[SL-Marvel] Ch: 3 [Mystery room]

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Jason stepped out of the law office, the weight of the morning’s revelations pressing down on him. Linda and Emma followed, their expressions a mix of relief and apprehension. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself for the conversation that lay ahead.

"So," Jason began slowly, "How about we grab a coffee and talk?"

Linda nodded, her eyes shining with a mixture of hopefulness and uncertainty. "That sounds good, Jason. There's much we need to discuss."

Emma nodded eagerly, clearly excited at the prospect of getting to know her newly discovered brother. Truth be told she always wanted a sibling growing up. Her friends were always talking about how fun it was to have one, so she always wondered what it would be like to get pampered and loved by an older brother or how fun it would be to pamper and love a younger brother or sister. Sadly, she never got any of that, so she was more than happy to learn she had an older brother now.

"There's a nice café just down the street," He gestured down the sidewalk. "Shall we?"

Jason led the way, his mind still reeling from the morning's revelations. It was hard for him to wrap his head around the fact that he had a stepmother and stepsister - people who were now a part of his life. It all seemed surreal. But he felt happy even in this situation. He now found something new, other than his daily monotonous routine, a new light in his life.

When they arrived at the café, Jason held the door open for Linda and Emma to enter. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air, and the cheerful chatter of customers echoed off the walls. They found a table near the window. Once seated, Jason ordered a black coffee, Linda chose a herbal tea and Emma ordered a latte.

Jason gazed at Linda and Emma, unsure of where to begin. There was so much he wanted to ask and so much he wanted to say. After the waiter brought their order...

Linda broke the silence. "I'm sure this must be a lot for you to process, Jason. I know it's certainly a lot for us to process. But I want you to know that we are here for you and that we want to get to know you as well."

Emma nodded, eagerness evident in her voice.

"I appreciate that, Linda. I want to get to know you as well. Tell me more about yourselves," Jason encouraged, hoping to break the ice.

Linda took a sip of her tea before beginning. "Well, I run an art studio. I work with models and cosplayers mostly. It's a niche market, but it pays the bills," she chuckled.

"Models?" Jason raised his eyebrows.

"Yes. There are different types of art as you know. Ahem!" She cleared her throat. "I mostly work with pin-up art," Linda stated with a little embarrassment.

"Oh, I see," Jason replied, unsure of how to respond to that.

Emma giggled. "Mom is really talented. You should see some of her work sometime."

Jason smiled slightly, grateful for Emma's enthusiasm. "I would like that. What about you, Emma? What are you doing right now? High School?"

"I'll be going to college next month, actually," Emma stated proudly. "I'm studying business administration."

Jason nodded, impressed. "That's great, Emma. I'm sure you'll do well."

Linda smiled, clearly proud of her daughter.

Jason nodded, feeling a connection forming with these two women who were now part of his life. He took a sip of his coffee, the bitterness grounding him as he ventured into more personal territory.

"So, how did you meet my dad?" He inquired, hoping to learn more about their relationship with Charles Miller.

Linda sighed softly, a wistful expression on her face. "We met at an exhibition. I was showcasing my artwork, and he approached me to compliment my work. We struck up a conversation and ended up exchanging numbers. One thing led to another, and we started dating. He was such a wonderful man, Jason. Always kind and considerate."

Jason felt a lump in his throat as he listened. This version of his father was so different from the man he remembered. "It sounds like he was happy with you," he said quietly.

"He was," Linda confirmed. "He often spoke about you, Jason. He regretted not being there for you and your mother. It was a burden he carried with him. I'm sorry that you two didn't get a chance to reconcile before he passed away."

Emma added, "He used to tell me stories about you. He always hoped that one day you’d forgive him and you could be a family again."

Jason’s heart ached. He had spent so many years resenting his father, never realizing the pain his father might have felt. He looked at Linda and Emma, feeling a mix of emotions—sadness, regret, and a glimmer of hope. "I wish I had known," he said softly. "I wish things could have been different. I wish I had made more of an effort to reconnect with him. I was just so angry and hurt back then that I pushed him away. Then, I drowned myself in work, trying to forget the pain, and... Haaa... Well, here we are." He finished with a sigh.

