( NOT EDITED / PROOFREAD )

"No?" Charles rose a brow, his face filled with amusement. Juliette kept her chin up, the tip of her nose practically meeting his.

"No." Juliette affirmed, a ghost of a smirk on her lips. She let her eyes linger over his face, his features. His forest green eyes were vivid, filled with lust, his lips were wet as he swiped his tongue along it.

Juliette stared at his lips, before glancing up at him through her eyelashes.

He dipped his head closer, the two grew closer and closer, as if they were magnets.

That was until Juliette placed a finger on his lips, pushing him back. "Sorry Leclerc, but seduction doesn't work on me."

She pushed his hands off her hips, and squeezed past him. She silently walked back to the bedroom, and shut the door. Charles watched her in disbelief, in a daze of sensuality.

Charles groaned, not only in frustration, but in sexual frustration.

The tension that slowly built inside him, started to die off.

His original plan to at least get an explanation to her, died off.

Charles was completely, and utterly at loss. He felt defeated, because no matter how much he'd try. Juliette wouldn't budge, she was too stubborn.

But so was he.

Charles needed to try harder, and he planned on doing so.

Two stubborn people with exceedingly high tension was never a good combination.

Or was it?

ஓ๑♡๑ஓ

Juliette had finally gotten on her flight, her mother said that she would meet her there, on the plane, and Juliette could not wait, at all.

The brunette felt exhilarated that her mother finally found the time to meet with her once more.

Juliette desperately wanted to update her mother on what was going on in her life, and now she, finally found the chance to do so.

Juliette hummed silently as she scrolled through her phone, her legged propped up on the pop up table in front of her.

Suki was sat in the back, she liked having her own space, and Juliette always respected that.

She felt a tap on her shoulder, Juliette glanced behind her, her mother's vivid blue eyes gazing upon her, as Juliette beamed, a squeal escaping her lips.

"Mãe!" She exclaimed, practically tackling her into a hug. Isabelle laughed, her cheekbones rose as she comfortingly rubbed Juliette's back. "Meu amor, how are you?"

Juliette grinned. "Come sit down before we accidentally fall into a gossiping session." Isabella smiled at her daughter, before taking the seat in front of her.

There was about a few minutes till take off, and the two decided that they would start their gossiping after take off.

Juliette often teased Charles during takeoff, he was terrified of the sudden push upward. It was funny, especially since he was an F1 driver, you would expect him to get over his fear of automated vehicles, especially since he has to trust a car with his life every race weekend.

Juliette smiled fondly at the thought, as they took off. She turned off her phone and put it on airplane mode.

After a couple of minutes, they were now stable in the air. And so it began, the ultimate gossiping session.

Juliette ranted and ranted on about different paddock rumours, driver signings, etc.

Until a certain topic was brought up by her mother.

"Is Ferrari treating you well?" Isabelle questioned, a brow rose as Juliette paused, remaining quiet as she collected her thoughts.

"Um. Not as much as they should be, I guess? They sort of treat me as a second driver, which I don't like, cause I'm just as capable as Charles is."

Isabella nodded at her daughters words. "Querida, you have so much potential to be one of the greats, don't let anyone tell you otherwise." [ Darling ] Isabelle advised, placing a warm hand on her daughters.

Juliette smiled softly. "I know. But it's frustrating, Mattia can be so . . . difficult sometimes. And I've done nothing but prove that I am a great driver."

Isabella nodded once more. "I understand, being the second choice is hard."

Juliette remained silent, before chewing her lip, debating whether to reveal the information or not.

"Um, I don't know how to say this. But, I've gotten an offer from Mercedes." Juliette confessed. Isabelle's eyes widened, she was good friends with Toto. "Will you accept?"

Juliette pursed her lips. "I don't know. I mean, I've just joined F1 and Ferrari. Plus, you know how much Ferrari means to me, with Jules and -"

"Ah, so this is about Jules." Isabelle spoke, realization evident in her voice. Juliette avoided her gaze, as she nodded.

