Jay's pov
The moment kuya Angelo dismissed us, I didn't even wait for Aries to finish complaining about "adult life being a scam."
I bolted upstairs.
My heart was pounding—not from panic, not from excitement… something in between. Something sharp. Heavy. Real.
I closed my bedroom door behind me, leaned against it, exhaled.
Then I walked straight to my closet.
Behind my dresses, hidden inside a plain white box most people wouldn't look at twice… was Cole's folder.
His will.
My fingers hesitated for half a second before lifting the lid.
There it was.
The thick stack of papers. Stamped. Signed. Legal.
I already knew what it said.
Still hurt to read it again.
Full ownership of C&J Corporation.
Every hospital. Every international branch. Every investment fund. Every medical development project we built together at fifteen, scribbled on napkins and whiteboards.
Back when Cole dreamed of saving the world.
Back when I genuinely believed we could.
The company had grown into a global MNC—bigger than most people could imagine—and somehow… somehow all of it belonged to me now.
Because he trusted me.
Because he hid me.
Because he didn't want anyone to know "the J" behind the corporation was a minor girl with a messy ponytail and braces.
When I moved here, Cole took over everything… so I could breathe. Live. Be normal.
And now?
Now I was chairwoman of one giant corporation… co-owner of another… and the secret owner of a third bigger than both combined.
And they wanted to send me for training.
Training I didn't even need.
I dropped onto my bed dramatically.
"I can literally run a multinational corporation in my sleep," I muttered into my pillow. "Why do I need to milk cows in the province for leadership character?"
Ugh.
I rolled over, grabbed my phone, and before I could overthink it…
I texted him.
Me:
Keifer, I need help.
Like… mental support. Now.
The message delivered instantly.
My heart thumped, waiting—
Then:
Keifer:Princess.Breathe.What happened?
I stared at his text, at those three simple words, and somehow my frustration melted just a little.
I bit my lip, typing fast.
Me:Kuya said I'm leaving for province training after graduation.
FOR A WEEK.
I didn't even finish crying about being chairwoman and now I have to go do… Intern work like grab coffee and all???
Three dots appeared immediately.
Keifer:…are you serious?
A week??
Another message followed.
Keifer:
Tell me where you are. I'm coming over.
My breath caught.
I sat up, hugging Cole's folder to my chest.
Me:
No no no don't come.
Kuya is home....
Keifer:
Jay I'm coming right now better keep you window open...
Me:
Fine....
The moment I sent that "Fine…" message, I tossed my phone aside and scrambled to open my window.
Cold air rushed in — then a familiar silhouette climbed up like it was the easiest thing in the world.
Keifer swung a leg over the ledge and landed inside my room silently, like some annoyingly hot ninja.
"Princess," he whispered.
And just like that — my chest loosened.
I didn't even wait.
I walked straight into him, burying my face in his hoodie.
His arms wrapped around me instantly, pulling me close, warm, solid, like the world couldn't touch me as long as he was here.
He pressed a slow kiss to the top of my head.
"What happened?" he murmured, voice low.
I pulled back a little, pouting.
"Everything."
He smiled softly. "Tell me."
So we moved to my bed — he sat first, leaning against the headboard, and I curled into him, resting my head on his chest. His hand found my hair immediately, stroking through it gently, calming every nerve.
I told him everything.
The dinner.
My dad's announcement.
The shares.
Me crying.
The three-day countdown.
The stupid province training.
He listened to every word like none of it was too much.
When I finished, he let out a small breath and tightened his arms around my waist.
"You're… incredible, Jay," he said softly, fingers brushing my cheek. "Do you even realize how strong you are? How smart? How—"
I groaned.
"Don't start flattering me. I'm stressed."
He chuckled quietly and kissed my forehead.
"I'm not flattering you. I'm telling you the truth."
I sighed, my fingers curling into his hoodie.
"I don't want to leave for training. I don't want to leave you."
"Hey," he whispered. "It's just a week. And you're going because everyone knows what you're capable of. They're proud of you. I'm proud of you."
His thumb brushed my cheekbone in the slowest, softest way.
"You can do this, princess," he murmured. "You're built for more than they even know."
My heart fluttered stupidly.
Silence settled — warm, comforting.
