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jessicaloons · 3 months

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Chapter 33:

The rumours are terrible and cruel…

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Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I kept staring at the phone in my hand, at the text. This was it? This was what he meant when he said he knew things about my family? A lie? A lie, that given how fast it spread and how much it was commented with nasty things, was believed by everyone. A fucking lie.

"Come on, Lizzie. Let’s go!" Charles dragged me with him, my legs complying only moderately.

"Where are we going?" I whispered, as he gently pushed me into the passenger seat of his Pista.

"Hotel." he answered, as he got in, starting the engine "If they won’t answer their phones, then we’ll go to them!" he added, steering us effortlessly through the buzzing streets of Monaco, busier than usual, given the fact that in only two days time the Grand Prix weekend started.

"Quick thinking." I let out, staring outside, watching how people excitedly pointed at Charles car, knowing who was inside.

Not even ten minutes later we walked inside the Fairmont Hotel, waiting for the elevator.

"Lizzie?" Charles whispered as soon as the doors closed and I looked up "It’s going to be okay, alright?"

"How? Once out in the media it stays there, no matter how much we deny it! The rumour stays out there. It’s already spreading like a fucking wildfire!" I leaned my head back against the cold steel of the elevator, closing my eyes, right before the doors already opened again and Charles led me outside.

"Hey! Come on in!" Mum opened the door, looking tired, as she ushered us inside. We hugged her and then walked further inside, following the voice of Dad.

Liam sat with the back to us on the sofa, headphones on. He didn’t seem to hear us coming in and for the moment it was better like this. Dad waved us hello, rolling his eyes to whatever was going on on the phone.

"Let us know as soon as you find something out! Thank you, Rita!" Dad hung up and Charles and I immediately hugged him "What a mess." he looked stressed out. Older than usual.

"Where’s Sissy?" Charles asked and looked around.

"She’s at Daniel’s place. They’re on their way here." Dad sighed, sitting down.

"It’s not just on gossip blogs and accounts anymore." I said and Mum nodded.

"No it’s not. Daily Mail, Telegraph, BBC, Sky, BILD, even the New York Times. Just to name a few."

"Is it confirmed? Did he really made a statement or is it just fake news from a gossip account?" Charles asked and I looked at Dad.

"Rita said the big news outlets wouldn’t use the information if it’s not verified to a certain level… so it’s true…"

"Fucking asshole." I mumbled, earning an angry look from Mum, but I just shrugged my shoulders "Does he know what’s going on?" I nodded towards Liam but my parents both shook their head.

"He knows something is up. From our reactions. But that’s it." Mum said and Charles nodded, walking towards Liam, sitting down next to him.

"Charlie!" he almost screamed and jumped into Charles’ arms "What are you doing here? I thought we see you tomorrow?"

"I wanted to surprise you!" Charles smiled and the little one beamed at him.

The door sprung open and Sissy walked inside, followed by Daniel who closed the door. Tearstained face, red nose and glassy eyes, Mum hugged her immediately, shushing her. I walked towards Charles and Liam on the sofa and tried to shield away what was happening behind me.

"Hey Bubba! What are you watching?" I asked him and his eyes got big.

"Hero elementary! It’s so cool! That are young kids with super powers!" he said excitedly and showed me his tablet "AJ is the coolest! That’s him!" he pointed at the boy on the right "He has the power of thought projection! That means he can project what he thinks about I nto real life objects! How cool is that?"

"That is an amazing super power! Does it work with everything? Like when he wants ice cream, can he think of ice cream and then it appears?" Charles asked and Liam thought for a moment.

"I think so, yes!" he clapped his hands together "Now I want ice cream!" he pouted a little and I chuckled.

"Hey Liam, what about you and I and maybe Charles, if he’s up for it, go down to the restaurant and see if they have some ice cream?" Daniel asked when he walked up to us and Liam jumped up.

"Yes! Oh and hi Danny Ric!" he smiled and hugged Daniel around the waist "Are you coming with us, Charlie?" he looked at Charles pleading.

"How can I say no to ice cream?" Charles got up as well and with a last kiss on my cheek and a squeeze of Sissy’s shoulder the three boys left.

"What does he want? Did he contact you in the last time?" Dad asked as soon as the door was closed but she only shook her head.

"It doesn’t make any sense! He didn’t contact you for years. He never paid anything. He never cared for Liam in the slightest. Why would he say something like this? Why now?" Mum asked .

"Because he’s an asshole. Always was, always will be!" Dad spat out sitting down on the sofa.

"I never even asked him of anything!" Sissy sat down next to Dad and leaned back "I don’t know why he would do that now! What was he thinking?"

"I think for now we can’t do much. Rita is already contacting the news outlets to find out what exactly happened. And then we’re thinking about the next step. That’s all we can do for now." Mum said and Sissy sighed.

"What about Liam?" I asked and they looked at me "We agree that we want to keep this as far away from him as possible? But if you’re not going to the paddock the next days, he knows something is up! But you can’t come to Audi or Ferrari, they all will expect you there, they will swarm you!"

"Daniel said we can watch it at RedBull. No one will expect us there, not many people know about us!" Sissy said and I nodded.

"That’s a good plan. Tomorrow you could go on a boat trip! I’ll talk to Charles. Maybe Lorenzo can take you out, Liam wouldn’t be suspicious…" I took out my phone, texting Charles.

"But Lizzie, you know that they most likely will swarm you… you’ll be bombarded with questions. It’s important that you stay calm." Mum looked at me pointedly.

"I’m always calm!" I winked and she frowned.

"I’m serious!"

"Me too! Don’t worry!" I rolled my eyes when the door opened and Liam walked in, a huge bowl of ice cream in his hands.

"It’s the biggest one they had!" he smiled at us and sat down on the floor in front of the coffee table.

"We had to go. There were some people who recognised us." Charles whispered and I sighed "Oh and Enzo will pick you up at 9." he looked at Dad.

"Thank you, Charles." he said.

"Daniel? I’m staying here, okay? Then I don’t have to come here tomorrow morning." Sissy said to Daniel who nodded.

"Sure. It’s better like that." he smiled at her "Call me tomorrow, okay? I’ll figure out how I get you into the paddock without drawing too much attention to you guys!" he kissed Sissy’s cheek and then turned to the rest of us "Good night guys! See you two tomorrow!" but I got up as well.

"Wait for us, we should go too." I hugged Dad and Mum, ruffled Liams hair who didn’t even react, engrossed by his ice cream.

"Don’t worry, okay? We’ll figure it out!" Charles said as he hugged Sissy and I nodded, doing the same.

"Good night!"

"Lizzie? Remember what I said!" Mum said and I groaned.

"Don’t worry Mum! I’ll be calm and collected! I promise."

Calm and collected, Lizzie, calm and collected! I said it inside my head like a freaking mantra when I sat in the press conference, answering question after question. Luckily no one had asked about the whole situation more than a little nod towards how my family is doing right now and how I handle it. I answered the questions as short as possible. Family is doing alright under the given circumstances. I focus on the weekend ahead. Easy. Done. But the moment I saw the Canal+ reporter I knew it was over.

"Candice Boucher, Canal +. Question for Lizzie! With everything that is happening right now, with your sister and your nephew. how do you keep something like this out of your head? It must affect your driving, having these thoughts in your mind?" she asked, a sugary sweet smile on her lips.

