Becoming A Tech Tycoon Begins With Regression

"How was your flight here, Mijo?"María asked as she drove the van towards their destination, her eyes locked on the road before her.

"Quiet," Ethan said as he watched the buildings zoom past them.

It had been quite a while since he was in this city... including his past life, but he couldn't say he missed it.

After all, after María's death he didn't exactly have anything to return for.

"How's Isabela?" María asked again, "she's doing fine, Sì?"

"Yeah, she's doing great," Ethan answered, "she should be moving out in a few days."

"Moving out?" She was a bit surprised but her eyes still remain on the road, "she didn't become a bother, did she?"

"Nothing like that," he reassured with a smile, "she just needs her own space, so a friend of mine helped her search for one."

"I see," she muttered, "that's a relief then."

The van turned quiet after that, with the sound of cars zooming past them being the only thing that could be heard.

"How's the building?" Ethan suddenly asked, "you still have people staying there?"

"Of course," she answered, "apart from your apartment, all the others are taken.'

"That's good," he responded with a smile, "I'm glad everything's going well."

This caused María to beam, a smile gracing her face as she continued driving.

Another round of silence fell in the van again but this was a lot less awkward than the last.

"You have really changed Ethan," María stated, the smile still on her face before she briefly glanced at him for a short while before focusing back on the road.

"How so?" Ethan asked.

Of course he knew what she meant, but hearing it from her directly was something else entirely.

María let out a soft hum, "before it always felt like you were pushing everyone out, you never allowed me to get too close to you, even the hug I gave you, if it was previously, you'd have denied it...but now?"

"Now, you feel....warmer?" She seemed to be searching for the right word but when she couldn't seem to find it, she just continued, "anyway, it's a good change and I like it."

He chuckled faintly. "Guess growing up does that to you."

María didn't press, though her eyes softened. "Maybe. Or maybe you've just learned to treasure what really matters. That's good, mijo. That's very good."

The van slowed as they turned into a quieter street, lined with modest houses, most with little front gardens and warm porch lights glowing in the dusk. María's home wasn't far now.

They soon arrived at a multi story building. Compared to the others around it, it wasn't much to write home about, but it was a lot better than Ethan's.

Which reminded him that he really needed to move out now.

The solution to him spending money on himself while remaining anonymous was simple: he'd employ himself at OmniTech Corp under a crafted identity—maybe as a Lead Technical Architect, or some vaguely senior title that would justify a high salary without raising suspicion.

It was a neat trick, one that would allow him to upgrade his living situation without questions being asked. After all, the Ethan Carter the world knew wasn't supposed to be a millionaire. Not yet.

So that took care of that.

María parked the van and killed the engine. "We're here," she said warmly, gathering her bag before opening the door and hopping out.

Ethan followed suit, picking his bag from the back of the van, they both headed up the stairs.

Maria's and Ethan's previous apartment was located at the top floor of this five story building, and without an elevator, it was quite the walk up.

Ethan didn't mind since he barely felt tired, mostly thanks to the exercises he had been doing.

And from the looks of it, neither did María since, apart from the beads of sweat on her forehead, she seemed mostly fine.... probably already used to going up and down these stairs.

Her current energy greatly contrasted when she was laying in the hospital in the future, a future that Ethan wouldn't let happen this time around.

"Do you ever think of upgrading the building?" Ethan asked as they continued upwards.

María slowed down a bit and turned to him before answering, "well, I have."

There was a short pause before she continued, "since some real estate companies have been pestering me to sell it to them with the excuse that my building is too old for a 'high class' community such as this."

María let out a small sigh as they reached the third floor landing, resting her hand briefly on the railing before continuing upward.

"They think I don't know what they're planning," she muttered. "They buy up the old buildings cheap, throw some paint and glass on it, and suddenly they're charging triple the rent. Where do people like me go then, mijo? Where do all my tenants go?"

Her voice carried a quiet frustration, not anger, but weary acceptance.

Ethan frowned, gripping his bag a little tighter. "You thought about selling?"

She shook her head immediately, a sharp motion for someone usually so calm. "Never. This building is my home. It's their home too. But…" She trailed off, her steps slowing as they neared the fourth floor. "If something big breaks—roof, plumbing, electricity—I don't have enough saved to fix it. Rent is cheap because I want people to afford it, but that also means I don't have much left at the end of the month."

They walked in silence for a moment, the sound of their footsteps echoing up the stairwell. Ethan remembered her last years in the other timeline: stressed, worn down, skipping her own medications because she couldn't afford them while still paying for repairs in the building.

She gave her everything to everyone because she was just that kind of person and yet, a simple wish of hers couldn't be fulfilled.

The kid she considered a son couldn't even make time to come see her bas she passed away, completely exhausted.

Not this time.

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "What if I told you I could help?"

María gave him a sidelong look, lips quirking faintly. "Help? You just got a new job, no? You should save your money for yourself, Ethan. Don't worry about me."

Ethan chuckled softly. "You always say that."

"I mean it," she insisted, a firm note in her voice, though her eyes softened again. "This building is mine to handle. Yours is to live your life. Besides," she added with a teasing smile, "since when did you become a rich man?"

He smirked. If only you knew.

By the time they reached the fifth floor, María's breathing was a little heavier, but her pride didn't allow her to show fatigue. She dug into her purse for her keys as they stopped in front of her apartment door.

Ethan made his decision right then and there. He would take care of everything—repairs, renovations, whatever it took. María wouldn't know the details, only that somehow the burden had lifted.

And the vultures circling her building? They'd learn soon enough that this was one nest they couldn't touch.

Because as far as Ethan was concerned, this wasn't just a building.

This was María's home. And no one would take it from her.

'But how will I go about this.'

She might not look it, but María was pretty stubborn. If she decided to do something, she hardly ever changed her mind.

So how exactly would he convince her to leave the building's renovation to him, well, another part of his mind would figure that out, for now he just walked into María's apartment.

"Home sweet home," María said with a fond sigh, setting her bag down on the table. She slipped her shoes off neatly by the door and padded toward the kitchen. "I'll fix us something warm. You must be starving after that flight."

Ethan smiled faintly and set his luggage down near the couch. "You don't have to. Really."

"Of course I do," María said, already rummaging through cabinets. "A guest never goes hungry under my roof, mijo. You know that."

Her voice carried the same warmth it always had, the same warmth she had whenever she brought him food during her exams, the same warmth it held whenever she helped nursed him when he was sick, because he refused to the hospital.

It was a warmth that Ethan didn't know exactly how much he missed, but he really was glad that he had been given the chance to hear it again.

He opened his eyes and forced a smile when María peeked out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.

"You look tired, mijo," she said softly. "You should rest a little. I'll call you when the food is ready."

Ethan shook his head. "I'll rest after we eat. Don't worry about me."

"I guess something didn't change," María said with a smile, "you really are as stubborn as ever."

"I learnt from the best," He responded with a chuckle.