An hour later, they arrived in the upscale city of Maryln. As they drove through the neighborhood, Travis's eyes widened at the sight of the grand, upper-class homes surrounding them.
' Damn, they're really, really living , ' he thought, impressed.
Jason steered the car down a private drive, and as they approached their house, the gate opened automatically. Travis leaned closer to the window, his jaw dropping at the sight of the massive two-story house they were pulling up to.
The home stood proudly under the evening sky, illuminated by modern outdoor lights that highlighted its sleek, contemporary architecture. Lush green lawns stretched out in every direction, with manicured hedges framing the path to the front door. As he stepped out of the car, he took in the impressive yard space, the pristine landscaping, and the meticulous attention to detail around him.
' I wanna live here forever, ' he thought, barely able to contain his excitement.
"Nice, huh?" Jason asked, coming up beside him and wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
Travis nodded, grinning. "It's freakin' amazing. You've been holding out on me, hiding in this dream house. We definitely need to talk," he said with a smirk.
Jason chuckled. "Maybe some other time. For now, let's get your things inside. Mariana's probably still working on dinner."
' She can cook too?' he thought, feeling like he'd stepped into an entirely new world as he followed Jason up to the front door, ready to see what awaited him inside.
They brought his bags inside, and Travis felt his jaw practically hit the floor. The house was unlike anything he'd ever seen, sleek and luxurious in every detail. The white marble floors gleamed, reflecting the modern lighting fixtures hanging above. High, polished walls with tasteful art pieces framed the open spaces, and stylish furniture sat perfectly arranged, adding an almost cinematic elegance to the interior.
Yep, I'm definitely moving in, he thought, barely containing his grin.
Jason clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Head over to the kitchen and say hi to Mariana. I'll take these up to your room."
Travis nodded, heading off in search of the kitchen. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, guiding him down the hallway like an invisible trail. When he stepped into the kitchen, he froze.
In front of him was a woman standing at the stove, bathed in the soft kitchen light. Her silhouette was graceful, her figure elegant. Travis's gaze drifted to her striking blue hair, which seemed oddly familiar, stirring something in his memory.
Then she turned around.
In that split second, his heart skipped a beat, and the world around him seemed to slow. As her face came into view, recognition hit him like a punch to the gut. His eyes widened, and he felt a thousand memories crashing into him all at once.
Mariana's expression mirrored his shock, her eyes widening as she took him in. The spoon in her hand trembled slightly, and for a moment, neither of them spoke, their world seemingly unraveling in silent, mutual realization.
'What is she/he doing here?!!!!!!' They both thought in shock.
This was the same woman Travis had hooked up with two years ago. The same captivating, unforgettable milf he'd joked about not too long ago.
Mariana's face paled, and without hesitation, she grabbed his hand and pulled him outside onto the patio, closing the door behind them.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice barely above a whisper but laced with panic.
Travis gave her a bewildered look. "What am I doing here? I could ask you the same thing. Last I checked, you said you were moving across the country for a fresh start. Guess I finally figured out where you ended up."
Mariana looked away, biting her lip. "Yeah, that's what I said... but that doesn't explain why you're here."
Travis raised an eyebrow, letting the realization settle over both of them. "It's pretty obvious, isn't it? I'm your new husband's son."
Her face fell further, and she shook her head. "No, this can't be… you, of all people!" Her hands fumbled as she ran them through her hair, visibly distressed.
Travis crossed his arms, trying to keep his own shock in check. "I know, right? Out of all the places and people, we end up here. Life really is something else." He sighed, softening his tone.
"Look… maybe we can just… forget about what happened back then. Start fresh. I don't want to mess things up for my dad. He's finally happy."
Mariana studied his face, her mind racing. She took a shaky breath, steadying herself. "Fine. We'll just... let the past stay buried. Pretend none of it ever happened." She swallowed hard, her eyes darting to the ground before meeting his again. "But promise me—promise you won't say anything to Jason."
Travis gave a short nod. "I wasn't planning on it. Now, let's go back in before he starts wondering what's up."
With that, he walked back into the house, leaving Mariana to take a deep breath, steadying herself against the railing as she tried to process the whirlwind of emotions.
' Why did I even fuck him? Maybe I was drunk. No I won't make excuses. Let's just work on forgetting it. 'she thought bitterly, closing her eyes.
Finally, she sighed, pushing down the regrets as she walked back inside to find Travis seated at the counter, casually waiting, as if the past they shared had truly vanished.
"Where's Jason?" Mariana asked, turning back to the stove, trying to compose herself as she stirred the simmering pot.
"He took my bags upstairs. So, where's everyone else? I heard you have two daughters," Travis replied, watching her carefully.
"Oh, well, Hannah usually comes home late—she's caught up with work—and Jacqueline's probably cooped up in her room, watching game of thorns or whatever those shows are called," she said, sighing with a slight shake of her head.
"Oh. So, when do I get to meet her?"
"Dinner time. That's the only thing that brings her out of her room. Honestly, I'm worried about that girl." Mariana's voice softened, and there was a touch of genuine concern in her tone as she glanced back at Travis.
He leaned against the counter. "I think it's good she's taking her time figuring things out. Would you really want her to rush into something she might regret?"
Mariana paused, his words hitting home. He's right. Maybe I've been too hard on her. As her mother, it's natural to worry, but at the end of the day, it's her life. She's done with her studies; she's an adult now. I should let her breathe a bit, she thought.
"Yeah, you're right," she admitted. "But as her new brother, I expect you to help her with that choice." She managed a small smile, a bit of her earlier tension dissipating.
Travis grinned. "That's a pretty big ask, but… I'll do my best."
TO BE CONTINUED