heart in human form. Her eyes met mine and in that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, a sense of home.
I turned, catching Max's eye across the garage. I nodded, a silent acknowledgment of the battle we were about to take on. It had come down to the two of us...each race, every strategic play, every ounce of hard work, had led to this final showdown. Despite everything, despite what he did to me...and Aria, I still somewhat respected him. Max pushed me like no one else ever had, and I knew he'd been just as relentless in chasing his third championship title.
Today, it wasn't about past fights, or even the championships we'd each chased in the past. It was about this one last race, this chance to give everything. We both knew what was on the line and as we locked eyes, there was an unspoken understanding between us. It didn't matter who we were to each other off the track...on it, we were rivals and only one would walk away victorious.
With a final nod, I climbed into the car, centering my focus, feeling the adrenaline run through me as the engine came to life. I was ready. Ready to push, to fight and to give every bit of myself to this race.
The journey to get here had been anything but easy, filled with more lows than highs, and some days the weight felt almost unbearable. But through it all,I had people who cared about me, helping me rebuild from the cracks, pulling me out of places I hadn't even realized I'd been trapped in.
There were still challenges and doubts, critics who questioned me at every turn and voices that tried to shake my confidence. But this time, I wasn't alone, and I wasn't the man I used to be. The darkness had lost its grip...the scars of last season, the self doubt and those whispers in the shadows...they would never control me again.
Closing my eyes, I took a slow, deep breath. I felt the weight of the world lift, leaving just the steady beat of my heart and the quiet determination that had brought me to this moment. I slipped into the seat, tightening my grip around the wheel and flipped my visor down.
Today was about giving every piece of myself to this final race. The last battle...
...for me...for my papa...for Jules...and for Aria.
THE END
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝
And with that, it's the final chapter...I'm actually unwell...I need a hug (or two). But stay tuned for THREE long epilogues, dropping all at once, this weekend 😉❤️
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