"I-I mean, I joined Ferrari for him. I grew up loving the team, because of him." She stated softly, before continuing. "I even promised him t-that I'd win a Championship with Ferrari." Juliette's voice cracked.

Isabelle's heart clenched, her eyes filled with wordy as she cautiously watched her daughter, as if she was waiting for her to shatter like a porcelain doll.

Isabelle knew how serious promises were to Juliette, it was major to her because she and Jules always would use promises as a way for absolute reassurance.

And ever since he passed away, Juliette's passion for Ferrari exceeded more, due to the determination she gained to fufill her promise.

"Juli. Jules would never, ever want you to be unhappy, right?" Isabelle asked, her head tilted as she watched her daughter silently nod. "Then go ahead, win a championship with a team you love for him."

"But Mãe, that was not part of our promise-" [ Mom ]

"Minha vida, some promises are meant to be broken, and this one definitely is one of them. You've got to understand that all Jules ever wanted was for you to be happy, and he still does." [ My life ]

Juliette took a shaky breath in. "I'll see."

Isabelle decided to drop the topic, as she knew it was a very touchy subject for Juli.

ஓ๑♡๑ஓ

"Mãe?" [ Mom ] Juliette spoke up. Isabelle lifted her head up from her screen. "Yes, Querida?"
[ Darling? ]

"What was it that you wanted tell me the other day?" Juliette questioned, a genuine expression on her face.

Isabelle's eyes softened, her face going pale.

No, no, no, no. This was not a good time.

Isabelle waved her daughter off, a small laugh leaving her lips. "Oh, it's nothing. It was just some stupid work thing."

Juliette's brows furrowed. "Work thing? It seemed so urgent. Are you sure?"

Isabelle glanced at her daughter. Juliette's doe eyes filled with absolute concern, a small pout on her lips.

Isabelle frowned, as she placed her phone faced down on the table. She scooted up her seat to make her back straighter, a small shudder thrilled up her spine as she took a breath.

Juliette's concern deepened, a small frown on her face.

"Mãe? What's going on?" [ Mom? ]

"Meu amor. Um, let me start from the beginning." [ My love ] Isabelle struggled to find the words. "l came down with a cold one day - it was really, really bad. And, I felt like shit. I expected it to go away sooner or later, cause you know me, I never get sick."

"But it didn't last a few days, it lasted for quite some time. Even my manager was concerned." Isabelle bit her lip, her shaky voice deepening, as Juliette placed a hand on hers, comforting her mother.

"I decided to go get checked out by a doctor, I thought that worst case scenario would be was that I was pregnant, because I constantly vomited too."

"The doctor ran some tests and scans. And, um . . ." Her voice cracked, as tears pricked her eyes.

Juliette's face filled with dread. "Mãe-"

"I have cancer, Juliette." Isabelle stated, her voice soft, as Juliette stared at her mom in disbelief.

"No, no, no! This has got to be a joke!" Juliette shook her head vigorously, tears welled up in her eyes. "T-The doctors ran the tests wrong, that's probably what happened. There's no way-"

"Juli, I have cancer. It's real, it's in me now." Isabelle spoke softly, a tear lingered across Juliette's cheek, as she glanced at her mom, absolutely heartbroken.

"It's a brain tumor, at the back of my head. I-I'm getting consulted by a doctor in Monaco." Isabelle explained further, as Juliette's heart dropped to her stomach, her frown deepened, as she carefully listened to her mothers words.

"He said that there may be a way to stop it." Isabelle stated, as Juliette's back straightened, nausea waved over her as she felt her skin go pale.

Juliette's mother had cancer.

Isabelle Santos had cancer.

It was unreal, it wasn't possible. Juliette was in denial, she couldn't believe it was happening to Isabelle.

It was just like something straight out of a film, a sad one, obviously.

And that's when Juliette realized, that she took the time that she had with her mother for granted.

Juliette was now planning to strive for more time with her mother, no matter what.

She didn't want to lose someone she loved so dearly.

Not again.