~The truth~
December 19
"Oh Carolina..." My mother says, wrapping her arms around me. We're sitting in the living room, curled up in blankets as I tell my mother everything.
From how much I miss my father, to the fact I've hopelessly fallen in love with a cheater, I tell her every little detail.
Growing up as an only child, she's always been like an sister to me, and especially after my father passed we've just grown even closer.
She gently wipes away my streaming tears, comforting me on the couch. The Christmas tree, decorated with ornaments I made as kid, lights the dark room up. I cried all the way to Brazil in the plane, and yet the tears just keep coming.
"Honey you deserve better than someone like him. Yes, he might have fame, all the money in the world and a wonderful son, but the most important part is what's in here" She assures me, tapping her hand gently at her chest, right where the heart sits. But I can't even agree with her. Charles was amazing, from the bottom of his heart.
For him to be a cheater... It feels so wrong.
I sniffle, moving even closer to my mother. Her signature smell washes over me, making me feel safe. At least I don't have to deal with homesickness anymore.
"We can put on Love actually, and I'll make hot chocolate" My mother suggests, giving me a soft kiss on the forehead. But the idea brings me anything but comfort.
The tears begin to uncontrollably run down my cheeks again, as I remember the night on the plane, where me and Charles watched Love actually together...
My mother looks at me with sympathy, moving a strand of hair out of my face, before she stands up to make hot chocolate in the kitchen.
When she's gone, I lean back in the sofa, hiding my face in my hands. I'm so pathetic. How could I ever believe that I could actually have a relationship with a f1 driver.
I'm so stupid.
Ding. A ring at the doorbell startles me. "Carolina could you get that, I ordered some Christmas gifts!" My mother shouts from the kitchen. With a bit of struggle I get up from the couch, walking out to our front door.
It's a short walk, in our tiny house, and I quickly get to the front door. I wipe away my tears, in case the mail man is still out there, and pull open the heavy door.
At first it looks empty outside, no package or anything, but then my gaze falls on the door mat where a small envelope lays.
Confused I bend down to pick up the letter. On the front is my name written in a messy handwriting. Furrowing my brows, I take the envelope and step inside again.
I manage to close the door, before I rip open the envelope curiosity taking over me. No one ever sends me letters.
Inside the envelope, is a long letter, written in the same wobbly handwriting as the one on the outside of the envelope.
The bottom of the letter catches my eye, love Arthur. It's a letter from... Arthur? My eyes quickly go to the top of the letter again, and before I know it I'm reading it.
Dear Carolina,
Despite if you want to hear it or not, there's some things I think you deserve to know, and in a hurried state I thought it was the easiest to write you a letter.
(I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, I know...)
Earlier today I realized Charles was acting weird, so I decided to go and check up on him. At first he just played it off, but eventually he broke down.
He told me everything, or well he told me everything that he told you... And he's going to kill me for doing this, but you should know the truth.
My heart beats out of my chest, as I hesitate to read the next line. The truth?... I take in a deep breath, before I continue reading.
I know Charles told you that he was the one who cheated on Lili... but in fact it was actually the complete opposite that happened.
My breath gets caught in my throat. The words ligner in my brain, as the tears begin to push their way through once again.
The opposite...? So that means.... My heart stops beating for a moment, as realization hits me right in the fucking face. Oh god...
When Julius was born, Charles was barely 20, and yet he loved Julius and Lili more than anything.
He spend as much time as he could with them, and he would sacrifice everything for them. The first year with Julius seemed amazing, they seemed like the perfect little family.
But then when Julius turned 1 everything changed. Charles had gotten into f1, and had planned to buy a house here in Monaco for them, but then he found out...
Lili had been sleeping with other men. A lot of other men actually. It completely destroyed Charles. He didn't eat, sleep or speak.
Yet, he tried to fix things with Lili. He loved her so much that he was willing to put all the cheating aside.
But to everyone's surprise, Lili didn't want that. We've never liked her, especially my mother... She hated her actually, didn't think she was right for Charles. But we all shut up once we saw how in love he was.
Anyway back to the story... Lili only wanted Charles for the money. That had been her plan the entire time. Make an aspiring racing driver fall in love with her before he gets his success, and then take advantage of him the second he gets it.
She got money, gifts and even her own apartment from him, and once he'd given her enough, she left out of the blue.
August 10 2018.
That day she left Monaco, never saying goodbye to any of us. None of us have seen her since. She left Charles completely alone with a 1 year old son, and a broken heart.
Ever since that day I haven't seen Charles even be close to loving another woman.
That was until he met you.
I could actually tell from the start. He looked at you differently, spoke about you differently. He was practically in love with you from the day he met you in Brazil.
But love scares him, terrifies him actually. And for some reason he thinks he can't love again.. Which is why he lied to you.
He wanted to protect you from him. But as his little brother, I can see how naive he is. It's clear he's head over heels in love.
So now I'm coming with a very big question. Feel free to decline if it's too much for you, but I'll give you the offer just in case.
Would you give spending Christmas with the Leclerc's another try?
I wipe away my tears, the question lingering in my head. I don't know what I expected, but it definitely wasn't this...
No matter how hurt I am, and the apology Charles needs to give after lying to me... I can't deny the electricity striking inside me.
I'm in love with Charles, whether I'd like it or not.
My brain tells me no, reminds me how much I've been hurt, but my heart... it beats yes louder and louder.
I read the final line of the letter, a smile growing on my lips. I send you 2 plane tickets to Monaco, thought you could bring your mother:)
Love, Arthur.
I shake my head in disbelief over the situation, but a smile continues to linger on my lips.
"Mãe, would you be up for a visit to Monaco for Christmas?!" I shout to my mother in the kitchen.
--❄--
Now you finally know the truth!❤️
Also I just started my Christmas break from school, soo I'm so excited!!
And Christmas is so soon like time is flying by SO fast... I'm honestly not ready ahah😭