I shifted, laying fully across him now, cheek resting over his heartbeat, his fingers absentmindedly trailing patterns on my shoulder.
Then…
"Jay," he said quietly, "Can I stay tonight?"
I shot up so fast I nearly headbutted him.
"What—NO. Absolutely not. Kuya Angelo is downstairs. If he finds you here— we are both DEAD."
He blinked.
"Then I'll be quiet."
"No."
"I won't move."
"No."
"I'll sleep on the floor."
"No."
He grabbed my wrist gently, pulling me closer with that stupid calm confidence.
"Princess," he said, voice dropping, "I just want to stay with you. I don't want you to sleep alone tonight. Not after all this."
My resolve wavered.
Damn him.
"I'll leave before sunrise," he added softly. "No one will know."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You're too confident."
He tilted his head, smirking slightly.
"And you like that."
I threw a pillow at his face.
He caught it with one hand — obnoxiously smooth — and tossed it aside.
"Please, Jay?" he asked again, quieter this time. "I just want to be here. With you."
My chest tightened.
Ugh.
Ugh.
Why did he have to say it like that?
I sighed dramatically and flopped back onto his chest.
"Fine. But ONE sound and I'm pushing you out the window personally."
His laugh rumbled under my ear — warm, deep, satisfied.
"Yes, princess."
He pulled the blanket over both of us, his arm sliding around my waist, holding me like I might disappear.
My fingers curled around his shirt.
And for the first time since the crazy dinner…
I felt safe.
Calm.
Warm.
Keifer whispered into my hair,
"Sleep, Jay. I'm right here."
And just like that —
I did...
I don't know how long I lay there — half on his chest, half cocooned in his arms — but at some point the tension in my body melted, slowly, like warm butter.
His hand moved gently through my hair in slow, lazy strokes, his fingers sometimes brushing the shell of my ear, sending a shiver down my spine every single time.
It felt unfair that someone could be so comforting.
I shifted slightly — just enough to look up at him.
Big mistake.
He was already looking at me.
Those dark eyes, so soft they made my heart do a weird backflip. His lips parted slightly, like he'd been wanting to say something but stopped himself.
His thumb rose, brushing beneath my eye.
"You've been crying too much today," he whispered.
"H—hey," I muttered, cheeks warming. "Not my fault everyone decided to drop bombshells on the same day."
He smiled slowly.
"Still," he murmured, "you deserve gentler days."
His hand slid from my cheek to my jaw, then rested lightly at the side of my neck — barely touching, but enough to make my pulse jump under his fingertips.
My breath hitched.
He noticed.
Of course he noticed.
Keifer's eyes flicked down to my lips. Just for a second.
Then back to my eyes.
Then down again.
"Jay," he said quietly, his voice dropping into that deeper tone that always ruined me, "can I—?"
My heart stopped.
He didn't finish the question.
He didn't need to.
Because his face was already moving closer.
Slowly.
Slow enough that I could have pulled away.
Slow enough that he was giving me every chance to stop him.
But I didn't move.
I couldn't.
My hand slid up his chest on instinct, gripping the fabric of his hoodie.
His forehead gently touched mine.
I felt his breath brush my lips.
"Tell me to stop," he whispered.
I didn't.
My voice barely escaped, just a breath.
"Keifer…"
His lips met mine.
Soft.
Slow.
Careful — like he was afraid I'd break.
My fingers tightened in his hoodie, pulling him closer without meaning to. He inhaled quietly, his thumb brushing faint circles against my neck as he kissed me deeper, still gentle but no longer hesitant.
Everything inside me went warm.
My mind emptied.
Just him. His mouth. The quiet warmth between us.
He pulled back just a little — barely an inch — his forehead still resting against mine, his breath unsteady.
"Princess…" he whispered, voice low and rough, "you're going to be the end of me."
My cheeks burned, but I couldn't stop smiling — a small, shy, stupid smile.
I whispered back, "You started it."
He chuckled softly, leaning in to press the lightest kiss to the corner of my mouth.
"And I'm not stopping."
He kissed me again — slower this time, softer, like he was memorizing me.
And in that moment — In his arms, with his lips on mine, with the world quiet and small and warm —
I realized something terrifying.
I was falling.
Hard.
And he was right there, catching me without even asking.