Linda reached across the table and placed a hand on his. "We can't change the past, Jason. But we can move forward. Charles would want us to be a family."

Jason nodded slowly, feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. He wanted to make things right—for Linda, Emma, and himself. "You're right. He would. And we will be. We'll honor his memory together."

Emma grinned at him. "Thanks, Jason! I always wanted an older brother!"

Linda chuckled softly at her daughter's excitement.

Jason couldn't help but smile as well. Despite the sadness, he felt a sense of happiness and fulfillment from finally having a family again. They stayed at the cafe for a while longer, chatting and getting to know each other better.

They spent the next few hours talking and sharing stories and memories. Jason learned about his father's last years, and how he had been a supportive husband to Linda and a loving father to Emma. He heard about their family holidays, their small traditions, and the little moments that made their life special. As Jason listened, he felt a deep sense of loss but also a sense of connection.

During the conversation, Linda told him about her previous marriage.

"My ex-husband was very controlling. He wanted me to quit my job and stay home to take care of our children. He was very jealous and possessive as well. When I refused, he started to get violent. One night, he beat me so badly that I ended up in the hospital. I knew I had to get out of the relationship, so I filed for divorce and custody of my children. The court granted me full custody, and then he got into an accident. A gas station explosion. His body was never found." Linda paused for a moment before continuing.

"After that, I decided to start over. I moved here with Emma, and we've been building a new life ever since."

Jason was shocked by what he had just heard. He could see a hint of sadness on their faces.

"It was hard, but you two pulled through. That's what matters. So, let's not dwell in the past anymore, okay?" Jason proposed with a warm smile.

"Deal!" Emma agreed with a grin. Linda smiled at them both.

The hours flew by, and soon it was time to leave.

"Well, it's getting late. We should be heading back," Linda stated as she glanced at her watch.

"Right," Jason replied. He paid the bill before standing up. He wanted them to move in with him, in his empty mansion. But he didn't know how to bring it up. They just met today and... Too many thoughts were running through his head.

"Jason, it was a pleasure meeting you today. I'm glad we had this opportunity to get to know each other," Linda said as she extended her hand.

Jason shook her hand. "Likewise."

Emma hugged him. "See you around, Jason!"

Jason returned the hug. "Take care, Emma."

Linda and Emma turned and walked out of the cafe. Jason watched them go, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He decided to take a step forward. He was regretting his past decision now, what if the same thing repeated again? He walked out of the cafe and called them back. Linda and Emma stopped in their tracks.

Jason walked over to them and looked Linda in the eye. "Linda, Emma... Would you like to move in with me?" He asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Linda and Emma exchanged glances before turning to look at Jason.

"I got a big house and everything you'll need. It's kinda lonely living there by myself. So... Would you like to move in with me?" Jason repeated his question.

Emma nodded eagerly, a broad smile on her face. "That would be awesome, Jason!" She turned toward her mom, "Please! Can we mom?!"

Linda hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "I suppose that would be acceptable," she replied. Jason smiled, feeling relieved.

"Great! I'll make some calls and they will shift everything you need from your house to mine. Is that alright with you Linda?" Jason asked.

Linda nodded. "Thank you, Jason. I really appreciate this."

He made some calls and then went to Linda's house. A few movers arrived and began loading Linda and Emma's stuff in the moving truck. Jason instructed them to ship everything to his mansion.

Afterward, he took Linda and Emma to his place. Linda and Emma were amazed when they saw Jason's mansion.

"Wow! Jason, this place is huge!" Emma exclaimed in amazement.

Linda nodded in agreement. "It certainly is impressive," she remarked.

Jason showed them around the mansion, and they were in awe of the grandeur of the place. What surprised them was how fast the workers moved their belongings to their rooms before they even arrived at the mansion. He showed them around the mansion and showed them their room.

"I... It's too big for me," Linda commented hesitantly as she surveyed the spacious bedroom. 'Everything looks too expensive.' She looked around. The king-size bed looked so comfy that she wanted to jump on it like a kid. Then the big dresser filled with expensive clothes, a second room beside it filled with expensive shoes, then the table with mirror, before with were some famous brand cosmetics. A large wall-mounted Oled TV with large speakers. There was everything in that room that a woman could dream of and even more.

