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     WHEN ADRIANNE BERNARDI COULD NOT SLEEP, which was often, she had two ways of coaxing time to move with greater haste to morning. The first was to turn on the lamp on her wooden desk, pull out her journal, and write. What she wrote within those pages stained with messy black ink was not beautiful, nor was it cohesive. On many occasions, she could not read her own handwriting. But as the night grew deeper she would refine the thoughts of her emotional heart into neat, cursive lines of poetry.

     And when her mind was far too much of a mess to write, or her eyes burned too much, she would find herself outside on the shore of Lake Como, lying in the grass and staring up at the stars.

     Adrianne had fallen in love with the constellations when she was a child, perhaps thirteen or fourteen years old. She could recall the old book she had in her possession at all times that detailed the names and myths behind each of the constellations, where they would appear during the four seasons, and the names of the stars that formed them.

     While she admired the beauty of each constellation, her favorite among them was Andromeda. Not for the constellation itself, but for the story behind it and how the stars played out the great Greek myth.

     Andromeda, the beautiful daughter of a kind king and a boastful mother, had been chained to the rocks to be sacrificed to the sea monster Cetus. Her parents had boasted that her beauty was greater than the divine, angering the gods, and only her sacrifice would appease the offended Poseidon, Lord of the Sea. The hero Perseus, riding upon his flying Pegasus, slayed the sea serpent and broke Andromeda's chains, and the two were wed.

     Since she had read that story and seen it in the stars, Adrianne had longed for the idea of a Perseus of her own, someone who might break her chains and sweep her off her feet. Perhaps she had been rather dramatic back then, when her teenage mind believed her parents were as willing to sacrifice her as Andromeda's were, but that longing in her heart continued to linger. The story of Andromeda stayed with her, and she had spent many sleepless nights writing odes to the beautiful princess.

     Adrianne lay in the soft grass in her nightgown and a thick robe, tracing the constellations Perseus and Pegasus with a lazy finger. Crickets sang around her, keeping time for the song she hummed absentmindedly. The weather did not encourage her to be out in the night, but the late winters and early springs of Lake Como had never been harsh to her, and the air was calm. Her fingers and nose were cold, true, but she did not mind. The cold that wrapped her up in its embrace was gentle, caressing her freckled cheeks.

     Rosy dawn chased the stars away an hour later, and with the scattered clouds glowing pink like carnations came the songbirds. They sat in the nearby willow tree and trilled their sweet songs into the growing light of morning. The Italian woman watched them with a fond smile as some took to the sky or hopped through the branches. They were so free, and she always loved that about birds. Nothing could hold them down.

     Adrianne stretched in the grass, welcoming the warmth of the rising sun. She loved the lake, loved how the sun hit the water, loved how the birds sang. She loved the beauty of it all, and how the architecture of the villas complimented the natural splendor of Lake Como and the surrounding Alps. Adrianne could get lost in it all, and yet...

     Well, she did not like to admit her negative feelings, even to herself.

      Once the cold was persistent enough to drive her, Adrianne rose to her feet and stretched once again, tying her jacket more tightly around her body as she made her way back to her parents' villa.

     The property sat on the Eastern shore of the lake, a kilometer or so outside of the commune of Lierna, across from Bellagio. It had been built by her great-grandfather before the World Wars, when Italy's economy had begun to industrialize and the Bernardi family went from cotton farmers to building a fortune off making government and military uniforms. That wealth allowed her family to buy property and build a simple yet sprawling home in the years after World War II, when Italy's economy started to rise again. For a home that used to house a large, boisterous family, it felt rather empty in recent years.

     She recalled the wistful look in her grandfather's eyes in his last years of life when he saw the halls mostly empty after her brothers moved out to follow their own careers. He had hoped for a warm, joyful family with children running down stairs and playing in the garden, and she could tell that he had missed the days when his grandchildren were so carefree.

