My Formula 1 System

A baby's cry wailed out.

Among the 370,000+ babies born per day worldwide, Ansel's firstborn son was included in January 15th's birth count. Born in Berlin, Germany—on home soil—and pushed out of the womb with raw, fierce strength from his mother, whose face was weathered with fatigue, veins, and pain, yet also expressed indomitability and resilience.

Luca received the glorious news through the same family relations he had been using as a channel to Laura and the unborn child all this while.

He found himself trying to suppress his smile as if it was his own child who had just been born. Excitement and warmth wrapped around him like a cocoon, but he would have to stifle it all and wait. There were still a few rigorous things he needed to complete related to his return to Trampos, and he was currently carrying them out.

After the photoshoot, Trampos and the entirety of Germany organized a Welcome Ceremony for Luca. It involved a grand unveiling, a driver presentation, and a coronation procession. The entire thing was treated like a political rally, with Luca as the presidential candidate and Trampos, the political party.

A helicopter above flew over the flooded streets and roads of red, capturing the entire mass of the event on footage and actively broadcasting it online. No one wanted to admit it, but this Welcome Ceremony was far larger than Squadra Corse's Celebration Parade!

Luca's arrival was planned and cinematic. He was set to arrive at the main stage, which had been organized at a courthouse. And he was to make his entrance while driving a Trampos Ferrari; not the Z24, but an irrelevant other, just to avoid any risk of damage, no matter how slight.

Cameras flashed like lightning, and dazzling fireworks shimmered from the sides of the wide red carpet. When a huge Trampos semi arrived, you could see the swarm of fans running to gather much closer, security now monumentally tasked.

The liftgate of the semi's trunk dropped to the pavement like it was bowing to the red carpet and the courthouse far, far ahead. As the dark maw of the interior revealed itself, a red single-seater sat calmly in the shadow until the afternoon light bathed it and its driver.

"WOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"

Germany went wild as Luca drove the car down the liftgate of the semi, revving the Ferrari so loud that every microphone caught it.

"WOOOOOOOHHHHHH!"

Many reached out toward him, but they couldn't touch him, as Luca drove at a very slow, ceremonial pace for an F1 car, gliding along the red carpet, waving to the crowd from inside the cockpit.

When he reached the courthouse, he slowly unfastened all harnesses and lifted himself to his feet. The crowd erupted again as he raised both fists into the air before hopping off the car, stepping onto the staircase where the crowded Trampos crew stood waiting to kick off the events of the day.

As he stood on the stage's balcony, Luca couldn't believe this many people had come out to celebrate his return. Leading up to this day, posters and banners of him had been everywhere across Berlin, even to the extent that the government had painted his face and name onto the tarred roads of Main Streets 1, 2, and 3.

It wasn't until after the entire Welcome Ceremony had concluded that Luca finally found enough free time to go visit Laura and the newborn baby at the hospital. He'd heard there had been just a few complications during the birthing process, so they would need to stay a little longer for monitoring and recovery.

Luca hoped everything was alright with the mother, that was also why he resolved to come in person, even though Laura didn't exactly fancy his presence. The newborn boy had already suffered enough with the death of his father; any further mishap concerning the life of his mother was simply not something that could be tolerated.

Luca arrived at the maternity hospital that had that stereotypical scent of antiseptic and baby powder. All the hospital workers recognized him immediately, and one female doctor didn't hesitate to flirt away full-fledgedly, but Luca's purpose here was far greater than the smiles and gawks sparked by his rare presence.

No one truly understood why he was at the hospital, as the dots were quite distant to connect. Laura had never been married to Ansel, so she did not bear his last name; —perhaps they could deduce something from just that if she had Ansel's last name. So, when Luca told them the name of the patient he wanted to see, many began to speculate that Laura might be his secret girlfriend or mistress carrying his baby.

Luckily for them, none of those thoughts left their mouths, but they still insisted Luca clarify his official relationship with Laura before granting access to her and the baby. Just as they were making the request for his position in her family, someone Luca recognized very well entered and cleared everything up without hesitation.

It was Laura's older cousin, one of the two people Luca had been using as a bridge into the household for the past three months. He was the very one who had broken the news of the successful delivery to Luca.

Luca offered a final wave to the giggling nurses and the shameless doctor who'd handed him a card, then followed the man into the hallways that led toward the patient rooms.

"She's in Ward 3B," her older cousin said. "You'll find the baby just down the hallway in the nursery after that."

Luca gently shook his head. "The mother first," he said. "I want to make sure she's okay. I'll ask before I see the baby."

Laura's cousin nodded and led Luca toward the ward, passing staff and visitors who were all visibly shocked to see him in a hospital setting. But with the purposeful way he moved, no one thought to stop him for a photo or anything else.

They arrived and stepped into the room.

Lying on the bed was Laura, her head resting against a stack of pillows. Seated on a stool beside her was another family member, who stood up the moment the two men stepped into the room. Laura slowly turned her face to see the arrivals.

Luca expected her brows to raise, or her pale face to shift in color, maybe even the slightest change in expression. But there was no joy, no scorn, just a careful, neutral look as she observed him, then slowly turned her gaze toward the window. Fortunately, she didn't ask him to leave.

"Laura, are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes, I am," Laura replied with a hoarse voice, taking in a deep breath. "Congratulations to me."

Luca knew that wasn't a genuine or happy congratulations, but still he replied, "Yes, yes. Big congratulations."

After an uncomfortable pause, Laura asked flatly if he wanted to see the baby.

"Only if it's okay with you."

She sighed and nodded. "Go on."

Calmly and sincerely, Luca said, "Thank you," to Laura before leaving the ward and rejoining her cousin, who had waited patiently outside. Together, they were greeted by a nurse with an outstandingly warm and professional demeanor, who guided them through a short corridor toward the nursery.

"This way, Mr. Rennick. Only one at a time is allowed to hold the infant. It's hospital policy."

Luca was given a visitor's gown, and his hands were thoroughly sanitized before he was presented before countless cribs. The nurse walked over to one and picked up what appeared to be just a bundle of blankets, but Luca knew a baby was nestled in there. Seconds later, she handed him the swaddled infant, a soft coo escaping from beneath the folds as tiny eyes blinked slowly up at the ceiling.

The moment he saw it, Luca's heart melted.

Suddenly, he felt strange and weirdly insecure, as if his grip might somehow break the baby, as if his strength was too much for something so fragile. But the nurse encouraged him gently, telling him to stay calm and bring the baby closer to his chest.

"Such a small nose," he remarked with a smile, gazing down while the nurse stared dreamily at the left marked side of his face.

Luca didn't want to be dramatic, but he was almost certain he could already see Ansel's features in the baby. The child's jawline was going to be even more chiseled.

"You're going to be a very handsome young man, Lukas," he uttered with pride as he gazed into the wavering marbles for eyes.

The nurse, who had been silently watching, tilted her head slightly as she registered his words. "Lukas?" she asked. "Oh, no. His name's Martin."

Luca looked up at her, his brows knitting together.

"Martin?" he quietly repeated the unfamiliar name.

"Yes. Ms. Laura confirmed it this morning," the innocent nurse said, still smiling sweetly at him, unaware of the shift in his mood.