It had been six days.
Six days in London.
Six days of workshops, meetings, outlines.
Six days of waking up alone.
Seraya's tiny rented flat was beautiful.
Minimalist. Chic. Clean.
But it wasn't warm.
Not like home.
Not like Monaco.
⸻
That morning, she walked home from the publisher's office under a moody sky, cardigan tucked close, avoiding puddles.
She grabbed takeaway from the corner café, passed a florist selling damp roses, and climbed the three flights of stairs to her flat.
Her inbox dinged just as she was peeling the lid off her soup.
From: Charles Leclerc
Subject: "For our favorite author 📚💌"
⸻
She opened it, heart already swelling.
Inside:
A video.
She clicked play.
⸻
The screen flickered to life. Charles's face appeared first — up close, slightly crooked, smile too wide.
"Salut, mon cœur," he whispered. "I know you're busy being brilliant, but Aurélie and I thought you might need a little reminder of what you're missing."
The camera zoomed out — and there she was.
Aurélie, sitting on the floor, wearing an oversized 'London Baby' onesie that clearly Arthur had bought.
She gurgled and waved a soft giraffe at the camera like it was a live performance.
Charles laughed. "Tell Mama we miss her."
He picked up Aurélie and kissed her cheek.
"I tried to do her hair this morning," he added with a deadpan look, "and we both suffered."
Cut to a very chaotic attempt at ponytails. Aurélie had looked personally offended.
Back to Charles:
"Anyway, mon amour... you've got this. I know you. You walk into every room like you belong — because you do. And when you feel far away, just remember..."
He leaned closer.
"This is temporary. But our love? That's the forever part."
⸻
The video ended.
Seraya stared at her screen, eyes stinging.
The soup sat forgotten beside her.
She wiped her cheeks, heart both aching and full.
And suddenly, London didn't feel quite so big.
⸻
She picked up her phone and recorded her own message — a thank you, a kiss, and a promise to come home with pages full of words and a soul stretched wide.
Then she whispered, like a secret only they'd hear:
"I'm writing all of this for us."
YOU ARE READING
After the Rain
FanfictionBook 2/2 They fell in love under the Monaco sun. Now, Seraya Müller and Charles Leclerc are navigating life. After the champagne fades. After the baby news changes everything. After the Rain is the next chapter of their story - a sequel that begins...
