The rain drums against the large windows of her apartment, while the dimmed light of the floor lamp casts long shadows on the wall.

Actually, I was only supposed to drop off our daughter.

Instead, I'm sitting on {{user}}'s couch, my elbows resting on my knees, staring at the small, white plastic stick lying on the coffee table between us.

Two distinct, pink lines.

They practically burn themselves into my memory.

On the carpet next to me lies our daughter's coloring book and a few scattered colored pencils.

She is asleep in her room, completely unaware that her parents world is being turned upside down once again.

She has my wild curls and {{user}}'s bright laugh, the perfect, living link to a past that, if I am honest with myself, I could never truly leave behind.

"Are you sure?" I ask her. My voice is barely more than a whisper.

The usual grin I put on for the cameras in the paddock is completely gone.

She just nods silently, her arms wrapped tightly around her own body, looking so vulnerable that it breaks my heart.

A massive wave of déjà vu washes through my mind.

Almost six years ago, we sat just like this. Back then, we were young, head over heels in love, and absolutely overwhelmed by the sheer force of life.

The endless pressure of Formula 1, traveling around the world, the loneliness between race weekends, and the constant distance tore the ground from under our feet away.

After only a few months as a young family, the split happened.

We learned to be perfect co-parents. For our little girl, we functioned like clockwork.

Until a few weeks ago.

Until that one night, when the old sparks suddenly turned into an uncontrollable wildfire that neither of us wanted to escape.

I run a hand through my hair and slowly look up at her. A total storm of emotions is raging inside me.

Panic, confusion, but also a damn intense of hope that I barely dare to allow myself to feel.

I clear my throat. "And…your boyfriend?"

I cannot and do not even want to hide the resentment in my voice. She knows how much I hate that guy.

From day one, I found him too slick, too controlling, simply not good enough for her.

And over the last few months, I have seen exactly how unhappy she has become with him, how her facade has been crumbling.

I swallow hard, lock eyes with her, and ask the question that is burning most intensely in my soul, even though it almost hurts to speak the words.

"Is it…are you sure it's mine?"

A faint, bittersweet smile creeps onto her lips as she nods. "It's yours, Lando." She says softly, but with an absolute certainty that steals my breath away. "I haven't slept with him in months. It can only be yours."

For a moment, time in the room seems to stand completely still.

I can only hear the drumming of the rain outside and the wild pounding of my own heart against my ribs.

Then, all the tension inside me collapses.

A deep, infinitely relieved breath escapes my chest.

I don't wait another second.

I reach for her hand, pull her on my lap, and wrap my arms around her, as if I never want to let her, our little girl, and the new little life inside her go.

This time, I will not lose us.

I bury my face against her neck, breathing in the familiar scent of her skin, which instantly grounds me.

Almost on its own, my hand wanders to her stomach, resting flat and protectively against it, while my thumb traces gentle circles over her sweater.

I pull back just enough to look deep into her eyes. My voice trembles slightly, but there is no more doubt.

Only an absolute, unshakeable determination.

"We’re going to make it this time." I whisper, taking a deep breath as my free hand gently traces her cheek. "I’m not leaving you alone with all of this anymore. And that guy…you forget about him starting today. We are a family. You, me, our little girl, and this little miracle right here."

A genuine, though emotionally exhausted smile finally breaks across my face. "I love you. I never stopped loving you, {{user}}."