Chapter Text
Max sat at the kitchen table tongue out and brow furrowed as he attempted to make sense of his math homework. He’d been putting it off to train, but it was due tomorrow and he couldn’t ignore it any longer.
The front door slammed open startling the boy into dropping his pencil. That was never a good sound no matter who it came from.
Heart thudding in his chest, Max stood carefully and made his way toward the foyer.
“Mom?”
Sophie Kumpen froze at the bottom of the stair case, knuckles white where she gripped the railing. Without turning to face her son she forced cheer into her voice.
“Maxy, go wait in the kitchen.”
Despite his reluctance and the worry gnawing in his throat, Max obeyed. It didn’t take long for him to hear the rushed thump of feet descending the stairs.
Leaving the kitchen a second time, he caught his moms hand on the door handle. She had a large bag on her back and the hand not clutching the door was wrapped around the wrist of Max’s little sister Victoria.
Realization slammed into his chest as tears welled in his eyes.
“What did he do?” Max demanded, voice laced with worry.
For the first time that day he caught a glimpse of his mother’s usually stunning face. Her eyes were unbearably sad and her jawline was a mottled collage of bruising. The woman’s shoulders dropped, exhausted as she looked back at her only son.
“Best you stay with your father Maxy. You chase your dream my sweet. You chase your dream.”
And like that she was gone. Without looking back his mom had left.
Max, eleven years old at the time, stood in the entryway with tears tracing his soft red cheeks until the door burst open once more.
The young boy flinched back at the abrupt motion, but his heart leapt with hope.
Before he could process the yearning for his mother, he realized who stood in the doorway. It was Jos Verstappen, his father.
“Are you fucking crying boy?” He demanded harshly, already panting with rage.
Max shook his head, eyes widening.
“I didn’t raise a liar Max,” he hissed, voice deep and threatening.
Max shook his head again before palming at his cheeks to wipe the tears away.
The tall race car driver stared down at him for a moment before kneeling and putting a rough hand on Max’s thin shoulder.
“Tell me. What’s got you worked up?”
Biting at his lip, Max hesitated before responding.
“She left me.”