"When I get in the car I block everything out. It’s only the car, the track, my race engineer and-…" I began, forcing a smile.

"Are the rumours true?" she interrupted.

"No, it’s no-…" I bit my tongue as she interrupted me again, my patience wearing thin.

"So, you say the father who claims to not be the father is in fact the father of your nephew. He’s no byproduct of your sister’s wild mid twenties." and that crossed my line.

"What the fuck did you just say? My nephew is a kid. A sweet, innocent, little boy. He’s not a fucking byproduct of my sister having a normal fucking life like any mid twenty year old has. What the fuck is wrong with you?" I got up and threw my microphone on the sofa, leaving the stage. I had enough. One more word out of her rotten mouth and I would rip out her throat. Julie opened the door for us and I strutted outside, chest heaving.

"If she ever comes near me again… Candice Boucher? Much rather Candice BITCHer! Byproduct? BYPRODUCT? Who would call a kid like that? I want to rip her head off!" I ranted and Julie rubbed my back, trying to calm me down.

"I’m not trying to defend her, but she quoted just some gossip blogs who called your sister all sorts of names, that she was wild and partied a lot and maybe like this she got pregnant with the “byproduct”… disgusting!" Julie said and I scoffed.

"Maybe she didn’t come up with it, but she said it! She repeated it!" I was seething. Not just that the whole day fans, reporters, photographers, hell, the entirety of Monaco how it felt, had the urge to yell their questions my way, even if I was on the other side of the street or the paddock. I also had to sit through this press conference where all eyes were trained on me, like I was some weird attraction from a circus.

"What happened to calm and collected?" Charles was already waiting for me at the Audi hospitality.

"There’s just so much I can take." I rolled my eyes and he hugged me.

"Take a deep breath, you’re shaking." he whispered "I know it’s hard. But you have to stop listening, okay? Ignore them."

"How? Did you hear what she said? How she called Liam? How the whole fucking internet calls my sister a slut? A woman in her mid twenties who, god forbid, enjoyed her life? They portray her like she was a party girl! And we know she wasn’t like that! And all the horrible words they used for Liam?" I felt sick to my stomach, thinking about what I’ve read online, knowing that it was all nothing but lies.

"I know, cara mia! But we can’t change it for now. We protect Liam as much as possible from this whole mess, Rita is taking care of the news outlets. And I already told you yesterday that I have no problem in having a little chat with fucking Sven." Charles held me close, his chin rested atop of my head.

"I just want this weekend to be over." I mumbled.

"Believe me, me too." Charles sighed "But hey, on the bright side? It can’t get any worse now."

Famous last words.

I watched how the crane lifted my car up in the air and shook my head. Last lap of free practice 2 and I bottled it. Awesome. I climbed over the wall and made my way back to the pits. Helmet on. Ignoring everything. Despite trying everything to go into the car with a clear head, it didn’t work. I couldn’t get past the things people said about Sissy and Liam. How they asked me question after question. The fact that this was Diaz' doing, although I had no idea how he got ahold of Sven, let alone how he made him say these things. He was never in the public. Was never mentioned. The fine from the FIA for walking out the press conference and for excessive use of language, was just the tip of the iceberg. I walked into the garage, apologising to my team, before I locked myself in the bathroom, taking my helmet off. Out of all places this whole mess had to happen in Monaco. The race track where even the tinniest mistake could cost you your whole weekend. I splashed my face with cold water and closed my eyes. I took a deep breath before I unlocked to door and walked outside, game face on. Or at least I tried it. My car was brought in and I inspected the damage.

"It’s not that bad! We can fix it, don’t worry!" Matt patted my back and I sighed.

"I’m sorry guys! Honestly!" I looked at him but he just shook his head.

"It’s okay, really! Tomorrow the car is like brand new and you can go get 'em."

"I know that you can do your part… not so sure about mine though." I shrugged and walked away.

I just wanted to go back home. Shower. Wash the day away and then cuddle up in bed next to Charles. And wake up on Monday, when this whole mess of a weekend was over. Later on I sent Charles a text, asking him when he wanted to leave and sat on a little wall, bordering a flower pit. I had a weird feeling, the hairs in the back of my neck standing up. I straightened my back, looking around, but the alleyway was empty. Only me and the security at the other end. When Charles answered, telling me he would be out in 5 minutes, I flinched at the notification echoing from the walls. Finally we could leave.

Charles POV:

I waved to some fans, screaming after Lizzie and me, while we were driving on our bikes down to the paddock. Something felt different though. People were waving and screaming, but they also almost immediate began to whisper with each other, looking our way.

"You’re okay?" Lizzie asked when we arrived and someone came to take our bikes in.

"I don’t know, something feels off." I shrugged and she took my hand.

"Yeah…" she whispered as we arrived in the paddock.

My bad feeling only intensified, something definitely felt really off compared to the past two days. Whereas they yelled their questions at Lizzie the last two days, they wanted to know if it’s true from me today and from Lizzie how she felt about it. Why the sudden change? I had no idea why I was in the focus like this now, but by the look of Mia, Fred and Sylvia when I walked inside the Ferrari hospitality,I knew it had to be something bad. I swallowed hard.

"Do I even want to know?" probably not.

"Have you checked social media? The news? Anything at all today?" Mia asked and I shook my head, taking my phone out.

"What am I looking for?" when neither of them answered I unlocked my phone and opened Instagram. Nothing unusual "So?"

"Search for your name in the hashtags." Mia said quietly and I cocked an eyebrow.

"My name?" I typed it in and a bunch of pictures with Liam and I popped up, I clicked on the first one, my eyes widening in an instant. I clicked the next picture, scrolled through the posts. All the same "But that’s not… no. That’s not true!" I mumble when I opened up a link.

I didn’t know who did it, but I got pushed into the nearest chair, an open bottle of water shoved in my hand. I couldn’t breathe. I began to tremble. My insides boiling. Flaming hot rage cursing through my veins.

"Charles?" Fred put his hand on my shoulder nodding to the left and I followed his look. Lizzie. Pale. Shaking. Big, glassy eyes. Devastated look on her face. She didn’t believe the article?

"Cara mia, I swear it’s not true! You know that! Please believe me!" I scrambled up, towards her, a look of confusion now on her face.

"What?" she asked and I grabbed her hand, cupping her cheek.

"It’s not true! I did never… there was never… Liam, he’s not-…" I began but Lizzie burst out laughing.

"Wait? Do you actually think that I would believe that bullshit? Are you crazy?" she wiped a stray tear from my cheek and I pulled her in.

"I don’t know, the look on your face! You scared me!" I whispered, she only shook her head.

"I just wanted to check in on you… and then I saw you sitting there and thought the worst!" Lizzie kissed my cheek and then pulled away "It’s everywhere, Charles. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. Various news outlets. TV, radio. Everywhere!"

"I know. To think the first article about Sissy and Liam spread fast…" I chuckled bitterly.

"They thought it might be best if they stay away from here today, but Liam threw a little tantrum… he wants to come and doesn’t understand why not." Lizzie sighed and I lead her away in a quiet corner, where we sat down.

"Maybe we should tell him what’s going on?" I suggested.

"How? Well, Liam, your father who never gave a single fuck about you, claims now publicly that he’s in fact not your father and threatens to sue your mother for fraud, because he claims he paid child support for a child that isn’t his. You see Liam, he never paid anything for you, because as you know he never cared for you. Now he also declared that your father is in fact none other than Charles."