  The only person in Adrianne's family who seemed happy about the cold, orderly quiet was her mother, Silvana. The woman had seen considerably less stress now that her three sons were no longer running around her home.

     Adrianne snuck through the back door of her home, slippers making no sound on the mosaic tiles of the hall or the small wooden staircase. As soon as she entered her room, her eyes landed on her phone, sitting screen down on her nightstand. Every morning she told herself the world of the internet could wait until she had at least eaten breakfast, and every morning, especially mornings after significant events or photoshoots, the temptation overrode her more reasonable mind.

     She would not say that she was proud to find herself, two hours later, still analyzing every comment that had been left under her post (and other posts) about the Miss Italia beauty pageant she had participated in over the last week, but she found herself there nevertheless. At least, she told herself, she had remembered to wash her face before getting sucked into the comment section under her post.

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liked by sunset.amore16, bernardi_house and 562k others

realadribernardi [translate from Italian] I am so honored to have been crowned Miss Italia this year!! Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen! Thank you all so much for your unending support, it truly means the world to me!! 🥰

view all 76.2k comments

sunset.amore16 [Italian] Congrats Adrianne! No doubt in my mind you could win. Next crown will be Miss Mondo ❤️❤️
➤ realadribernardi [Italian] We'll see about that, I've got a long way to go. And there are so many beautiful women in the world who deserve that crown 💖

bernardi_house [Italian] My beautiful girl, I'm so proud of everything you've been able to accomplish ❤️
       ➤ realadribernardi  Grazie, Papà!! 😘
    ➤ secret_gardenia852  [Italian] Her dad is so supportive aww 🥺
         ➤ giiiuuuliiiaaa  [Italian] if he was supportive he wouldn't have made such a big fuss over the show
              ➤ marco.tomy.polo  [Italian] That show was supportive of one person, and it was Silvana

upsidedownhanna  I can't think of anyone more deserving of the award than you!! Congrats!! 🎉
    ➤ realadribernardi  Grazie! 🩷

silvana_bernardi [Italian] Congratulations amore mio ❤️ One crown won, two to go
    ➤ realadribernardi [Italian] Slow down, Mama! 😂

calliinstarlight  [Greek] You're gorgeous, but no way you beat Star Hellas in the Pageant
    ➤ realadribernardi  [Greek] I'm inclined to agree with you. She's beautiful 🥰
         ➤ calliinstarlight  [Greek] YOU SPEAK GREEK??

bianca.d9 [Italian] They really chose Adrianne Bernardi to be Miss Italia? Sure, she's pretty, but there were at least ten other women who should have won
   ➤ alex_ander001 [Italian] I agree. Melina is a far more beautiful woman, and it was so sad to see that she didn't win when she clearly deserved to
   ➤ borealisaurora54 [Italian] What pisses me off is that she only won because of her harpy mother and all the fame she got from the show

babybeebuzz No way Italy's Paris Hilton won their biggest beauty pageant
➤ wisteria_song767 I mean, you're not wrong on the Paris Hilton comment. Adrianne is the textbook definition of a nepo baby

pascale.leclerc.355   Can Monaco steal you to be our honorary Miss World?
    ➤ realadribernardi I'd be honored!! 🥰

mynameisreallyromeo [Italian] anyone gonna point out that she's only replying to comments that are supporting her??
➤ mrk.number5 [Italian] I SAW THAT TOO. Is she just scared of criticism? Has she never been told that there are women prettier than her?
➤ ph1l1pa [Italian] The fact that more than zero people spent their time reading all the comments and replies to make this observation and then comment on it themselves says a lot about men on the internet
➤ mynameisreallyromeo [Italian] Pointing out a fact doesn't make me a misogynist
    Read all 52 replies

Adrianne slammed her phone down on her nightstand, not caring that it made a sound loud enough to hear in the hallway if someone passed by. She ran her hands over her face with a low, long groan. She knew she should not be so concerned about comments from strangers. She knew, somewhere in her mind, that faceless comments would only cause her misery. But her heart was rather fond of disagreeing with whatever logic her mind attempted to conjure up.

