Jay's POV
For a moment I didn't even remember where I was.The ceiling above me was unfamiliar.
Elegant molding around the edges.Not the one I had stared at for years in the Fernandez house.Then everything from last night rushed back.
My chest tightened slightly.But the ache wasn't as sharp anymore.I sat up slowly, pushing the blanket aside.Sunlight filtered through the tall curtains, painting the room in warm gold.For the first time in what felt like forever—
I felt… calm.
Not happy.Not okay.Just calm.
Like a storm had finally passed.
I swung my legs off the bed and stood up.The marble floor was cool beneath my feet.
After a quick shower and getting dressed, I walked toward the door and stepped out into the hallway.
The mansion was already awake.Soft footsteps.Low conversations.Distant clinking of dishes from downstairs.I followed the sound down the grand staircase.
And the moment I reached the last step—I stopped.Percy stood in the middle of the foyer.
Two large suitcases beside him.Dressed in a dark suit.Looking like he was about to walk into a board meeting.
When he spotted me—His face lit up immediately.
"There she is!"
Before I could react—He crossed the room and pulled me into a tight hug.
"Good morning, baby sistah."
I blinked in surprise but hugged him back.
"Good morning… big bro?"
He stepped back, grinning.
Then gestured dramatically toward the suitcases.
"We're leaving."
I frowned slightly.
"Leaving?"
He nodded.
"For a week."
My eyebrows lifted.
"Where?"
His grin widened.
"New York City...."
For a moment I just stared at him.
"Wait—what?"
He laughed.
"Relax we're going to meet Dad. Mom. And Grandpa."
My heart skipped.
"You're serious?" I asked softly.
Percy nodded.
"Very,I had talked to them over the phone last night and they want to meet you like real soon so I had all the arrangements done you just have breakfast as quick as possible and then get ready...."
Something warm spread through my chest.
Excitement.Nervousness.Hope.
All mixed together.
"Also," Percy said, clapping his hands once.
"You've got twenty minutes to pack."
My eyes widened.
"Twenty—Percy!"
He pointed upstairs.
"Go the time's ticking sissy...."
Twenty minutes later I came running down the stairs with a small suitcase.Percy looked at it.
Then at me.
"That's it?"
I shrugged.
"I travel light."
He laughed.
"Fair enough."
Soon we were in the car, driving toward the airport.
The morning traffic buzzed around us as the city slowly woke up.
But when the car pulled into a private terminal—
I blinked.
Because parked on the runway—
Was a jet.
A sleek, silver private jet.
My mouth actually fell open.
"Percy…"
He smirked.
"Yeah?"
"That's… ours?"
He shrugged casually.
"One of them."
One.Of.them.
I stared at him.
"You're joking."
"Nope."
My brain officially stopped working.
A crew member opened the stairs and welcomed us aboard.
The inside looked even more ridiculous.
Leather seats.
Soft lighting.
A small lounge area.
Actual beds.
"This is insane," I muttered.
Percy dropped into a seat across from me.
"Get used to it."
The engines started soon after.
And within minutes—
We were in the sky.
Flying toward New York.
Hours later—
The plane slowly descended.
My face was practically glued to the window.
Because outside—New York stretched endlessly beneath us.
Skyscrapers.Bridges.Endless streets.The city looked alive.Massive.Breathtaking.
When the jet finally landed, I grabbed my bag and followed Percy down the stairs.
And then—
I froze.
Because waiting on the runway—Were rows of people.Men in black suits.Women with tablets.Security teams.And right in the center—A red carpet.
My eyes widened.
WTF A FUCKING RED CARPET?!!?
"Percy…"
He leaned closer, whispering teasingly—
"Try not to faint."
As soon as we stepped forward—Every single person bowed slightly.
"Welcome back, Sir."
Then their eyes shifted to me.
"And welcome, Miss Mariano."
My stomach flipped.This was insane.
Completely insane.
They all kept there head's bowed till the time we didn't cross them, it felt like really weird..
Then as we reach the end of the carpet I froze. A sleek black limousine waited at the end of the carpet.
Percy opened the door for me with exaggerated politeness.
"After you."
I stepped inside.
Still stunned.
He slid in beside me and shut the door.Then leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
"Well," he said casually.
"Welcome home, baby sistah."
The car began to move.I turned toward the window.New York rushed past us.Towering glass buildings.Busy streets.People everywhere.
The city looked powerful.Endless.Alive.
I couldn't stop staring.
"This place is… unbelievable," I whispered.
Percy chuckled.
"Wait till you see the house."
After about thirty minutes the city slowly changed.
The streets grew quieter.
The buildings larger.
More private.And then the limousine turned through enormous iron gates.
My breath caught.Because the estate that appeared in front of us—
Was gigantic.A massive white mansion surrounded by acres of gardens.
Fountains.Statues.Tree-lined paths stretching in every direction.
My eyes widened.
"Percy…"
He grinned beside me.
"Yeah?"
"Please tell me that's not our mansion."
The limousine rolled to a stop in front of the grand entrance.
Percy opened the door and stepped out first.
Then offered his hand.
His grin widening.
"It's not our mansion Jay, its our mansion.....actually one of our estates.."
Then he spoke the words I never wished to hear even in my dreams..
"Welcome Home Baby sistah...."
I stepped out slowly.
Still staring.
And somewhere inside that enormous house—My father was waiting.My heart started pounding again.Because for the first time in my life—
I was finally about to meet him without anyone standing between us.