Chapter Text
After my father died, I completely withdrew into myself. My world grew smaller, and I isolated myself from everyone around me. Even so, my mother did everything she could to pull me out of that darkness. Little by little, thanks to her love, I learned to stop clinging to the past and move forward with my life.
Unlike me, my mother never gave up. She worked day and night for years until she finally succeeded in building her own fashion company. She was ambitious, disciplined, and the very definition of a workaholic. Sometimes she wouldn't come home for days because of work. It used to upset me, but eventually I got used to it. After all, I had everything I could ever need.
As for me, I became more distant from people as I grew older. Other than going to class, I barely left the house. I didn't really have any close friends, and I'd never been in a relationship. Crowds had never been my thing.
When I got accepted into college, my mother decided I needed a change of scenery and sent me to a university in another city. I wasn't thrilled about the idea at first, but eventually I agreed.
After finishing my freshman year, I decided to spend my summer vacation back home in Los Angeles. I wanted to surprise my mother, so I didn't tell her I was coming.
After a long flight, I finally found myself standing in front of our house. I rang the doorbell and waited excitedly, but several minutes passed without anyone answering. Just as I was about to turn around and leave, the door slowly opened.
Standing in front of me was a tall, well-dressed man I had never seen before.
My eyebrows knitted together automatically. My mother rarely allowed strangers into the house. Aside from the household staff, she preferred not to have anyone there, so seeing him caught me completely off guard.
Without saying a word, I stepped inside.
"Mom!"
The moment she heard my voice, she hurried into the living room. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw me. She smiled, but I couldn't miss the tension hidden behind her expression.
"Percy... Honey! What a wonderful surprise. Welcome home."
Smiling, I wrapped my arms around her.
"I missed you too, Mom."
After our hug, we sat down in the living room. She spent a long time asking about college—my classes, dorm life, even my classmates. When the conversation shifted to girls, however, I kept my answers short.
But my thoughts kept drifting back to the man who had opened the door.
Unable to hold my curiosity any longer, I turned to her.
"Mom... Who was the man who answered the door? Someone from your company?"
The moment I asked, her expression changed. Just as she always did when she was nervous, she began rubbing her hands together.
She took a deep breath.
"Percy... I wasn't sure how to tell you this."
An uneasy feeling settled in my chest.
"I got married last week."
Her words echoed in my mind for several long seconds.
"What?"
"You had your finals, and I didn't want to distract you. Everything happened so quickly. The man who opened the door is Charles, He's your stepfather now."
I was speechless.
My mother...
She had gotten married.
And somehow, she hadn't even thought to tell her own son.
My chest tightened. Trying to calm myself, I asked one of the housekeepers for a glass of water.
My mother immediately reached for my arm.
"Percy, please calm down. Charles is a genuinely good man. He's an architect, and I know you'll get along with him eventually."
I gave a slight nod.
"I just wish you'd told me. I could've taken time off and been there for your wedding."
She lowered her head with a guilty look.
"You're right..."
After a brief silence, she spoke again.
"By the way, Charles's younger brother, Luke, will be staying with us for a while."
My surprise only deepened.
"He's living here too?"
"He just moved here from Las Vegas. He's starting a new job in the city, so he'll be staying with us until he finds a place of his own."
I let out a slow breath.
"All right. I trust you."
She smiled, visibly relieved.
"Go unpack your things. We can talk more later."
I nodded and headed upstairs.
The moment I opened my bedroom door, I was greeted by the room I'd grown up in. My mother hadn't changed a single thing. Even the items on the shelves were exactly where I'd left them.
A strange sense of comfort washed over me.
As I set my suitcase beside the bed, my phone vibrated.
It was Grover and Annabeth.
"Did you make it?"
"Are you okay?"
After sending them a quick reply, I collapsed onto my bed. The exhaustion from traveling finally caught up with me. The moment I closed my eyes, I drifted off to sleep.
I woke up a few hours later when someone knocked on my door. Outside stood Rachel, one of our housekeepers and also the daughter of my mother's close friend.
"Dinner's ready."
"I'll be right down."
After changing my clothes, I headed downstairs.
When I entered the dining room, my mother and Charles were already seated, chatting comfortably. I took the seat beside my mother, my stomach growling with hunger.
Just as I was about to start eating, she stopped me.
"Let's wait for Luke."
With a quiet sigh, I leaned back in my chair.
While we waited, Charles tried making conversation, asking about my classes, college life, and future plans. I answered politely, but kept my responses brief.
Then the dining room door opened.
A tall man with broad shoulders, dark brown eyes, and a faint scar running across his left cheek walked inside.
At first, I couldn't place him.
But the moment our eyes met, my heart nearly stopped.
There was no way I could ever forget that face.
The man I'd met just weeks ago...
Was standing right in front of me.