"Nonsense, Linda. You deserve to live in a nice place like this." Jason smiled at her reassuringly. "And I ain't gonna let my mom stay in some small shady room. No way. You both deserve the best. Now, come on, I'll show you your room." He patted Emma's back. He led her to her own room. Linda followed behind, still overwhelmed by everything.

Jason opened the door to Emma's room. "Here you go, Emma. Your own room!" He declared proudly. Emma's eyes widened as she entered the spacious and luxurious room.

"This... This is all for me?" She asked in disbelief. Jason nodded.

"Yup!"

Emma squealed with delight as she explored her new room. It was almost similar to Linda's room, except there was a PC setup. She jumped on the bed and bounced up and down on it.

"This is the most comfortable bed I've ever laid on!" She exclaimed. Jason laughed at her antics. Linda stood at the doorway, watching her daughter's excitement with a mixture of amusement and apprehension.

"I'm glad you like it, Emma," Jason said with a smile.

"Like it?!" She jumped down from the bed. She ran and hugged him, "I love it. Thank you, Jason!"

Jason returned the hug, his heart warming at Emma's enthusiastic response. "You're welcome, Emma." He glanced at Linda and noticed that she was smiling with teary eyes.

..

After dinner...

Linda decided to retire for the night, but Emma wanted to look around a bit more. So, while Jason was working on signing the files he was supposed to do today, Emma sneaked out of her room and went exploring.

Emma wandered the halls of Jason's mansion, marveling at the grandeur of the place. Everything was so fancy and expensive-looking that it made her feel like royalty. She admired the paintings hanging on the walls and the sculptures placed in various corners. She stopped before a painting that was nothing like she had ever seen in her life.

"A warrior woman... Pegasus..." She looked closely and noticed Thor fighting a spider beast in the right corner. "Norse mythology... Cool!" She began to walk down the hallway and found many similar paintings, 'He got a cool taste... But I've never seen such paintings. These characters look almost alive... Wow!'

At the end of the hallway, there was a big black metal door with intricate runes carved on the door and around the wall. Emma was certain that those carvings glowed for a moment. Her curiosity took the best of her and she tried to open the door. To her surprise, the door opened without a problem. 'I thought it was locked... Jason must have forgotten to lock this... Hmmm... I wonder what's inside...' She entered the room.

The room was lit by some kind of crystals.

"Wow! What are these?! Crystal shaped lamps!" She looked around and saw various armor and weapons. There was a big metal made hand in a glass case. "Cool. This is the Infinity Gauntlet. Jason is a collector... He got a taste."

Then she came across a big sword. It was shining with a silvery glow. Emma approached it, mesmerized by its beauty. She touched the blade and felt coldness seeping through her hand. It was like she was touching a bar of ice.

Suddenly, her surroundings changed. She found herself standing on a battlefield. There were people fighting each other. Swords clashed against swords, shields crashed against shields, and spears pierced through flesh and bone. That woman from the picture outside was fighting some weird spider beast along with Thor and other female warriors. A group was also riding flying horses while fighting some kind of dragon-like creatures in the sky. Too much noise, too much chaos and death...

She stumbled back and fell on the floor, huffing and puffing, trying to catch her breath. Her heart was beating like crazy. Sweat dripped down her forehead as she struggled to comprehend what just happened.

"W..What the hell was that?!" Emma found herself sitting in that collector room again. She stood up and stepped back. She gulped in fear. She touched the sword again, but nothing. It wasn't cold or anything. She rubbed her eyes, "Dang! I must be dreaming..."

Emma hurried out of the collector room and closed the door behind her. She leaned against it, taking deep breaths and trying to calm her racing heartbeat. She blinked her eyes several times, making sure she was back in Jason's mansion and not somewhere else. Then she went to her room and slumped on the bed.

"Guess, I'm too tired and all the excitement got me. Heheh... There's no way, that just happened. Haaa..." She hugged her pillow and soon fell asleep.