"You’re right. Maybe we shouldn’t…"

"I don’t know what we should do. Rita is trying to figure out where the original story came from. But even if she’ll finds out. I don’t know how that will solve anything? And honestly? We shouldn’t even think about this whole mess." Lizzie sounded frustrated.

"I know, it’s just, how can we not? It’s our family! It’s about Sissy! It’s about Liam! I don’t care what they say about me, I’m used to it… but them? It’s just… fuck!" I let out. We sat in silent for a while when Lizzie grabbed my hand, made me look at her.

"Okay, listen. We can’t let it go to our head, okay? We have to focus! Clear out our head! This can’t affect us!" she pressed her forehead against mine "It’s a lot. I know. But yesterday I bottled it because my mind slipped for one second… we can’t afford that, okay? Not here."

"Okay!" I tilted my head up and kissed her forehead "We got this."

"That’s the spirit." she smiled at me and then got up "I’ll probably stay inside the garage in between practice and quali. There are too many people out there chasing me. You should consider the same!" she kissed my cheek, waved at Mia and Fred and left.

"Come on, let’s get to the garage." Fred said and I nodded, following him outside, a crowd already forming, bombarding me with questions, but like Lizzie said, I tried to ignore it. I really tried.

"Where’s Laurent? Xavi? We need to go to the stewards…" I was beyond mad. Andrea only sighed, nodding his head to the back of the garage "Can we go?" I asked when I saw Laurent talking to Mattia and as he turned around I also saw Fred, who looked at me.

"Are you okay?" he asked and I just nodded.

"I’m okay. I just want this all to get over with as fast as possible and then I want to go home." I said and looked at Laurent "So? Can we?"

"Let’s get Xavi and we can go." he said.

"Okay." I wanted to follow him when Fred held my arm.

"As soon as you’re back from the stewards, we’ll have a short strategy meeting. And right when we’re done with you, you go home! No, stop, Charles, I’m serious! You go home! Now go, they’re waiting!" he said and I sighed in defeat, following Laurent, who got ahold of Xavi. The way from the garage to the stewards felt like a marathon. Everyone staring at me. Pointing at me. Whispering behind my back. I walked faster and when we finally arrived at the Stewards, my mood turned only worse. I was given a 3 place grid penalty for impeding Lando. It wasn’t even my fault. But of course as the driver I would face the consequences. When we could leave again, I only nodded at Lando and left as fast as I could. I just wanted to go. Away from here. Home. With Lizzie by my side. But I knew she would come back home late, after she had to stop her car before setting a time in Q2, meaning she would start from P15 tomorrow. She had a lot to talk about with her team.

What a fucking weekend so far. For the first time ever I wasn’t excited for my home race. For the first time ever I wished I didn’t have to race at all.

For the most part of the Interviews I didn’t listen. Only giving short replies, not even sure if my answers matched the questions. I had enough. The rumours about Sissy and Liam. Liam and me. How people didn’t stop swarming me, Lizzie, our family. Liams terrified face this morning when he just wanted to hug me and a huge crowd began screaming his name. The fucked up quali yesterday. The fucked up race. It was all too much.

"We could hear your agony on the team radio, do you feel like you were let down by your team today?" that question pulled me out of my trance and I shook my head slightly.

"Let down aren’t the words I would use. Sometimes mistakes can happen, but yesterday and today, it’s been overall too many mistakes. The wrong tyres, the undercut, the double stack behind Carlos that cost me a lot of time. We can’t afford these kind of mistakes. It’s hard. As it’s been here the other years, apart from last year, but I’m getting used to go back home disappointed."

"Thank you Charles. And hey? Keep your head up!" Nathalie said and I nodded, walking out of the media pen with Mia.

"I just want to go home." I sighed.

"Understandable." she patted my arm and we walked back to our hospitality, where Sylvia talked to a woman, standing with her back to me "Oh shit! I forgot to tell you!"

"Tell me what?" I looked at her, right when the woman turned around.

"Hi Charles." Camille. Of course. Because that’s what I needed this weekend.

"No. Absolutely not." I spat out and walked inside, not sparing her one glance. As soon as I was inside and she was out of sight I turned to Mia "What the fuck? Why is she here?"

"Her boyfriend…" she answered and I groaned "Ignore her, okay? Just wait here. She won’t be here forever." she patted my arm as she walked away.

But she didn’t knew Camille the way I did. I leaned back in the armchair when the door opened and I just knew what was about to come. I pushed myself up and turned around, Camille grinning at me.

"Listen, whatever it is, save it. I don’t have time for this Camille." I groaned, ready to leave her behind, finding somewhere else to hide from her and the rest of the world.

"I can imagine you have a lot of things to take care of. For one, your son…" she sneered and I scoffed, glaring at her "Oh relax, I know that you’re not the father, Charles. But they? Well they don’t care what’s the truth and what not. They just had to drop a little rumour here and there and your little Bubba made a nice headline: Secret Child with the sister of his girlfriend! That was an article everyone loved to read!" Camille laughed, the sound of nails scraping down a blackboard was more pleasant to the ears.

"Whatever. He’s not my son. They can prove shit." I was losing my patience here.

"Charles, they don’t have to prove anything? It’s already everywhere? Proof or not, false result or not, that doesn’t matter. But you know, I was asked if I knew about it…" a big fake smile on her lips, her eyes focused on something behind my back for a moment before she looked at me again.

"And what did you say?" I asked, although I knew that it couldn’t be something good.

"Oh, don’t worry! I only said the truth, that Liam isn’t your kid!" she said and I cocked an eyebrow "I told them that your glad, that he’s not yours, that you didn’t want him as a kid. That he’s a handful and most of the time your so annoyed of him that you’re happy when he’s gone. You only put up with him because you have to." her face changed into a malicious grin and I was fuming.

I balled my fists, trying to calm myself down, before I jumped her throat, that’s when I heard the faint whimper behind me and spun around, Liam staring up at me, tears streaming down his face. Before I could say something he ran away.

"Fuck! Liam!" I screamed but he was gone.

Without sparing one last glance at Camille I ran after him.

I searched frantically for him when I saw how Daniel held him in his arms while Sissy rubbed his back. I stormed into the RedBull hospitality, straight to the trio, not caring for the security guy who tried to held me back.

"Hey! It’s okay, he can be in here!" Daniel said when he looked at me struggling with the security guy, who only nodded and then left.

"Liam, what happened?" Sissy asked him but he only shook his head "Come on, sweetheart!"

"I guess he found his way back alone, can you text Lizzie?"

"Text Lizzie?" I was confused, seeing Liam like this made my heart clench.

"Yeah? We texted you guys, that this little rascal here ran away… not the first time as we both know…" Daniel winked at me when Liam turned his head a little, as soon as he saw me he cried out loud and buried his face in the crook of Daniel’s neck.

"Liam? What’s going on?" Sissy asked and I swallowed hard.

"Hey! Little man!" Daniel said and sat down, trying to sit Liam up, prying him away from his chest, to look at him. Liam’s head hung low, not looking up.