And it was her job, after all, was it not? She was a model and an influencer of sorts, her life revolved around looking beautiful for the world to see. Everyone's opinion mattered.

She jumped out of her hunched position on the side of her bed at the sound of her phone buzzing. With a frown, she reached out to grab her device once again, ready for some private message or post with her tagged in it.

It was neither of those things, but a simple text message. Despite how the tides of her soul slammed up against the inside of her flesh and threatened to drown her, the single message was enough for the sun to poke through the storm clouds in her head.

PERCEVAL ☀️
Are you free to talk this morning?
8:21am

ADRI 🕊️
You have the most impeccable timing.
I have all of the morning to talk.
8:25am

PERCEVAL ☀️
Is a video call alright?
8:25am

As soon as she read the message, Adrianne tapped the video call button at the top right of her screen. She was greeted by a charming, smiling face and she felt the misery in her spirit lift entirely. "Buogiorno," she greeted warmly.

"Good morning, Chérie," Charles Leclerc's voice came in reply, and she could hear the sleep still in his voice. His timbre was an octave or two lower than usual, contributing to a bit less clarity across the line. His hair was a mess, and he seemed to be dressed in a simple white t-shirt. He also looked as though he was still in his bedroom. Charles yawned, covering his mouth. "How are you?"

"Did you sleep in this morning?" She asked with a small laugh, tucking her legs underneath her on the bed and leaning against the pillows.

"Does sleeping until eight in the morning really count as sleeping in when I would much rather sleep until ten o'clock?" He countered.

"It still does, yes," she disappointed him. "But sleeping in until ten would be far worse."

"I have nothing happening today, it is a Sunday. I think I'm allowed to sleep in, Adri."

"Have pre-season preparations truly been that horrible for you?" Adrianne teased.

"I have met with too many sponsors this week," he admitted with a dramatic groan. He laid down against his headboard, running his fingers through his hair. "And that is in between meetings with engineers and the rest of the team. Today is my first free day in two weeks."

"Well, I suppose that means I can keep you to myself for the morning, then," she hummed, resting her chin in the palm of her hand, which rested on her knee.

Charles shot her a wide smile, as though he had just won some prize he had been longing for. "Lucky me, I get to spend the morning with Miss Italia."

Adrianne laughed, but the reminder sent a spike of anxiety through her heart like a lance. "I did not win easily, you know. I would have been happy to lose to Melina."

"But you didn't," Charles reminded her. "I will have you know, my mother was very happy to see that you won."

This time, her smile was more genuine. "Oh, I know. I saw her comment underneath my Instagram post. She has never met me in her entire life, and yet she seems to be one of my biggest fans."

Charles' face fell into a faux thoughtful look, rubbing his fingers along the slight stubble that adorned his jaw. "Well, that might be because you are a wonderful, beautiful woman who deserved to win." He then shrugged. "But that is just my guess."

In her head, Adrianne cursed Charles Leclerc for being one of the only men she had ever met who could get her to blush with a mere few words. "Now, you're just biased," she said, hiding her face away sheepishly.

"Very biased, you are right," he admitted with a cheeky grin. "But I also know that I am right. You really did deserve it."

"That means a great deal, you know," she murmured, falling into a serious tone as she lifted her gaze back to him. He was still smiling at her, though his grin had softened into something so fond it made her heart ache. He gave her that expression so freely. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied. "I am just sorry I wasn't able to go."

Adrianne shook her head. "Caro, you need to stop apologizing," she scolded him lightheartedly. "I already told you that it's just fine. Like you said, you've been terribly busy in Maranello."

