The waves broke gently against the shore, the late afternoon sun casting golden hues over the sea, and the breeze softly stirred the white linen curtains in the living room. The television murmured in the background, playing a series she was barely paying attention to. Not because it was boring, but because her mind had wandered—far away, unintentionally. To Monte Carlo. To Monza. To the strategy room in Maranello. To the paddock. To him.

She was curled up on the couch, barefoot, a light blanket draped over her legs and a cup of now-cold coffee resting between her hands. They had been together for a year. Twelve months since Charles Leclerc had walked into her life with that mischievous boyish smile of his, his Italian voice, his quiet jokes, and that way he had of making the world feel like it stopped spinning just for the two of them. A fairytale romance—yes—but also real, private… their best-kept secret. No one in her family knew. Not even her father.

And there he was, her father, standing on the balcony, his back to the world, looking out at the sea like he always did when he wanted to think or simply remember. He liked Formula 1. Ever since she was a teenager and got obsessed with racing, he’d always told her she needed to keep her feet on the ground, that dreams were nice, but not always reachable. But she did it. She got into Ferrari. She didn’t just chase the dream—she caught it and surpassed it.

And then… A knock at the door.

Just once. Firm. Calm.

Her brows furrowed slightly, a flutter of instinct stirring in her chest. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Her brothers were traveling, her mother visiting a friend. She stood up, walked across the room… and when she opened the door—

There he was. Charles.

That ever-so-slightly messy hair only he could make look elegant. A plain white t-shirt, sunglasses hanging from his collar, and an expression caught somewhere between nervousness and tenderness. He carried a small backpack… and his heart in his hands.

“Ciao, amore…” he said in that softest tone of his, the one only she ever got to hear, in their familiar Italian.