TURN OF FATE, cl16

57.

CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN.
ABU DHABI.

The laughter and music from the night before still echoed in Dariyah's kind as the sun broke over Yas Marina the next morning. But this sunrise felt different— crisp, final, and full of meaning.

The calm before the storm.

The air was buzzing, not just with the hum of engines or the whir of paddock staff, but with something far more electric— the news.

Phones buzzed.

Screens lit up.

Notifications were flooding in:

"CHARLES LECLERC & DARIYAH HAMZA: ENGAGED IN A FAIRYTALE PROPOSAL ON ABU DHABI BEACH!"

"A NIGHT OF LOVE BEFORE THE FINAL RACE IN RED— FERRARI'S PRINCE MAKES A ROYAL PROMISE."

"CHARLES LECLERC TO DRIVE HIS FINAL RACE WITH FERRARI AS A FIANCÉ." this was a stupid headline, in Dariyah's opinion.

Instagram exploded with snippets from last night— sneaky videos posted by Swetha, blurry shots of the beach taken by Lavina, a grainy clip from Carlos yelling "Mon frère, il a dit OUI!" with his bad french accent and Rishi dramatically narrating the moment like it was a Netflix special.

Dariyah wouldn't be surprised if this were to feature in this season's Drive To Survive releasing next year.

But the one post that truly broke the internet came straight from Charles' account at sunrise: a candid photo of him holding Dariyah under the twinkling fairy lights, the ocean in the background, her head tucked into his chest, and the caption:

"Once to protect you.
Twice to love you.
Forever to choose you.
#SheSaidYes #AGAIN #ForRealThisTime"

The world melted.

Even the F1 account posted it with a simple flame emoji and:
"Charles Leclerc's Final Race in Red. A Love Story at Full Speed."

In the paddock, everything was the same— but nothing felt the same.

Charles walked in with his usual calm swagger, red suit on for the last time, helmet in hand, surrounded by the scent of burning rubber and espresso. But there was something new in his eyes. A peace. A kind of fierce clarity.

Beside him, Dariyah walked quietly, her hand gently tucked into his. No words were needed. She was there. He was there. And that was enough.

Mechanics nodded with knowing smiles. Journalists tries to catch a quote. Fans screamed his name louder than ever before. But today wasn't about fame or headlines.

Today was about legacy.

"Last one," Lando said softly, clapping a hand on Charles' shoulder as they lined up for pre-race routines. "You okay?"

Charles nodded, eyes scanning the circuit he'd known since he was a kid. "Yeah. I'm more than okay."

Behind him, Dariyah watched quietly, hand pressed over her heart. This man, this boy she once met in the Abu Dhabi paddock all those years ago— he had grown into someone unstoppable, someone kind, someone hers.