NEWFOUND HAPPINESS - PART 5 (Patreon)

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Part 5: “Father” Returns

After finishing breakfast, the mother and daughter heard the sound of a car at the gate. Hallie turned her face, eyes gleaming, “Your father’s home. Let’s go greet him.” With that, she stepped out of the dining room without waiting for Tracy’s reply.

Walking a few steps behind Hallie, Tracy still caught the scene of her mother embracing Niall, the name of her new father that she had seen on the wedding photo yesterday. Hallie’s arms went around his neck, whispering in a warm voice tinged with seduction that Tracy could hardly believe, “You’re back? I’ve been waiting for you since yesterday.”

Then, Niall kissed Hallie on the cheek, gazing at her as if entranced, as if bewitched. Tracy blushed and turned away at once. What would happen if this man knew that the person he had just kissed was once another man? Her heart surged with turmoil. She murmured under her breath, audible to no one but herself, “I can’t believe he… she could do such a thing!”

Tracy greeted her father just as he tore his gaze away from his wife. He smiled and nodded in return. Throughout it all, Hallie kept her arms around Niall’s neck, refusing to let go. Unable to accept it just yet, Tracy turned away and walked off. As she passed by the large mirror, her eyes caught a fleeting glimpse of a sweet-looking girl reflected within. That’s right, she herself wasn’t the same anymore, so why should she feel ashamed of her mother’s actions? In terms of playing the role, her mother was doing far better than she was. Maybe she was only acting to keep others from suspecting. Instead of feeling awkward, perhaps Tracy should try learning from her. But saying it was easy, doing it, she had no idea how. This body, this life, everything about it was so new, and so strange, beyond what human understanding had ever known.

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It was already past eight in the morning, and Tracy realized she could no longer stay in her pajamas. Back when she was a guy, just one outfit could last her the entire day and take her anywhere. But being a girl wasn’t the same, girls could go through several changes of clothes in a single day. Clearly, her mother had already done just that. She had changed into a loose beige blouse with a gentle V-neckline, mid-length sleeves accented by a row of tiny pearl-like buttons, paired with white trousers that together created an elegant, harmonious look. Her hair was neatly tied up at the nape of her neck, with a few soft strands framing her face, exuding both grace and polish. Her makeup was subtle, a sheer base, a whisper of blush, and refined rosewood lipstick, just enough to enhance her natural beauty while still retaining a touch of quiet sophistication.

Tracy wondered how the hell her mother could manage every single thing that normally only women would know how to do. For a moment, she forgot that last night her mother had explained something about memory. Because she now carried Hallie’s memories in her mind, all of this came effortlessly to her. But what about Tracy? She knew nothing at all about the life Tracy used to live.

There was no use thinking any further, so she returned to her room and opened the wardrobe. Her eyes skimmed across the neatly arranged rows of hangers. After a moment of deliberation, she chose a delicate set of lace lingerie in a nude blush tone, modest yet flattering against her fair skin. Though she had no memories of ever dressing in such garments, she had figured out how to wear a bra the night before, albeit with some difficulty. The lingerie fit snugly, offering a weightless feeling while gently embracing the contours of her body.

Then, she took out a puff-sleeved blouse made of ivory chiffon, adorned with embroidered floral patterns at the collar and sleeves, soft as the morning mist. She paired it with an olive-green flared skirt that reached her knees, the light silk-cotton fabric draping naturally, lending grace to every step she took. She gently smoothed her slightly wavy long hair, tying it loosely with a beige fabric bow, and spritzed on a hint of jasmine-scented perfume. She skipped makeup altogether, she had no clue where to even begin. That was all she could manage.

As she returned downstairs, she could already hear Hallie’s laughter from afar. She looked toward the family dining room. Hallie was standing there, pouring coffee for Niall, the real Hallie’s husband, though that no longer seemed to matter. Her eyes sparkled as he kissed her hand and waved goodbye.

Niall was a busy man. Though he had just returned from a business trip this morning, he already had to head back to the head office. The family’s comfortable life owed much to his hard work.

