Years passed peacefully. Travis and Tracy now had a younger brother, Aaron, three years their junior. The twins had transitioned from PreK to Kindergarten, and at home, they were excellent at looking after their little brother. Aaron was particularly attached to Travis, which was a great help to Naosa.
Alex had become the complete family man, utterly devoted to his children and wife. Since Naosa didn’t drive, Alex was primarily responsible for school pickup and drop-off, occasionally enlisting the help of Lu and Kacy when his schedule demanded it.
Naosa had blossomed into a radiant woman and loving mother. She assisted Leo, Kimberly, and Julian Cross with music editing projects and occasionally performed piano recitals when asked by friends and acquaintances. However, true to the De Valois family’s wishes, she considered music a cherished hobby rather than a profession.
Travis and Tracy had made a sweet, gentle friend from PreK named Lila. Lila’s mother, Marianne, was equally wonderful—a kind, soft-spoken woman who radiated warmth. Tragically, Lila’s father had passed away the previous year after a prolonged illness. With no nearby relatives to lean on, Naosa and Alex had actively supported them throughout his struggle, often having Lila stay overnight when Marianne needed help. Now, Marianne was bravely raising Lila alone while battling her own deep grief.
As the children entered kindergarten, their social circle naturally expanded. Among the new faces was Bianca, a strong-willed girl who had quickly established herself as something of a leader among her female classmates. While Tracy and Lila found her intensity somewhat overwhelming, Travis—handsome like his father—had unwittingly become Bianca’s primary target of attention.
Alex had thoroughly educated Travis on how to treat others with respect and kindness, so despite his young age, Travis was naturally chivalrous and well-liked by everyone. This only fueled Bianca’s frustration, especially when Travis consistently chose to spend his time with gentle Lila rather than seeking her approval.
One afternoon at pickup time, Bianca’s mother, Tiffany, arrived in yet another unfamiliar man’s car, music blaring from the speakers. As a teacher politely approached to ask her to lower the volume, Alex’s sleek luxury SUV glided into the parking area.
Travis and Tracy spotted their father immediately and ran to him with bright smiles. He swept them into warm hugs before helping them into the car, their laughter echoing across the lot.
Tiffany watched the scene with calculating eyes. “He looks like some kind of celebrity,” she murmured to herself. “Handsome, clearly wealthy…” She quickly turned to Bianca. “Sweetie, who is that man?”
“Travis and Tracy’s dad,” Bianca replied simply.
Another mother nearby overheard and added, “Oh, he’s wonderful. I heard he’s a renowned doctor. And they live in that exclusive neighborhood on the hill.”
That evening, Tiffany sat at her kitchen table, surrounded by a pile of overdue bills and notices. She instructed Bianca with forced casualness, “You should try to be better friends with those twins, honey.”
The truth was harsh: Tiffany and Bianca’s father had recently divorced, primarily due to Tiffany’s compulsive spending habits. Despite receiving a substantial settlement for Bianca’s care, she had managed to burn through most of it within months. Now she was living paycheck to paycheck, desperately seeking her next wealthy benefactor while maintaining the facade of her expensive lifestyle.
“A successful doctor,” she hummed to herself as she headed for the shower. “Now that would be the perfect catch.”
Travis was a remarkably bright child who deeply respected Alex and listened attentively to his guidance. He adored Naosa and, despite his young age, worked hard to help around the house, wanting nothing more than to see his mother happy. Tracy loved having her hair beautifully styled by Naosa each morning and took great pride in the cute outfits they chose together. She absolutely adored Alex and beamed with pride whenever anyone complimented her father.
One crisp afternoon, Alex arrived for pickup to find Tracy playing with Bianca and several other girls while Travis and Lila sat together quietly on the playground steps, deep in conversation about something only six-year-olds would find fascinating.
“Daddy, can we play just a little longer?” Tracy asked sweetly.
Alex checked his watch and nodded. “A few more minutes.” He settled onto a nearby bench to keep watch, enjoying the peaceful scene.
Marianne approached with her gentle smile, making comfortable small talk as they waited for the children to finish their games. One by one, the other parents collected their children until only Bianca, Travis, Tracy, and Lila remained.
That’s when Tiffany arrived, her heavy perfume announcing her presence before she even reached the bench. After brief pleasantries, Alex suggested it was time to head home, but the children were still engrossed in their play.
“How about everyone comes over for dinner at our place?” Alex offered Marianne, as had become their comfortable routine.
Travis and Lila’s faces lit up with excitement. “Yes, please!” they chorused.
Marianne looked apologetic as she gently reminded Lila about not inviting themselves, but Alex insisted. “Naosa would be delighted to have you both. She always makes too much food anyway.”
Marianne smiled gratefully and accepted.
Tiffany, who had been listening intently, saw her opportunity. She turned to Bianca with theatrical sadness. “Come on, sweetheart. Time to say goodbye to your friends.”
Right on cue, Bianca’s face crumpled, and she began to cry—loudly and dramatically. “I want to stay with Tracy and Travis too!”
Alex and Marianne exchanged uncomfortable glances as Tracy immediately rushed to her father’s side. “Daddy, please! Can Bianca come too?”
Faced with a sobbing child and his daughter’s pleading eyes, Alex found himself reluctantly extending the invitation to Tiffany and Bianca as well.
Before they all got into their respective cars, Alex made a quick stop at the flower shop near the school gate, emerging with a beautiful bouquet.
“It’s a surprise for Mommy,” he told Travis with a conspiratorial wink.
Travis’s face broke into a delighted grin as they climbed into the car, followed by Marianne’s modest sedan and Tiffany’s borrowed luxury vehicle.
As they drove through the gates and up the winding driveway, Tiffany could barely contain her amazement at the sheer elegance of the property. Manicured gardens, soaring trees, and the stunning architecture of the house itself—it was like something from a magazine.
When Alex opened the front door, Naosa appeared in the doorway, her face lighting up at the sight of the flowers. She blushed prettily as she accepted them, thanking him with a soft kiss that made Travis beam with satisfaction. He caught Lila’s eye and they shared a knowing smile—they both loved seeing the adults they cared about happy.
Marianne stepped forward with her usual gentle demeanor, and Naosa immediately wrapped her in a warm hug, genuinely pleased to see her friend.
“And you must be Bianca’s mother,” Naosa said graciously, extending the same warmth to Tiffany. “Please, come in. Welcome to our home.”
As Tiffany stepped across the threshold, taking in the soaring ceilings, elegant furnishings, and obvious wealth surrounding her, one thought echoed through her mind: Perfect. This is absolutely perfect.
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