"Bubba? Can you please look at me? Please listen to me!" I began but he shook his head, Daniel and Sissy both looked confused at me "Liam, please believe me! Nothing of what she said was the truth! She just said these things because she knows how much I love you and that it would hurt me, when I realise that you heard her! But it’s not true!" I kneeled down in front of him but he didn’t look at me, he buried his face again in Daniel’s t-shirt, shaking violently "Liam? Please look at me? You know how much I love you! You know that it’s not the truth what she said! Please, Bubba! You know me! I’m your Charlie bear!"

"You’re a liar! You lie, lie, lie all the time! You never loved me! You’re like my Dad! You never wanted me! You never cared for me! I don’t want to see you ever again!" he whimpered and I felt like I got hit by a freight train. I couldn’t breathe. My heart shattered into a million tiny pieces as he turned a little and looked at me, tear stained face "I hate you!" and that was my final straw.

"Liam!" Sissy gasped but I shook my head, he had every right to feel this way.

"It’s okay. Don’t reprimand him, or anything… it’s okay." I almost didn’t recognise my own voice.

"Charles…" Daniel began but I just got up and shook my head.

"Take care of him, okay? Just don’t punish him for running away…" I turned around and left. I needed to be away from here. Away from everything. I almost bumped into Lizzie on my way out but I didn’t care, I just walked off, almost running.

"Charles? Hey? Charles?" I heard her shout after me, but I didn’t stop. I made it barely into our garage where Andrea looked at me with big eyes.

"Charles? Hey? What’s going on?" he asked but I shook my head, darting towards the rubbish bin, throwing up "Oh shit! Here!" he handed me a towel and then walked away just to return with a bottle of water.

"Thanks." I wiped my mouth and tried to unscrew the bottle, but my hands were shaking, Andrea took the bottle wordlessly from my hands, unscrewed it and handed it back over. I rinsed and then drank the whole bottle. The bittersweet taste in my mouth still present.

"Talk to me. I know it’s a lot going on this weekend!" Andrea whispered but I shook my head "You’re leaving. Now. Come on. I talk to Fred and Mattia."

"I’m fine." I said, still feeling nauseous, head pounding. Liam’s words on repeat in my head. The hurt in his eyes. His broken whimpers.

After Andrea told me, that Charles was already gone, I only grabbed my stuff and left. Mum, Dad, Sissy and Liam were long gone, with Liam being silent, not saying a single word about what has happened with Charles. I got on my bike and drove to his flat and again felt like someone was watching me. I pushed myself harder to get home as fast as possible and when I finally walked inside, it was quiet. Too quiet. Charles sat on the sofa, head in his hands.

"Charles?" I asked quietly and approached him, his face still hidden from me "What happened?" as I sat down on the coffee table in front of him I saw tears streaming down his face. He looked up, his eyes full of pain and guilt.

"He doesn’t believe me, he thinks what Camille said was true, he doesn’t understand that Camille only said it to hurt him…" he cried, his voice hoarse "He said everything I ever said to him was a lie. That he never wants to see me again…"

"Camille? What happened, Charles? Talk to me, please!" I cupped his cheeks "Liam didn’t say anything the whole day…"

"Camille was there, she said that some reporters asked her her opinion. She weirdly said that she told them that I’m not Liam’s father… I was confused? This would’ve been the perfect opportunity for her to rub salt in the wound but she didn’t? Then she began to say that she told the reporters that I was glad that he wasn’t my son, that I was mostly annoyed by him and only put up with him because I had to. That I always was happy when he left again… she said that all because Liam was behind me! He heard it all, Lizzie! He didn’t want to believe me when I told him that it’s not the truth! Lizzie he said he hates me!" he broke down and I sat down next to him, pulling him into me.

"Oh Charles! He needs a little time. He’s hurt. We will explain to him that she said all of these things just to hurt you both! He loves you! And you know it!" I whispered, stroking his back, scratching his scalp.

"You didn’t see the look in his eyes, Lizzie…" his voice muffled.

"It’s going to be okay." I kissed his forehead and he snuggled deeper into me "We’ll talk to him."

We sat in silence, both lost in our thoughts, Charles breathing returned back to normal slowly, he loosened his tight grip on me a little, but stayed close by my side, not moving. I felt the exhaustion taking over slowly, let my guard down. The weekend had taken its toll on me. Seeing Liam, Sissy and Charles, knowing that all the pain they’re going through was because of me, made me sick to my stomach. They shouldn’t get punished for things I did, or rather not did. But this was what Diaz said from the beginning. He did warn me. I just didn’t listen. And now they had to pay the price for my mistakes. I felt tears prickling in my eyes and carefully wiped them away, not knowing if Charles was asleep or still awake.

"I just want to forget this weekend." Charles whispered and I held my breath but he didn’t say anything else, he just yawned a little, right before he fell asleep.

"Me too, mon cœur, me too."

There wasn’t a day without new wild theories and rumours spreading across social media. Charles thought about putting out an official statement, that although he loved Liam from the bottom of his heart, he’s not his son. The rumours were not true. But his media team advised him to not to do it. Which he didn’t like but ultimately accepted. The race weekend itself was even worse. Nothing worked. Not for me. Not for Charles. And when I came back to the hotel Saturday night Charles sat on the sofa, staring at the black screen of the TV.

"Charles?" I asked him and he didn’t even flinch.

"P19! P FUCKING 19! There was nothing working in this car! NOTHING! They want me to drive at the top? Be one of the best? I can’t do that when they provide me with a car like that! What do they expect me to do? It’s so fucking imbalanced that even though it’s made to be understeery it oversteers in some part of the corner like crazy! And the set-up? I don’t even have words for it. It’s a shame. A fucking shame."

I saw how tense he was and slipped behind him on the sofa, beginning to massage his shoulders, neck and back. After a while I felt the tension loosen up the longer I kneaded and stroked along his back.

"I’m sorry that I just let it all out at you, cara mia." he mumbled, suppressing a slight moan when I kneaded another knot out of his tense back "This weekend is fucked just like last week. This stupid car is doing what it wants. I can’t even get the car from turn one into turn two without having crazy oversteer in one corner to crazy understeer in the next. Can this season be over? We’re not winning anyways with this car." he mumbled "But you know what sucks even more? What’s up with your car? First Monaco? Then today? What is going on? At least one of us should fight for podiums!"

"Monaco was my fault. Because of the crash on Friday there was some undetected damage. I’m not blaming my team in any way. Today… I don’t know. We’re having real issues with the set-up of the car… we’ll see how the race goes." I sighed.

"Yeah… maybe tomorrow will be a better day for the both of us."

"Exactly… if anyone can do it, then it’s us."

"When’s our flight?" Charles looked outside.

"9:30 in the morning." I answered and he nodded, playing with one of his bracelets as he got in the passenger seat.

"Why can’t we just leave now? I don’t want to stay here any longer…"

"I know. I’m sorry… you did your best but it just wasn’t enough, not with this car…" I looked at him and he shook his head.

"P11. Not even a single point. I don’t even know why I’m doing this anymore…" he mumbled and I slapped his thigh.

"Hey! Stop saying that! It’s not you, it’s the car. You push harder than anyone else. Work harder than anyone else! If it’s not working out right now, it’s not because of you, you hear me?" I said sternly and he sighed, looking outside again.

"I’m sorry about your race." Charles said after a while and I huffed.

"Yeah well, it’s like this." I said but then groaned "You seriously have to stop saying that! Because of you I’ll keep saying it as well!"