“Have a good day at work,” Hallie said, her voice sweet like a song. “I’ll make your favorite dish for dinner.” Niall smiled, embracing her once more before leaving the house, leaving Hallie standing there, poised and confident like a queen. Clearly, this couple looked every bit the perfect match.

Tracy leaned against the stair railing, watching her mother, or rather, the one who used to be her father. Hallie had adapted too quickly, too perfectly. She knew how to walk, to speak, to smile; she even knew Niall’s preferences without being told. Could it be that having the right memories really allowed someone to adjust so easily? Tracy didn’t know. She stood still, clutching the hem of her skirt, feeling like a child lost in the adult world, even though she was far from young. “How does Mom do it so easily?” she wondered, surprised to find that what stirred inside her now… was a flicker of envy.

At that moment, Hallie looked up and saw Tracy standing by the stair railing, then waved, “Come down here with Mom!” She smiled, her gaze gentle yet still carrying the trace of authority Tracy once saw in her father, back when he was a revered figure at CSW Corporation. Tracy nodded, her small feet slightly awkward as she stepped down, one stair at a time. When she reached the living room, she saw Hallie already seated on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, her fair shoulder peeking out subtly beneath the blouse.

“Just look at my daughter,” Hallie said. “So lovely, just a touch of makeup and you’d be perfect. But you need to learn how to move with a bit more grace. Come sit down, I’ll start showing you little by little until you have Tracy’s memories.” She patted the spot beside her, motioning for Tracy to join her.

Tracy sat down, pulling in her skirt carefully for fear it might reveal something as she lowered herself. Her face flushed. “It’s really hard to get used to… Mom. This body… it’s so light, even just one step the way I used to take would throw me off balance now.”

Hallie laughed heartily, smoothing Tracy’s hair. “I understand, sweetheart. At first, I felt strange too, but luckily, not long after, I had all of Hallie’s memories, so now everything feels natural to me. The way I walk, my gestures, how I speak, how I dress. But you, it seems, haven’t even synced more than 10% of Tracy’s memories yet. There’s no need to rush, just gradually accept your new life. Only when you truly think of yourself as Tracy will you be able to become Tracy completely.”

Easier said than done. Right now, the only thing that belonged to Tracy was her appearance, everything else in her mind still belonged to a guy named Bastian. It wasn’t as if one could simply will themselves into accepting a new body, a new life, a new personality, and most of all, a new gender, just like that. That’s why she couldn’t quite believe how her mother had somehow managed to synchronize 100% of her memories in just a few short hours yesterday. That could only mean her father, Turner, had long prepared himself for the moment he would become a woman. The thought sent a chill down her spine. Before, not even in madness would she have imagined her masculine father ever wanting to be a woman.

All that day, Tracy sat listening to her mother’s guidance on how to be a girl, at least until she could sync about 50% of the memories. It wasn’t easy at all, that much was clear to her. What she needed to master first was makeup, because she couldn’t just stay cooped up in the house or wander around the neighborhood forever; there would be places where a more polished appearance was required.

That evening, Niall returned home after a long, tiring day at work. Looking at him, Tracy caught a fleeting glimpse of the father she once knew. A lavish dinner with all three of them at the table brought back memories of when her family was still warm and whole. The only difference was that the one now playing the role of wife was the very same person who used to be her father, a man who once couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger around the house, yet now was willing to spend over an hour preparing a full meal for his husband and daughter.

She thought to herself, poor Niall. The unfortunate man still had no idea that both his wife and daughter had been replaced. This house was now home to three men living together under one roof. But she decided she would bury that secret deep. Niall truly loved his wife and daughter. Tracy could feel the affection he had for her in the smallest gestures at the dinner table, the kind of love she had once longed for during all those years before.

That night, of course, she slept alone in her room, since Niall would be sharing a bed with her mother. Once again, she didn’t dare imagine that scene. She drifted off after a while, trying to guess what tomorrow might hold.

PART 6 >>