The Ray mansion stood grand and elegant under the warm glow of evening lights. Its tall gates opened smoothly as Mia's car drove in, the headlights sweeping across the wide driveway lined with trimmed hedges and white garden roses.
Mia parked beside the entrance where Luis was already waiting with his parents.
As soon as they stepped out of the car, the front doors opened wider.
"Michael! Helen!" Olivia Ray greeted warmly, walking forward with a bright smile.
Helen Alps laughed softly and opened her arms. The two women hugged like sisters who had not seen each other in a long time.
"Olivia, you look even younger than the last time we met," Helen teased.
"And you still exaggerate," Olivia replied with a playful roll of her eyes.
Michael Alps and Federick Ray shook hands firmly before pulling each other into a brief hug.
"Still playing golf every morning?" Michael asked.
"Of course," Federick replied proudly. "Retirement has its benefits."
Luis stepped beside Mia, smiling slightly as their parents exchanged greetings and laughter.
Olivia then turned toward Mia and Luis, her eyes warm.
"You two took long enough to arrive," she joked. "Come in, come in. I invited everyone to the dining room already. The food might get cold."
She added with a proud smile, "I even cooked Helen's favorite dish tonight."
Helen clasped her hands happily. "Oh no… that means I'm going to eat too much. Olivia, you cook too well."
She lifted the elegant dessert box she was holding.
"Good thing I brought something for dessert," Helen said. "Your favorite—dark chocolate ganache cake with raspberry glaze."
Olivia's face lit up immediately.
"Oh my goodness, Helen! You know my weakness."
She accepted the dessert carefully like it was treasure.
Meanwhile, Michael handed a wooden box to Federick.
"I brought something for you," Michael said.
Federick opened it slightly and chuckled when he saw the label.
"A 1996 Bordeaux?" he said. "Michael, you're spoiling me."
"Well," Michael shrugged, "it's your favorite."
Federick laughed loudly and patted his friend's shoulder.
"This dinner is already perfect."
They all walked toward the dining room together, exchanging jokes and small stories along the way.
The long dining table was beautifully prepared. Candles flickered gently across the polished wood surface while plates of food filled the air with delicious aromas.
Olivia gestured proudly.
"Please sit. I hope everyone came hungry."
They did.
Dinner quickly became lively and comfortable. Plates were passed around, glasses filled, and conversation flowed easily between the two families.
They talked about the joint project Luis had introduced to their parents earlier—construction developments, logistics, and land planning.
Luis and Mia carefully kept the explanation within the limits of the cover story they had prepared.
To everyone else, it sounded like a strategic partnership between their companies.
But beneath the polite conversation, both of them knew the truth ran deeper.
Luis observed the table quietly while taking small bites of food.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
He knew after dinner he would finally need to tell his parents everything.
For now, he let the moment continue.
Their parents laughed about old memories, business stories, and even childhood incidents involving Luis and Mia.
"Remember when Mia locked Luis in the garden shed?" Michael said suddenly.
Mia nearly choked on her drink.
"I was six!" she defended immediately.
"And I was nine," Luis added calmly. "Still traumatic."
Everyone laughed.
Dinner stretched comfortably until everyone had eaten more than enough.
Olivia leaned back in her chair and clapped her hands lightly.
"That was a feast," she said. "Why don't we move to the lanai for tea? The night breeze is lovely."
Everyone agreed.
The Ray family's lanai overlooked a peaceful garden illuminated by soft lantern lights. Crickets hummed quietly in the distance while a cool evening wind passed through the open space.
Maids soon arrived carrying a tray with delicate porcelain cups and a teapot.
Olivia poured the tea herself.
"Jasmine green tea with honey," she said. "Perfect after a heavy dinner."
The fragrance was calming.
Everyone took a sip.
Luis placed his cup down slowly.
This was the moment.
He glanced at Mia.
She met his gaze.
Both of them understood without speaking.
Luis inhaled quietly before speaking.
"Mom. Dad," he said calmly. "There's something important Mia and I need to tell you."
The conversation stopped immediately.
Olivia and Federick looked at him curiously.
Luis continued.
"The joint project is real… but it's not the full reason we're building those structures."
He paused before saying the next words carefully.
"We're building bunkers."
Silence filled the lanai.
Luis kept his voice steady.
"Mia… came back from the future."
Federick raised one eyebrow.
Luis continued before anyone could interrupt.
"In that future… society collapsed. A virus spread. People turned into something else. Cities fell."
His eyes softened slightly.
"Mia died in that future."
The quiet night air suddenly felt heavier.
Helen gently held Mia's hand.
Michael watched the Rays carefully.
Luis finished calmly.
"She remembered everything when she woke up in the present. That's why we're preparing now."
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Olivia Ray was the first to react.
She leaned back slightly, her expression thoughtful rather than shocked.
"You know," she said slowly, "science doesn't explain everything in this world."
She looked at Mia kindly.
"Are you alright, dear?"
Mia nodded softly.
Olivia continued gently.
"Perhaps what you experienced was regression. Or something beyond our understanding."
She smiled warmly.
"If that's true… then it's a blessing."
The tension eased slightly.
Federick Ray, however, remained quiet for a moment longer before speaking in a calm, almost casual tone.
"Well," he said, lifting his teacup, "there's no harm in preparing."
Everyone looked at him.
"We have the resources," he continued. "If disasters ever come, bunkers will be a very good investment."
Luis blinked.
That was… unexpectedly practical.
Federick shrugged lightly.
"And if nothing happens? Then we simply have extremely advanced underground houses."
Luis exhaled slowly in relief.
Across the table, Michael and Helen also visibly relaxed.
Mia felt the tightness in her chest loosen.
She had been worried the Rays might reject the idea completely.
But instead…
They believed.
Or at least they trusted them enough to support the plan.
Mia smiled softly.
Her mother squeezed her hand reassuringly.
Federick suddenly spoke again.
"In that case," he said, leaning forward with interest, "we should start construction next week."
Luis blinked again.
"I can help supervise," Federick continued. "I'm retired, remember? If I play golf one more morning, I might die of boredom."
Everyone laughed.
Federick then looked toward Michael with a teasing grin.
"You know, Michael… maybe it's time you retire too. Let Mia manage the company completely."
Michael chuckled loudly.
"That sounds tempting."
The two old friends laughed while raising their teacups.
The tension that had once filled the night slowly faded.
The rest of the evening became relaxed again—filled with conversation, laughter, and quiet understanding.
The two families stayed on the lanai long after the tea had cooled.
And for the first time since Mia returned from the future, she truly felt something she hadn't felt in a long time.
Relief.