CHAPTER 1

It's Saturday, 5.48 p.m.

Jason stepped in through the front door of his house with a low grunt, dragging his suitcase behind him.

He had not been home in months especially after the tragedy that happened September 17th. Almost 3 years now.College had all of a sudden become more of a refuge than an obligation, and Birknam... well, it had stopped feeling like home long ago.

The house was quiet, though he could hear the distant clatter of pans while his nose picked up the warm scent of something herby,rosemary, maybe.

He exhaled and moved down the passage, expecting to find his mom vibing to one of her favorite songs in the kitchen.

Instead, he stopped short at the sight of a man. Tall. Sleeves rolled to the forearm of a beige button-down that fits him just right. Broad shoulders and a sharp posture. He had not turned yet, but Jason could feel that the young man was someone important.

Then he did turn, unhurried, like he already sensed Jason coming.

His eyes, a sharp, startling blue, made even sharper by the contrast of dark brown hair, neatly brushed back.

He was clean shaven and not exactly young like he had thought especially with the subtle hint of gray hair at his temples. More like he would be in his late thirties…maybe forty, hard to pin down.

Jason looked away and then back again, caught in that split-second gravity of someone who shouldn’t be your type— but suddenly is.

"You must be Jason," the stranger said. The words were smooth, almost kind but Jason caught the firmness beneath it.

"Sorry, who are you?" Already looking puzzled.

Before the man could answer, Judy entered from the side pantry, cheeks slightly flushed, like she had hurried to intercept them.

"Jason, darling,” she greeted him, planting a quick kiss on his cheek while they hugged for what felt like forever. “You’re early. This is Adler. Adler John-Baron.”

Jason stared.

Adler offered his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Jason did not move. Neither did he speak as he was too stunned.

Judy’s smile flickered. “Let’s sit down for a second.”

Jason almost did, but stopped himself before his body could move. He crossed his arms instead while staring at his mom with a confused look.

“Jason…We got married,” she said very gently. “Last week.”

The words hit like a slap. Jason’s brain stalled, then sputtered.

“Married,” he repeated blankly. His gaze moved back to Adler, who now sipped tea from his cup with an unsettling calmness.

“Mom, you’re serious?”

“I am.”

“I don't get it…” His voice now lower, like he was trying to be discrete. “We spoke several times on the phone. You never thought to mention that to me.”

“I thought we were closer than that?”

“Jaso—”

“So, what you moved on from dad and now you're married…to him?”

A pause.

“It was the right decision.”

Jason let out a short, dry laugh. “I’m sorry, right for who?” Now raising the tone of his voice.

Adler’s voice cut in, smooth and unbothered. “It was a mutual understanding.”

Jason turned sharply, the word understanding echoing like some bad joke. “An understanding?” He repeated. “So this isn’t..uhm mom, please, can you explain what is going on here?”

“Jason…Could I at least speak to you later? I'll explain everything. Just give me some time okay? love. Trust me, you would see that we needed this”

“No, all I see is that some guy I've never met is suddenly living here and I'm expected to accept him as…a…father?” now looking with disgust. “And you didn't think to tell me?.”

Adler spoke again, not raising his voice at all. “I’m not here to replace anyone.”

Jason stared at him, jaw tense. “No. You couldn’t if you tried.”

He turned and went straight to his room without another word.

Everything still looked the same.

Same bookshelf, same faded posters— including BDS, the band he had sworn was “life changing” back in ninth grade, now long forgotten.Even the dent in the desk where he had once thrown a stapler hard enough to crack the wood still sat there like a scar no one cared to heal.

It was strange, though familiar..

Like walking into a memory. That version of himself he had already outgrown.

He sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair. The silence in the house was thick now.

****

Jason tossed for a while as his eyes traced the faint shadows on the ceiling, his mind would not stop replaying the day. That silky voice. That ring on his mother’s finger. The way Adler had just... settled in, like he belonged here more than he did in his own home.

Eventually, he got up as his throat felt dry. Maybe water would help, he thought to himself.

With no footwear on, he padded quietly towards the kitchen.

But just as he passed the study, he heard a voice—Adler’s voice. Low and smooth, exactly the way someone spoke when they thought they were alone.

“Yes… it’s working already. The conference today was amazing. Press has softened. And the public, their perception is shifting. The family angle plays well.”

Jason froze mid-step. His brows pulled together.

A pause.

“No, it’s all part of the agreement. We sleep in separate bedrooms—though it's between the two of us. The boy doesn't have to know.At least not now.”

Jason’s breath caught, but stopped almost immediately, like someone had snapped a rubber band across his chest.

His stomach dropped.

What the hell did that mean? Agreement? Separate rooms?

He edged a little closer—quiet, careful—trying to hear more. But there was an obvious shift in tone and suddenly the creak of leather. Jason instinctively pulled back, afraid Adler might turn.

Shit. Shit.

He backed away, chest tight, tiptoeing until he hit the staircase, then moved faster. His feet knew the way even when his brain was lagging behind.

Back in his room, he closed the door softly and leaned against it, pulse still hammering.

This wasn’t just a surprise marriage.

This was something else.

He stared into the dark, mind spiraling.

Why was Mom reluctant to tell him the truth?

Why the hell was Adler talking like their family was a press strategy?

And the sleeping arrangements— is he not into women? or…no…that can't be.

His fingers curled into the edge of his shirt.

Just who is this guy?

Because one thing was crystal clear now—

He wasnt here just to play house.

He lay back down eventually, but sleep didn’t come.

Only questions.

And the first one was this:

Who the hell is Adler John-Baron?