The tension between Y/N and Max had reached its breaking point. It was as if an invisible wall now stood between them, built from mistrust, uncertainty, and the weight of unanswered questions. Though Y/N wanted to believe in Max, the accusations and the evidence Laura had provided still gnawed at her. It was all-consuming, eating away at the foundation of their friendship—and perhaps something more.
Y/N had retreated to her own room that night, pacing restlessly, unable to sleep. The weight of the situation pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She had always prided herself on her resilience, but this… this was different. It wasn’t just the pressure of MotoGP, the fight against Laura, or even the looming legal battles. It was the betrayal—or the potential of it—from someone she had trusted with her life.
She stood by the window, staring out at the city lights below, her thoughts a tangled mess. The sound of her phone buzzing snapped her out of her haze. It was another message from Fabio, checking in, offering support. Over the past few days, he had become her rock—reliable, understanding, always willing to listen. She hadn’t told him the full extent of what Laura had revealed, only that things with Max were strained. Fabio, sensing her emotional turmoil, had stepped up in ways she hadn’t expected.
Fabio: You okay? I’m here if you need to talk.
Y/N stared at the message for a moment, the comfort of Fabio’s concern washing over her. She hesitated, her thumb hovering over the keyboard, unsure if she should respond. She knew she could talk to him—he had proven time and again that he had her back—but could she truly confide in him about everything?
A knock on the door startled her. She turned, her heart skipping a beat, half expecting it to be Max, hoping for another confrontation, another attempt to salvage what was left of their trust.
But when she opened the door, it wasn’t Max standing there.
It was Fabio.
He leaned against the doorframe, a soft smile on his face, but concern evident in his eyes. “I figured you’d need someone to talk to,” he said gently, stepping inside when she moved aside.
Y/N sighed, closing the door behind him. “I don’t know what to do, Fabio. Everything’s falling apart. I feel like I’m losing my mind.”
Fabio turned to face her, his expression serious. “You’re not losing your mind, Y/N. You’re just in a situation where everything’s been turned upside down. But you’re strong—you’ve got this.”
Y/N swallowed hard, her throat tight with emotion. “I don’t feel strong right now. I feel like I can’t trust anyone. Not even Max.”
Fabio nodded, his eyes softening. “I get that. But you’ve got to remember that Laura’s a master manipulator. She knows exactly how to get under your skin, how to make you doubt everything. Don’t let her win.”
Y/N sat down on the edge of the bed, her head in her hands. “What if she’s right? What if Max really has been working with her?”
Fabio moved closer, kneeling in front of her, his voice steady and reassuring. “I don’t believe that for a second. Max wouldn’t do that. He’s been loyal to you from the start.”
Y/N looked up, meeting his eyes, her heart aching with the weight of her doubt. “But what if you’re wrong? What if I’ve been blind this whole time?”
Fabio reached out, gently taking her hands in his. “You’re not blind. You’re cautious, and you’re right to be, given everything that’s happened. But I know Max, and I know you. You wouldn’t have kept him so close if there wasn’t a reason to trust him.”
His words were like a balm to her wounded heart, soothing some of the fear and confusion that had been building up inside her. But there was something more—something unspoken between them. As Fabio held her hands, Y/N felt a warmth spread through her, a connection she hadn’t fully acknowledged before.
“Fabio…” Y/N began, her voice trailing off as she searched his face for answers to the questions she wasn’t sure she wanted to ask.
He squeezed her hands gently, his eyes never leaving hers. “I’m here for you, Y/N. Whatever you need.”
And in that moment, something shifted between them. The air between them felt charged, a tension that had been building for weeks finally bubbling to the surface. Fabio stood, gently pulling her up with him, and before Y/N could fully process what was happening, he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers.
The kiss was soft, tentative, as if he were waiting for her to pull away. But Y/N didn’t pull away. Instead, she found herself leaning into him, her hands resting on his chest as she kissed him back. The warmth she felt in his presence now felt like a fire, consuming the doubt and fear that had clouded her mind for so long.
But as soon as the kiss deepened, reality crashed back in.
Y/N pulled away abruptly, her heart pounding, her mind racing with guilt and confusion. “Fabio, we can’t…”
Fabio looked at her, his expression full of concern. “I’m sorry, Y/N. I didn’t mean to—”
“No, it’s not that,” Y/N interrupted, her voice shaky. “I just… I’m so confused right now. About everything.”
Fabio stepped back, giving her space, his face soft with understanding. “I know. And I don’t want to make things harder for you. I just… I care about you, Y/N. More than I probably should.”
Y/N’s heart clenched at his words. She cared about him too, but this wasn’t the time to complicate things further. Not with everything else going on.
“I care about you too, Fabio,” Y/N said softly. “But I need to figure out what’s happening with Max. I need to know the truth before I can even think about anything else.”
Fabio nodded, his gaze never wavering. “I understand. And I’ll be here, no matter what happens. You can count on me.”
Y/N swallowed the lump in her throat, grateful for his support but terrified of what the future held. She needed to clear her mind, to focus on finding out who the real traitor was. But with the weight of Fabio’s confession and the uncertainty surrounding Max, everything felt more complicated than ever.
---
The following day, Y/N decided it was time to take matters into her own hands. She couldn’t keep letting doubt and suspicion rule her every thought. If she was going to find out the truth about Max, she had to dig deeper.
She met with her lawyer, Daniel, who had become one of her most trusted confidants in this mess. They sat in a quiet café, away from the prying eyes of the media and the chaos of the racetrack.
“I need your help,” Y/N said, her voice low as she explained the situation. “I need to know if those messages from Max are real or if Laura’s behind this.”
Daniel listened carefully, nodding as she laid everything out. “I had a feeling something like this might happen. Laura’s desperate, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to win.”
“So, can you help me?” Y/N asked, her eyes pleading.
Daniel leaned forward, his expression serious. “I’ll look into it. We’ll get a forensic team to trace those messages, figure out if they were sent from Max’s account or if they were fabricated. But Y/N, this is going to take time.”
Y/N’s stomach churned at the thought of waiting even longer for answers, but she knew it was the only way to get the truth. “I just need to know,” she whispered. “One way or another.”
Daniel gave her a reassuring smile. “We’ll figure it out. And when we do, we’ll make sure Laura pays for what she’s done.”
---
Back at the hotel, Y/N found herself pacing again, waiting for updates from Daniel, from Max, from anyone who could help untangle the web of lies she was trapped in. The uncertainty gnawed at her, but Fabio’s words from the night before lingered in her mind. She wasn’t alone. Even if everything fell apart with Max, she still had people who cared about her, who would stand by her no matter what.
But as much as she wanted to lean on Fabio, she knew she had to face this on her own. For now.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was Daniel.
Daniel: I’ve got something. You need to see this. Meet me at the office in an hour.
Y/N’s heart skipped a beat. This was it. The moment she’d been dreading—and hoping for.
It was time to uncover the truth.