"I’m sorry, it’s just so natural at this point." he chuckled and I rolled my eyes, stoping at the traffic light, looking outside. As the light turned green, the billboard to my left changed and when I saw the ad I gasped. How could I be so stupid. He sent me the clue himself months ago. This was how we could get him.

"Lizzie! It’s green! You’re causing a traffic jam!" Charles voice rang through the brain fog and I accelerated abruptly, going full throttle "Jeez! Lizzie!"

"Sorry, sorry!" I said as we drove away, our hotel ahead.

"What was that?" he looked at me but I only shook my head.

"There was a cute dress on the billboard, sorry!" I lied quickly, while my brain was doing somersaults thinking of where I had put it.

"You nearly killed us for a cute dress? Glad you have your priorities straight." Charles chuckled.

"Don’t be such a drama queen." I let out, right when my brain registered where it was. Yes. We made progress.

It was a cold and rainy morning, when we got outside the jet, a black SUV already waiting for us.

"Seems like the weather adapts to our mood." Charles sat down next to me and I laughed.

"Oh no, that’s just the German weather as you know." I answered and sighed. My palms sweaty. How would I explain why I knew what I knew. Maybe not explain it at all? Say that I’ll explain it later? Right now we have to act fast. That was important.

"Cara mia? We’re here!" Charles squeezed my thigh and I nodded, taking one last breath as I got out of the car.

I opened the door and we walked in. You would’ve found more cheer in a graveyard. The house was shrouded in silence.

"Someone home?" I asked and I could hear a chair scrape over the floor. We walked into the living room, finding Dad, Sissy and Rita sitting together, Mum walked towards us. She hugged Charles first and then me.

"Are you guys hungry?" she asked quietly and we shook our heads.

"Did you find out anything? What are we doing now?" they almost flinched at the sound of my voice "Come on! You must‘ve come up with at least one idea by now?"

"This is nothing I‘ve ever dealt with before! I’m a lawyer, a manager. But that’s it." Rita said and I nodded.

"Okay. First things first, we need a statement from the lab that the results they gave away were fake…" I began.

"And how do you want to do that? We need to find out what lab the results came from first? How should we do that without any clue? I mean getting a statement out of them would be easy, that’s not the problem here. The problem is to find that lab. To find the person who was involved." Rita said and I swallowed hard. This was it. Now or never.

"Geneticca Laboratorio de Pruebas de Paternidad in Madrid." I said, pulling out the business card from my bag, putting it on the table. They all looked at me. The tension was palpable.

"Where… how did- did you hire a private investigator?" Dad asked and I shook my head.

"I- I wasn’t honest with you. All of you. And I swear I will explain everything! But not now. Now we need to take care of this. I’m almost 100 percent sure that this is the lab where the paternity test was made and faked. We need to do a paternity test ourselves. With Liams, Charles’ and Svens DNA. To proof that he is Liams father and not Charles. When we have the right result and the proof that the one that is out in the media was faked, this whole thing will be over, it doesn’t matter what Sven will say then in the media. No one would believe him!" I said and no one said anything for a while. I began to fiddle with my cuticles but Charles laid his hand on mine to stop me, I looked at him and he smiled a little.

"Sven will never agree to give us a DNA sample. He knows that this would be the end of his storytelling." Sissy said and Dad nodded.

"But if we have proof that the paternity test was faked, we can take legal actions against him, forcing him to provide a DNA sample. He can’t decline a court order!" Rita stated.

"But how do we find out who faked the paternity test in that lab? Or if it’s the right lab in the first place?" Charles asked.

"I don’t know, maybe tell them that we have proof that show that the results they were given out were fake! Or follow the money? Maybe someone got paid to fake the result?" I said and Dad chuckled.

"You watch too many of these crime shows." he said and I shrugged.

"Yeah, but that’s why I know that this will work out. But we have to act now."

"Alright. Let me make a few calls. I might know a guy who knows someone." Dad got up and Sissy looked after him.

"That didn’t sound ominous at all." she said.

"Alright, until we have the name of the person who faked the test, I will prepare all the necessary paper work, for the court here but also for taking legal actions at the court in Madrid, finally my 2 semesters in Valencia are good for something." Rita got up and said her goodbyes, I brought her to the door where she looked at me intently "I will only ask you this once, and I want you to be honest with me Lizzie, do you know who’s behind this all?" I didn’t need to say anything she just nodded "Whoever it is, what leverage does he have against you?"

"This. This whole mess was his leverage at first. He wanted me to do something really bad, something I couldn’t do. Because I said no, he leaked this now. This whole mess is my fault Rita. And I’m so fucking deep down in this whole shit, I don’t know how to get out of it…" it felt good telling it someone.

"Who else knows about it?"

"No one."

"Good. Keep it that way. For now. One problem at a time." she hugged me shortly and then left.

I leaned against the door, head pounding like crazy.

"Lizzie?" Liam looked up at me and I bent down.

"Hey Bubba." I hugged him.

"Is Charles here as well?" he whispered and I nodded, feeling how he tensed up a little.

"Do you want to talk to him?" I asked and Liam nodded, but then shook his head.

"I’m scared…"

"You don’t have to be. Come here." we sat down on the stairs and he snuggled up to my side "Why are you scared?"

"Because of what I said to him…"

"Did Mummy explain you that what Camille said was just to hurt you and Charles?"

"Yes. Mummy said that she knew that it would hurt Charles to think that I would believe her…"

"Yeah, she’s not a nice person."

"Did I hurt Charlie, like a lot?"

"No, Bubba, it wasn’t you who hurt him, it was Camille, Charles knows that."

"But I said horrible things to him… what if he hates me now?" Liam sniffled.

"Never, you hear me? I could never hate you, no matter what!" Charles said and we looked up to our side, Liam got up and as soon as Charles opened up his arms, he jumped right into him, hugging him tight.

"I’m so sorry, Charlie. I don’t hate you. Really! I’m so, so sorry!" Liam cried but Charles just shushed him.

"It’s okay, it’s okay! Don’t apologise, Bubba! Nothing of this is your fault, you hear me? It’s all gonna be okay! I could never ever hate you, never! You were hurt. But it’s okay! It wasn’t your fault!" Charles soothed him and I blinked away the tears "Whatever happens, I will always love you, okay? No matter what!"

It wasn’t Liams fault. It wasn’t Charles’ fault either. It was mine. Mine alone. Would I just do, from the very first time Diaz threatened me in Silverstone, what he said, nothing of this would’ve happened. Or would I just told someone what has happened, what he did, how he threatened me. I felt the bile rise up my throat and jumped off the stairs, straight for the rubbish bin, and let it out. Charles looked at me worried but I only shook my head.

"It’s probably just the whole stress and everything." I walked into the kitchen, pouring a glass of water, rinsing my mouth.

"Lizzie?" I flinched a little, almost dropping the glass "Just me." Dad patted my arm and I sighed "Where do you have this business card from?"

"Dad, I ca-…" I began but he held up his hand.

"I just want to know one thing: do you know who’s behind all this? Is it really Sven? He never seemed like someone who would be able to do something like that…"

"He’s involved. Somehow at least, I think, but Dad, just let this… let us get past this crisis, then we’ll handle the next, okay?" I squeezed his arm and left him. Rita was right. One problem at a time.

After our movie night, Liam fell asleep all cuddled up in Charles arms, who also fell asleep halfway through the movie. When I woke up the next morning, they both were still laying entangled with each other next to me, snoring softly. I checked the time and groaned.

