Forever and always

Chapter twenty-one

Olivia's pov:
August 2021

Finally—summer break. The words alone felt like a breath of fresh air after the whirlwind of races, the drama, and long-distance flights. And today was extra special. I was about to meet someone very important in Charles's life—his younger brother, Arthur.

The sun cast a golden shimmer over the streets of Monaco as I zipped up my small bag and walked into the living room. Charles stood my the window, dressed casually but effortlessly handsome, as always. His eyes trailed up and down, slowly drinking me in before a smile tugged at his lips.

"You are so beautiful" he said with a quiet admiration.

I smirked and tossed my hair over my shoulder. "Yeah, you're a lucky man"

He laughed, walked over, and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek, his hand resting at the small of my back. "I really am" he murmured, then we stepped out of the door into the warm, salty breeze.

The drive down to the harbor was short, the winding roads lined with bougainvillea and the scent of the sea thick in the air. As we approached the yacht, my heart skipped a beat—sleek, elegant, and glinting in the sun like something from a dream.

"I can't believe I'm only seeing this now!" I said, wide-eyed as I stepped aboard.

Charles grinned as he walked onto the deck like it was second nature. "I would've taken you sooner if the weather had behaved"

I wandered around, fingers grazing the railing, taking in the teak wood, the crisp white upholstery, and the view stretching into the endless blue. Then I felt arms wrap around me from behind, pulling me against his chest.

His hugs were my favorite kind of calm.

While Charles busied himself preparing drinks and setting out snacks, I perched on a cushioned bench with my phone, uploading a quick photo to instagram and answering a few neglected emails. The breeze played with my hair, and everything felt... peaceful.

"Hellooo! The best brother in the world has arrived!" A voice called from the dock, full of youthful charm and confidence.

I glanced up to see a tall, lean figure with a mischievous grin approach. Arthur.

"Arth!! Glad you could come" Charles called out, walking over.

I followed a few moments later, brushing invisible creases from my dress as I stepped forward. Charles gestured between us with a wide smile.

"Arthur, this is Olivia. Olivia, meet my brother"

Arthur extended a hand, his smile genuine. "Hi Olivia. It's great to finally meet you"

"You too" I said, shaking his hand. "Charles had talked a lot about you"

"Oh, really? I could say the same" he laughed, casting a teasing glance at Charles, who rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath with a chuckle.

We settled on the shaded part of the deck, each of us with a cool drink in hand. Arthur was easy to talk to—charming, witty, and strikingly similar to Charles in the way he smile, how his brow furrowed when he talked about racing, the subtle gestures he made with his hands. It was like seeing another version of the man I loved.

Conversation drifted easily. Arthur spoke about his racing career with passion and determination. I listened, fascinated. There was a kind of fire in his eyes, the same spark I had seen in Max and Charles when they talked about formula one.

"So, enough about me" Arthur said eventually, leaning forward. "What do you do?"

I laughed a little. "Honestly? I work with my instagram mostly"