The Chinese skyline glitters outside the hotel window, but you only see him.

Max lies next to you, his fingers tracing gentle, lingering circles on your arm. His touch makes you shiver.

"We can't do this anymore..." He says, barely louder than a whisper.

Your heart stops. "What?" You ask him, confused.

Max sighs and runs a hand through his already messy hair.

"This. I mean...I love you, but...if my manager or Lucy find out about us...Or imagine your Dad. Christian would kill me." He says.

Lucy.

His PR girlfriend.

The one everyone thinks he loves. The one the cameras capture by his side after every race.

You should have gotten used to it by now.

How he holds her hand in front of the cameras and how they play their part for the media.

But it still hurts.

Because you're the one he's running to. You're the one who knows him beyond the headlines and the pressure.

"You love me?" You ask, whispering.

Max swallows hard and nods.

"That's why I have to stop. It's not just about me. It's about you. Your father. My career." His voice breaks, betraying him.

"If they find out...I don't know what they'll do to us." His jaw clenches.

"I don't care, Max!" You say, sitting up and looking at him.

"But you should!" He says, and his eyes are full of things you can't quite.

Regret? Fear?

"I hate it. I hate that I can't be with you the way I want to be. That I have to stand next to her and pretend she's the one I love." He says.

You turn away and blink away your tears.

"But you do it anyway." You say.

Silence.

He swallows hard.

You always knew this couldn't go on. That the world would catch up with you one day.

You just never thought Max would be the first to hit the brakes.

"So..that's it?" You ask, your voice barely above a whisper.

Max reaches for your hand and holds it tight, as if trying to memorize the feeling.

"Believe me, I don't want it to be like this." He says.