"Bubba? Come on! You’ve got nursery school!" I gently woke him up and he mumbled something incoherent, turning his back to me, snuggling into Charles chest "Na-uh, Mister. Come on. Up you go!" I gently pulled him up and he whined, clinging to Charles.

"Nooo! I don’t want to! I’m staying here with Charlie!" he whispered and Charles stirred a little.

"What time is it?" Charles mumbled, pulling Liam back in.

"Oh hell no, stop that! It’s 7! Liam, you have to get up now!"

"Lizzie’s right, Bubba, come on. We have to get up! I have to leave anyway in a while. Let’s get up and I take you to nursery school?" Charles cooed at him and he sat up immediately.

"Okay! Let’s go!" Liam jumped up in an instant, waiting for us to move.

"You first need to get ready, off you go, Mum’s already waiting for you!" I said when I read the text of my sister.

Liam climbed out of the bed and left, making sure the whole house heard him running down the stairs. I sat up and looked at Charles, still sleepy and all cozied up next to me.

"You need to get up as well if you want to drive him…"

"I know. But getting up means I’m getting ready. And getting ready means I’m leaving for Maranello and I honestly don’t want to go." he huffed but got up anyways "At least I’m leaving, knowing that with Liam everything is alright again."

"Yeah… and now Rita and Pop’s acquaintance taken care of the whole shit show that’s going on… maybe it’s getting better again for us." I sighed and Charles leaned down, kissing my forehead.

"I hope so too. The last two weeks made me age at least 5 years… I need rest. We need rest…" he said and I nodded.

"Sounds good to me." I laughed and got up as well "But for now, no rest for the wicked."

"Nope… unfortunately not." he answered and left for the bathroom.

20 minutes later Charles said goodbye to all of us and left with Liam.

"When will you go to Neuburg?" Mum asked when I sat down at the table, snatching an apple from the fruit bowl.

"Tomorrow morning. We have to get over some data for Montreal." I yawned, eating my apple.

"I know that right now it all looks pretty bad, Lizzie. But you know one thing’s for sure? The truth will come out one way or another. Always." she kissed the crown of my head and left.

That was what I was afraid of.

"I’m just getting up." I said, looking for my keys "I honestly have a good feeling about Montreal… the sim data looked good, the upgrade even better… I’m confident!"

"That’s good! Really!" Charles said and I heard him accelerate.

"Sounds like someone is exceeding the speed limits." I teased, unlocking the door and getting inside.

"I just want to come home to you faster, can you blame me?" he chuckled.

"Nope. Not really. When will you be here?" I rolled my suitcase into his bedroom.

"Two or three hours?"

"Alright, I’m too lazy to cook and the fridge is probably empty anyway, so take out it is."

"Sounds good to me. See you later, cara mia."

"Drive safe, please!"

"Promise!" he hung up and I opened my suitcase, the folder from Diaz right on top.

Just looking at it made me shudder, so I pushed it further down, covered it with socks and hoodies. I walked back into the living room and turned on the TV, needing a distraction. After an hour or two of zapping through the channels, watching a snippet of of a cooking show here and a home renovation show there I switched off the TV and grabbed some fresh clothes, ready to take a shower before Charles would come home. Turning on some music, I stepped under the shower and after a while I started singing along. Shake it off. How very fitting. What wouldn’t I give to just shake it all off.

Charles POV:

When I entered the flat I heard Lizzie singing under the shower and smiled. I walked into our bedroom and saw her open suitcase on the floor and the idea I had in the car came back to my mind. The last weeks were just too much. We needed to get away. Just a little time for ourselves. Away from everything. Maybe after Silverstone. A couple of days in New York. Somewhere where people wouldn’t recognise us. I rummaged through her suitcase, looking for her passport, when I found a folder under her socks, the first page visible through the see through material made my stomach drop. Receipts of betting slips for Monaco, Barcelona, Montreal, Spielberg and Silverstone. I opened the folder, reading through the pages. My eyes landed on Monaco, no winner was to be established but a crash between her and myself was targeted. I didn’t hear Lizzie coming in until she stood behind me.

"Charles?" she asked and I flinched, getting up with the folder in my hand.

"What is this stuff?" I said, my voice shaky.

"What stu-…" she abruptly stopped when I turned around holding up the folder "Charles…"

"Why do you have this documents? What are you doing with this stuff?" I looked at her, she was pale in an instant, breathing ragged, eyes widened in shock "Lizzie. Why do you have this?" I asked again, but she didn’t answer. She just stared at me with big eyes, like a deer caught in headlight "Lizzie! For fucks sake! Explain this to me!"

"Why did you go through my stuff in the first place?" she sounded exhausted, almost scared "What were you looking for? What did you hope to find?"

"I needed your passport because I wanted to book us a little surprise getaway! Sorry that me trying to be a good boyfriend interfered with you… fuck I don’t even know what you were doing with these? Sabotaging races and bet on them?" I was shocked. Confused.

"But I-I didn’t…" she began but then she fell silent. Her whole demeanour changed.

"You didn’t? Well the receipts and analyses say something different! There’s your name on every single betting slip! On all the receipts! That little note also clearly states what you wanted do in Monaco. Unfortunately my team messed up before you could execute your plan! But why would you do that in the first place?" I tried to stay as calm as possible, but her indifference made my blood boil "What do you want me to do now? Just act like I don’t know about it? Ignore it? Lizzie, if the FIA finds out about this? If they find out that I knew and didn’t report it? Did you think for just one second about the consequences?" I was beyond mad, my heart was racing. This all didn’t make sense. Betting on races?

"No, I didn’t think about the consequences, I didn’t think I get caught." she admitted, her voice sounding totally unlike her.

"That’s not you, Lizzie…you would never do something like that… because if that’s who you are now… then I don’t know you anymore!" I couldn’t believe my ears.

"What do you want me to say? I had to do it." no remorse in her voice.

"You had to do it?" I spat out and she just looked at me with cold eyes.

"Yes, I had to… but you caught me now… so yeah..." she sounded emotionless, almost cold.

"Why would you do that?" I asked, seething.

"I had no other choice. Don’t ask me why." she looked down, her voice cracking a little.

"Lizzie I can’t just accept it like this and ignore it? Tell me what’s going on?" I almost pleaded but she just shrugged "You seriously want me to accept it? Just like that? No questions asked?"

"You do what you have to do now." again this emotionless voice.

"I’m leaving." I couldn’t stand looking at her.

"Okay." she got up.

"You won’t even stop me?" I hoped for a reaction. Anything. But I got only one last look before she turned away "I’ll stay at Arthur’s."

I left the flat. In the car I took a deep breath before I started the engine. What the fuck just happened?

I sat on Arthur’s balcony, looking over Monaco. I couldn’t understand why Lizzie would do something like that. I went over our fight again and again. It didn’t make any sense. Seven races in and we both were certainly not fighting for the championship this year. But why would she plan to deliberately crash out in a race? Why would she deliberately take me out as well? It didn’t make sense. The documents were clearly showing what was happening, but I couldn’t believe it. Lizzie would never do something like that. That wasn’t like her. But why didn’t she deny it. Why didn’t she explain why she had these documents. And why her name was on every single receipt and betting slip. Why did she say nothing at all? My head was pounding, trying to make sense of it all. But I couldn’t. It wasn’t making any sense. I groaned in frustration, raking my brain.

