The days following the sponsor meeting felt like a slow crawl through uncertainty. Y/N had done all she could to present her case, but the outcome was now out of her hands. Every night, she replayed the meeting in her mind, dissecting each word and gesture, wondering if it would be enough to convince them to cut ties with Laura. But the waiting gnawed at her, feeding the growing tension that had been festering since the season began.
Fabio remained her constant source of support, but even he couldn’t shield her from the realities of the sport. Despite his efforts to distract her with training and lighthearted banter, the weight of Laura’s looming presence was impossible to ignore.
On the morning of the next race weekend, Y/N received an unexpected call from her mother. It had been weeks since they had last spoken—her family had always been supportive, but the strain of Y/N’s intense MotoGP career had created distance between them. Her mother’s voice, however, sounded unusually strained.
“Y/N, we need to talk,” her mother said, skipping pleasantries.
Y/N frowned, her heart skipping a beat. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s your father,” her mother said after a pause. “He’s been hearing things from people in the industry—about Laura, about what’s been happening with you. He’s... upset, and he thinks it might be time for you to reconsider this career path.”
Y/N’s stomach dropped. Her father had always been her biggest fan, pushing her to follow her dreams. But his protective side had grown more pronounced over the years, especially as the stakes got higher. And now, it seemed, the stress of watching her struggle against Laura’s games was starting to get to him.
“Mom, I’m not quitting,” Y/N said firmly. “I’ve worked too hard to let Laura—or anyone—scare me off the track.”
Her mother’s sigh crackled through the phone. “I know, sweetheart. But your father doesn’t see it that way. He’s worried. You’ve been under so much pressure, and with everything Laura is doing... He’s afraid it’s going to break you.”
“I’m not broken,” Y/N snapped, her frustration boiling over. “I can handle this. I don’t need Dad to swoop in and tell me how to live my life.”
Her mother’s voice softened. “I know you can handle it, but sometimes it’s hard for parents to watch their child go through something like this. Just... try to understand where he’s coming from, okay?”
Y/N gritted her teeth, fighting the urge to lash out. She knew her parents meant well, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. With Laura breathing down her neck and the sponsorship situation still unresolved, the last thing she needed was her family questioning her decisions.
“I’ll talk to him,” Y/N said finally, though her voice was tight. “But I’m not backing down. Not now.”
---
That evening, Y/N found herself walking the paddock, trying to clear her mind. The usual pre-race buzz filled the air, but her thoughts were miles away. She hadn’t had the chance to speak to her father yet—she wasn’t ready for that conversation—but the weight of his disapproval hung over her like a dark cloud.
As she walked, she spotted Charles near the F1 paddock, leaning against one of the garages, his easy smile faltering when he saw her. He quickly pushed off the wall and approached, concern etched on his face.
“You look like you’ve been through the wringer,” Charles said, his tone light but laced with genuine worry.
Y/N managed a weak smile. “It’s been a rough day.”
Charles motioned for her to sit on a nearby bench, away from the bustling crowd. Once they were seated, he turned to her, his expression serious. “What’s going on? And don’t say it’s nothing. I know when something’s bothering you.”
Y/N sighed, running a hand through her hair. “It’s my family. They’re worried about everything with Laura, and now my dad’s suggesting I quit. He thinks it’s too much for me.”
Charles frowned. “That’s... a lot to deal with. But they’re just worried about you, right? They don’t understand how strong you are.”
“Yeah, but it’s frustrating,” Y/N admitted, her voice tight with emotion. “I’ve worked so hard to get here, and now it feels like everyone’s trying to tell me that maybe it’s not worth it. But I can’t just give up because things are hard.”
Charles nodded thoughtfully, his eyes locked on hers. “Of course not. You’ve earned your place here. No one can take that away from you—not Laura, not anyone. But maybe... maybe you should talk to your dad. Hear him out. Let him know how much this means to you.”
Y/N swallowed hard, the thought of confronting her father filling her with dread. She hated the idea of disappointing him, but at the same time, she couldn’t let his fears dictate her future. “I will,” she said finally. “I just need to find the right time.”
They sat in silence for a moment, the hum of the paddock fading into the background. Y/N glanced at Charles, his calm presence soothing the storm inside her. He always seemed to know what to say, how to keep her grounded when everything else felt like it was spiraling out of control.
“You know, I’m really glad we met,” Y/N said softly, her voice carrying more weight than she intended. “You’ve been a good friend through all of this.”
Charles smiled, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes, something Y/N couldn’t quite read. “I’m glad too,” he said, his voice low. “And I’ll always have your back, no matter what happens.”
For a brief moment, Y/N wondered if there was something more behind his words, but before she could dwell on it, her phone buzzed with a message from Daniel.
Daniel: We’ve got news. Meet me in the paddock ASAP.
Y/N’s pulse quickened. “Looks like something’s happening with the sponsor situation,” she said, standing up.
Charles gave her a reassuring nod. “Go take care of business. You’ve got this.”
---
Y/N found Daniel in the paddock, his expression unreadable. “What’s going on?” she asked, her nerves on edge.
Daniel exhaled sharply. “The sponsor decided to pull their funding from Laura’s team.”
Y/N’s eyes widened. “Wait—what?”
“They reviewed the evidence, and it was enough to convince them to cut ties with her,” Daniel explained. “Laura’s lost one of her biggest backers.”
A wave of relief washed over Y/N, but it was quickly followed by a twinge of apprehension. Laura was down, but she wasn’t out. This was a major blow, but Y/N knew Laura wouldn’t go quietly.
“There’s more,” Daniel continued, his tone more serious. “Word is, Laura’s furious. She’s not going to take this lying down. We need to be ready for whatever she throws at us next.”
Y/N nodded, her mind racing. “I’ll be ready.”
But as she walked back to the garage, a sense of foreboding settled in her chest. She had won a small victory, but the war with Laura was far from over. And with her family’s concerns weighing on her, Y/N couldn’t shake the feeling that the biggest challenges were still ahead.
---
Later that night, after the chaos of the day had settled, Y/N finally mustered the courage to call her father. The phone rang twice before he answered, his voice gruff but familiar.
“Y/N,” he said, his tone heavy. “I’ve been waiting to hear from you.”
Y/N took a deep breath. “I know, Dad. I’ve just... been dealing with a lot.”
Her father sighed. “I’ve been hearing things. Things that worry me. This fight with Laura, the pressure you’re under... It’s not worth destroying yourself over.”
“I’m not destroying myself,” Y/N said, her voice firmer than she expected. “I’m fighting for what I’ve worked my whole life for. This isn’t just a job to me, Dad. It’s my passion.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Finally, her father spoke, his voice softer. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Y/N’s chest tightened. “I know you’re worried, but I can handle this. I need you to trust me.”
Her father sighed again, but there was a note of resignation in his voice. “I do trust you, Y/N. I just... I needed to hear it from you. That you’re okay.”
“I’m okay, Dad. I promise.”
As they said their goodbyes, Y/N felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The conversation hadn’t been easy, but it had been necessary. Her father’s support, though cautious, was still there.
Now, all that remained was the race—and whatever Laura had planned next.
---
As race day dawned, Y/N stood in the pit lane, the tension hanging heavy in the air. She knew this was just the beginning of the next chapter in her battle with Laura. But for the first time in weeks, she felt like she was on solid ground.
She had her team. She had her family. And she had her friends—Fabio, Charles, Daniel—who had stood by her through it all.
Whatever came next, Y/N was ready to face it head-on.
And she wouldn’t be facing it alone.