"I still wish I was able to support you there, instead of being so far apart. I..." he trailed off. A silence fell over them for a long moment, nothing but static traveling between them. Adrianne had begun to think they had lost connection and she would soon lose sight of his face, but he spoke again before she could inquire about it. "I miss you, far too much than is good for me, I think." He had spun it as a joke, but there was something deeply sincere in Charles' voice.

Adrianne stared down at her phone, blinking at him. She opened her mouth to reply, but she could not think of what to say. Her face grew red once again, and her lips parted into a wide, sheepish grin. "I have missed you too," she finally answered. "You wouldn't think we had only met in the same space once, would you?" She laughed.

"It feels like I have known you for years." Charles laughed on the other end of the phone, a sound that caused her heart to sing like the morning birds. "We'll see each other again soon," he promised, so certain that she believed he could quite possibly see the future.

"I dearly hope so," she murmured. She straightened in her bed, stretching her back. "Now, tell me about your week, caro. That will have to be the closest we get to spending time side-by-side together. I finally have to get ready for the day, though, so I'm going to set my phone on my desk."

"I thought I had you to myself all morning," Charles pouted as she rose to her feet. "And here you are, Adri, leaving me alone over here."

"Charles!" She laughed, rising to her feet and padding over to her vanity. She bent down to set him against the wood, shaking her head at him.

"What?" He asked, acting innocent with his eyebrows raised, though his grin betrayed him. "I am just repeating what you told me."

"That's — that's not what I meant!" She cried. "You are horrible, Charles Leclerc," she scolded, still grinning as she moved out of range of the camera to slip off her nightgown. "Absolutely horrible."

"Only for you, chérie."

"Sei fortunata ad essere bello," she grumbled as she pulled out a white button-up and a blue sweater from the closet.

"You think I'm handsome?" Charles questioned, his voice sounding far too pleased with himself for having picked up her halfhearted threat that he was quite lucky she liked his face so much.

"Shut up!" She laughed, pulling on a long black skirt.

"Unfortunately, you are too far away to make me," he hummed, his tone dancing the line between mocking and wistful.

"Hmm, one day, I'm going to wipe that smug look right off your face," she said, coming around to sit back at the vanity. He hadn't moved from his position on his bed, though he had seemed to mess up his hair even more than it had been. Goodness, he really was handsome, she thought with a sigh.

"I look forward to it," Charles replied, his smile growing ever more smug. "Ah, there is your beautiful face again. I missed it."

Adrianne buried her face in her arms with another laugh. She was quite sure she had forgotten the last time she had laughed so often and so freely. But something about Charles Leclerc was good at bringing it out of her.

Then, from her open window, she heard a car coming up the driveway. She perked up her head and murmured a quick "hold on" before checking it out. There was an indigo Maserati parking in front of the garage, one she knew well.

"Oh, Charles, I'm so sorry," she cried, walking back to the phone, "but I have to go. Mama just got home. I haven't seen her since the pageant."

"She didn't come home with you?" Charles asked curiously.

"No, she stayed in Venice for some business meetings. But I should get going. She won't be happy to know I have been 'lazy' this morning," she chuckled.

Charles pouted on her screen, exaggerated disappointment painted across his handsome face. "Ah, alright, chérie. Goodbye. Enjoy your time with your mother."

Adrianne blew him a kiss and his frown flipped into a grin. "I'll talk to you later."

"Goodbye, Adri. I'll see you soon."

She waved to him for a moment before hanging up, a content sigh escaping her lips. The smile he had brought out of her did not leave her face for the rest of the day, and it only grew brighter whenever her thoughts turned back to him. She had no idea that his parting words meant far more than simply another phone call.

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A/n: this chapter was a long time coming gosh, sorry y'all 😅 Been ridiculously busy with work and life the past few weeks, but I've been working hard to get this done 😭😭
Tbh I've never written strictly romance, so idk if this is boring or not. At this point it's self-indulgent bc I like to see my babies being cute together and yapping lmao
So lmk what your thoughts are by dropping a vote or a comment, I really wanna talk to y'all 💖✨