"Hey." Arthur stepped out, handing me a coffee and sat down next to me "Thought you could need one, you didn’t sleep last night as it seems…"

"Thanks." I took a sip and put the mug down "Yeah no, not really…"

"You still don’t wanna tell me what happened?"

"I-I can’t tell you…" I sighed, rubbing my temples.

"Oh come on, I’m your brother, you’re favourite one even, you can tell me!"

"Nice try." I chuckled but then looked at him "I can’t tell you, because I don’t know what happened? Lizzie… she’s… something is going on and she’s not telling me…"

"You mean with that whole Liam and Sissy and you thing?" Arthur cocked an eyebrow.

"No. Whatever is going on, it’s going on for longer, I think… I don’t know. For months I had this feeling that there is something, that she’s not telling me? Like I had this bad feeling sometimes, I can’t even explain why? It’s just… sometimes she wasn’t the old Lizzie. She was this fidgety, nervous Lizzie…"

"She’s been under a lot of pressure, no? Everyone was out for her head at one point? Fans, media, team principals, fellow drivers… I’d say it’s normal to be a little out of it every now and then?" Arthur asked.

"That’s what I’ve been telling myself as well… but then again… I don’t know. This now? It’s big. Huge. It can cause a lot of trouble, serious trouble and I just don’t understand why she would even think about something like this, nonetheless do it? She’s one of the smartest people I know! She has more integrity than the whole rest of the grid combined? Why would she do something that could end her career forever?" I groaned, leaning back.

"Okay, I have no idea what you’re talking about?" Arthur looked at me confused "What did Lizzie do?"

"I can’t tell you, really. But what I can tell you is that it’s bad. Really bad. If that comes out? Her career is over! Nothing could save her from this!"

"Okay. Let me see if I get this right. Lizzie did something. Something bad. Really bad. Something that could make people question her integrity? Something that would most definitely end her career when it comes out?" he repeated and I nodded.

"Yeah. And that’s the thing. Never in a million years would I expect her doing something like that! Never! Not after she fought so hard for this! Not after all she’s been through, all the sacrifices! I don’t understand why she would do that…" I said desperately.

"Maybe she had no other choice? Maybe she had to do it?" Arthur suggested and I looked at him.

"That’s what she said!"

"Not the time for jokes, but okay…"

"No! Idiot! Lizzie said she had no other choice, she had to do it…"

"Maybe she was forced?" Arthur said it quietly and we looked at each other.

"Fucking hell…" I muttered and got up, grabbing my keys. How could I be so fucking blind.

I was pacing back and forth. My mind reeling. I should’ve told Charles the truth. He saw the documents, there was no point in lying and denying it anymore. I didn’t even know why I did it. Why I was so defensive. Maybe the months and months of staying silent, the lies, the secrets, maybe I was just too good at it by now that I didn’t even realise it anymore, while I was doing it. Exhausted, I sat back down on the sofa, watching how the sun rose above the horizon. It felt like days since Charles had left. Although it wasn’t even 12 hours ago. 12 hours of total silence. I got up again, feeling restless, pacing through the flat before I sat down at the piano, my fingers dancing slowly over the keys. Memories of hours spent next to Charles, watching and listening him compose songs, played inside my head. A notification made me flinch. Hastily I got up and grabbed my phone, secretly hoping it was a text from Charles, I opened the text. Flight confirmation. Tomorrow. Our flight to Montreal. It felt surreal to think about racing right now. I dropped my phone back on the coffee table and when I wanted to walk away I stopped, looking at the folder. Charles was right. The receipts, the betting slips, they all had my name on it. I never paid much attention to it, but I should have. I signed a form to retrieve the envelope, there were cameras in the shop. How could I be so stupid? Diaz could easily destroy my career with this. It’s like Charles said, if the FIA finds out about it? It was over. I leaned back and thought about my next move. I had to tell the FIA what happened. That was the only thing that I could do. I needed to do it myself, before Diaz had the chance to. And then it all would be over. We would get a statement from the lab that the paternity tests were faked. Sissy’s and Charles’ names would be cleared. I would be free. I just had to figure out how to tell Charles the truth. That I lied to him about almost everything regarding Diaz. Thinking of his reaction made my anxiety level shoot through the roof. He would be mad. He gave me so many chances to come clean. I kept lying and lying. He would be furious. But most importantly, he would be hurt, his trust in me would be broken. I couldn’t even blame Diaz for it. It was my decision to lie to Charles. It was my decision to keep all those secrets from him. At the end of the day, I was to blame.

Charles POV:

I entered the flat and the silence weighed down heavy on me. I walked inside the living room and Lizzie sat with her back to me at the piano, playing a sad melody.

"Lizzie…" she flinched and turned around and my heart broke a little. She looked horrible. Pale skin, big, dark circles under her eyes, hairs dishevelled, lips dry. She also looked thinner, which was weird, it wasn’t even 24 hours since I left last night, but she looked weaker. I approached her and she didn’t move "Oh Lizzie…" I whispered as I stood in front of her.

"I’m fine." her voice wasn’t convincing.

"What could they, whoever they are, use against you?" I asked and she shook her head.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about." she said and made big eyes, like she was surprised by her own words.

"Lizzie, drop the act!" I looked at her.

"Act? What act? You can’t just barge in here and think that I talk to you like nothing happened! You left me!" she sounded mad, but there was still the confusion from before on her face and she was right. I left her. Again. It got complicated and my first instinct was to leave.

"Last time I checked this was still my place, so…" I began and her eyes widened as she got up and tried to push me aside.

"Fine. I’m leaving your place then!" she spat out and I grabbed her wrist.

"Why are you so fucking frustrating?" I sighed.

"Why are you so-… so… fuck!" she was exhausted, I could tell, but she still tried to pull her hand out of my grasp.

"Lizzie please! Stop being so… unreasonable!" I said and she snapped.

"I’m not unreasonable!" she almost hit me with her free hand but I caught her flying hand right in time "Let go of me!"

"Never!" I held her hands, firm but not to hurt her.

"Charles! I swear to everything I hold dear! Let. Go. Of. My. Hands!" she pressed out, she was seething now.

"Never!" I repeated and she was able to free one hand, trying to pry the other one from my hold, pushing me away from her.

"Let go of me!" she yelled, her voice shaky, out of breath.

"Lizzie stop fighting and listen to me!" I pulled her close "I know what’s going on!"

"I don’t give two fucks what you know! You left me! Let me go!" she was thrashing around in my hold, her eyes glistening with unshed tears

"Never." I repeated again and pulled her even closer, our bodies colliding. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Why can’t you just let me go! You didn’t want me in your place I thought!" I knew she was close to breaking down, her voice shaky, breathing heavy.

"Will you just shut up, please!" I pleaded "Lizzie I know what’s going on. Please talk to me."

"No, I… how-…" she began, eyes wide in horror, more and more tears gathering at her waterline.

"You would never do something like that. I know you for almost twenty years! You would never do that, unless you had no other choice. Unless someone would force you to do it. And that someone must have some leverage on you. Something that scares you so damn much that you gave in to this…" I said and she sank down on the floor, pulling her legs against her chest "Lizzie. Talk to me. We’ll find a solution together. I can help you. I will help you. You just have to talk to me. Tell me the truth. Please, Lizzie, I’m begging you!"

