Chapter 12: New Home
As they stepped inside, Richard felt as though he had entered a different world. The interior of the mansion was a seamless blend of modern luxury and royal elegance. The marble floors gleamed under the soft glow of chandeliers, their golden light reflecting off the high ceilings and intricately carved walls. The furniture was modern, yet every piece held an air of heritage, as though carefully chosen to complement the grandeur of the house's long history.
Lining the walls were family portraits, framed in polished mahogany. Some were old, their colors faded but their significance untouched by time. Others were recent, showing newer generations, yet still carrying that same air of dignity and importance.
At the very center of the grand staircase, leading up to the second floor, hung an enormous portrait. It was impossible to miss. The painting captured Estello in his younger years, his face strong and his eyes sharp, yet carrying the same warmth he still held today.
Richard's gaze moved to the man standing beside him in the portrait—a tall, serious-looking man in a tuxedo. There was no doubt about it; he bore an unmistakable resemblance to Jack.
"That's your father, isn't it?" Richard asked, his eyes scanning the man's commanding presence in the painting.
Jack nodded. "Yeah. Back when he still had time for portraits," he said with a small chuckle, though there was something distant in his voice.
Richard's attention then shifted to the woman on the other side of Estello. She had a bright, wide smile, and though she looked younger, there was something familiar in her features.
"That must be your aunt," Richard guessed.
Jack nodded again. "Tita Marissa. She's in Canada now. Been there since before I was born."
Behind Estello, another figure stood tall—even taller than Jack's father. Unlike the serious expression of his brother, this man had a warm, welcoming smile, the kind that suggested he was always the life of the room.
Jack pointed. "That's my Uncle Edmundo—my father's older brother. He moved to the U.S. a long time ago."