"I didn’t do it. I had to pick up an envelope at a betting office downtown, the folder with the documents inside. But I just couldn’t do it. I told him that I wouldn’t do what he wanted. And his retaliation was… Charles, he spread the rumour about you and Liam. That was his leverage the whole time. Somehow he had contact to Sven. I didn’t knew it until it blew up. He just said to me he had something to hurt you and our family. And so I did what he wanted, I tried to. But this? I couldn’t do it! And he made me pay for it."

"Lizzie. Who’s he? Who’s doing this to you? And why?" I asked, although I had a suspicion, she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Salva Diaz." her voice barely a whisper. Tears began to stream down her face as her whole body began to tremble. I kneeled down in front of her and pulled her into me. Holding her close.

"Salva Diaz? The Spanish reporter?" I asked for clarification, although I new all too well who he was, and she just nodded "Lizzie. I’ll ask you this only once, please be honest. Did he attack you in Silverstone? Was that the reason why you tried to get his ban lifted? Did he threat you?" she began to sob loudly and I had my answer. He was a dead man walking "It’s okay. We find a solution. It’s gonna be okay."

"I’m so sorry for lying to you for so long. I just-… I was just so scared what you would do if you knew. And also what he would do. I just didn’t want that anything happen to you. Or our family. I’m scared of him. The way he looked at me in Silverstone… he’s crazy." she said, her voice hoarse from her crying.

"I want you to tell me everything, you hear me? Everything from the very beginning!" I said quietly and she nodded slowly.

"I didn’t tell you the whole truth about Assen…" she began.

I took a deep breath, listening to her, didn’t interrupt her once, just let her get it off her chest. With every minute she was talking I felt more and more sick, my blood began to boil and I wanted nothing more than to break every single bone in his body. Twice. I held her hands the entire time, rubbing soothing circles of the back of the hands.

"I’m so sorry! I never meant to lie to you! I swear! I was just so scared! I- I couldn’t let him do anything to you or our family and I thought I could handle it all alone… but I only made everything worse! I’m so, so sorry Charles. Please forgive me." Lizzie sobbed when she was ready with it all and I took a deep breath, swallowing down my pure rage and anger for Diaz, then cupped her cheeks but she trained her look down, not looking at me.

"Look at me, Lizzie… there is nothing to forgive, you hear me? You were scared, traumatised, this asshole assaulted you, twice, you did nothing wrong okay? You were just trying to protect me, us. It’s okay, you understand? I’m not mad at you… I’m more mad at myself for not seeing what you were going through…" I began but she shook her head.

"No! Charles I was the one lying and keeping it all from you! At one point the lying became so easy, so natural, that I didn’t even had to think about it anymore. It just happened. Like yesterday! Or earlier! When you already found out the truth, I got all defensive and kept lying because I was so used to it! I’m sorry!" a wave of fresh tears streamed down her cheeks but I wiped them away.

"Stop apologising! I can’t even imagine what you’ve been through! How it must’ve felt! The constant fear! Now he even tarnished your own flat! Lizzie we have to do something against him. We need to gather all of the evidence that you have and go to the police, okay? He needs to be stopped and locked away for what he’s done to you!" I hugged her close "It’s over now, Lizzie. It’s all over. We will press charges, we’ll sue him. He won’t ever come near you again, you got me?"

She was silent, didn’t move, but after a while she sniffled a little and nodded.

"I just want him out of our lives…" she whispered.

"And believe me, he will be." One way or another.

I sat next to her, my knuckles brushing over her cheek. She snuggled into the pillows and I tucked her in, kissing her forehead. She was almost immediately asleep, as soon as her head hit the pillows. I watched her for a while. Her puffy eyes, red nose and cheeks, hair all messy. Still the most beautiful girl on this planet. My beautiful girl who went through hell and back again. My hands began to tremble with anger. I wanted to find Diaz and kill him myself. I never felt this much hate and rage in my entire life. But I promised Lizzie that I wouldn’t do anything. That I let the police handle it. Unfortunately. One last look at her and then I got outside the room, closing the door quietly. Right when I walked back into the living room a phone vibrated and I answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Charles? Hey, umm is Lizzie around?" she asked.

"Oh shit, I took her phone… yeah she’s asleep, she had a rough day… can I maybe help?"

"I just wanted to let you guys know that we got ahold of the employee who faked the paternity tests. We have a written confession from him, he got paid. We even have the name of who it was…" Rita began.

"Salva Diaz." I finished and she was quiet for a moment.

"Lizzie told you then?"

"You knew about it? Lizzie said she didn’t tell anyone?"

"Well she didn’t, not really. I asked her if she knew who was behind this all and she said yes, but we agreed that our main focus was now to contest the paternity test." she said and I nodded.

"So we have proof that it was all just a big lie?" I asked.

"Yes. Ferrari and Audi are putting out statements as we speak. And Monday morning when the court opens I will file a complaint against Salva Diaz. And when you’re back from Canada I need Lizzie to tell me everything Diaz did, I know her, a little threat here and there wouldn’t scare her…"

"Thank you, Rita! Really! That’s some good news Lizzie will be happy to hear. And you’re right, he did way more than just threaten her… she will tell you everything herself." I felt relieved.

"Take care of you both, okay? I’ll call Lizzie after I went to court on Monday! Have a safe trip to Montreal!" she said.

"Thank you, I’ll take care of Lizzie, don’t worry. Goodbye, Rita!" I hung up and sat down. Then took my phone and waited for the official statement from our teams. Just minutes later I saw the post. Lizzie would wake up to good news. This whole nightmare was over. Finally.

"You sure, you’ve got everything?" Charles asked when I zipped up my suitcase and nodded.

"Yup. I’m ready. When the car’s here, we can go." I smiled at him and he took my suitcase, rolling it out with his own.

"The car is waiting for almost 10 minutes already." he chuckled and I grabbed my bag "Can you lock the door?"

"On it." I locked it and secured the keys in my bag as we entered the elevator.

Outside the driver loaded our suitcases into the trunk and we got inside. As soon as the driver sat in his seat I asked him to stop at my place and Charles looked at me.

"I just need my passport and AirPods. I’ll be down in a minute." I kissed his cheek and he rolled his eyes when the car stopped in front of my house.

"I’ll wait here. Hurry up, we have to pick up Joris." Charles smiled and I nodded, closing the door.

I waved the portier at the front desk, walked into the elevator, pushed the button for the fifth floor and pulled my keys out. I felt free. Like I could finally breathe again. It was over. As soon as I would arrive in Montreal I would go to the FIA, telling them everything. Showing them what Diaz wanted me to do, that I refused to do. He no longer had any leverage against me. I unlocked the door and walked inside. First straight to my bed room to retrieve my AirPods, shoving them in my back pocket, and next into the kitchen, where I rummaged through the drawer in search for my passport, right as I grabbed it, I straightened up. The hairs in my neck standing up. Goosebumps erupting. I felt like someone was watching me. I took a deep breath, with shaky knees I took a step away from the counter. I wasn’t alone. Faint steps from the sofa towards the kitchen. I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat.

"Honey, I’m home." a voice snarled behind me and I dropped my keys and passport.

Chapter 33 - The secret is out! I repeat! THE SECRET IS OUT. Finally! But ooops… if that’s not another cliffhanger… 👀

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