JAY-JAY POV
I can't even process this right now.
They seriously used me… just for revenge.
All of it, just to get back at Aries—my so‑called brother.
And then Percy drops the bomb
I'm not even who I thought I was.
Illegitimate.
He is my step‑brother.
Lies stacked on lies.
My whole world feels fake.
"Jay, we're here. Let's go," Percy said.
That's when I realized—we were standing right in front of the Fernandez mansion.
The gates looked taller than ever, like they were daring me to step inside.
My chest tightened.
I wanted to scream, but instead I clenched my fists.
Why me?
Why drag me into their twisted family drama?
Percy glanced at me, his face unreadable. "You have to face them, Jay. No more running."
I swallowed hard.
The air felt heavy, like the whole world was waiting for me to move.
One step forward, and everything I thought I knew about myself would shatter.
"Come with me, Percy… please," I whispered.
He just nodded.
No questions, no hesitation.
He followed me inside like he already knew this was going to be heavy.
The moment we stepped through the doors, my stomach dropped.
Kuya was there.
Aries too.
Tita Gemma, Lola, and—her.
My so‑called mother.
And then… Section E.
All of them.
Watching.
Waiting.
The room felt like it was closing in on me.
Every pair of eyes burned into my skin.
"Where the hell were you? We were about to call the police!" Mama rushed toward me, arms wide, but I stepped back before she could touch me.
"Tell me the truth… am I an illegitimate child?" The words burned as they left my mouth.
Her eyes widened, shock flashing across her face. She grabbed my hand, squeezing it so tight it hurt.
"Who told you this?" she demanded, voice trembling, like she could crush the truth out of me if she held on hard enough.
"So it's the truth," I whispered, my chest tightening.
Her silence was louder than any answer.
Section E froze, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief.
"Why?" I demanded, my voice cracking. "How many more secrets are you hiding from me?"
"Jay, please understand… we did this for your safety," Tita Gemma said softly, her eyes pleading.
I turned to her, anger boiling in my chest. "So you're telling me you hid all of this—my whole life—just to protect me?"
She nodded, lips pressed tight.
My hands shook. "Then I would rather die than live not knowing the truth."
"Jay, please stop," Kuya said, his voice breaking, but I couldn't.
The words kept spilling out, raw and sharp.
"Shut up!" I snapped, my finger stabbing the air at each of them. "None of you get to talk to me. Not anymore."
"Jay, enough," Lola cut in, her tone firm.
"What?" I shot back, my voice shaking. "You don't get to keep this from me. You destroyed my life!" I turned, pointing straight at my so‑called mother.
"Do you even know what it feels like?" My chest heaved, words spilling out like fire. "To be terrified of your own blood? Every time I bleed, the only thought in my head is—what if I hurt someone?"
Aries face fell, guilt written all over him.
My mother didn't say a word—she just stared at me with teary eyes.
"That is because of you," I spat, pointing straight at her.
"Jay, enough," Aries tried to cut in.
"Shut up, Aries!" I snapped. "You don't get to talk. I don't know what happened between us, but that doesn't mean you get to hide the fact that you're my brother. Do you know how long I've been dying to meet you? To have a brother?"
Aries looked down, guilt heavy in his eyes.
I turned to Kuya, my voice breaking. "And you… when you took me in, I thought maybe I'd finally matter. But no. You wanted something from me. You wanted me to marry a guy for your company. Is that all I am to you? A doll to pass around?" Tears streamed down my face as the words tore out of me.
"Jay, please stop," Yuri cut in, reaching out to touch me.
"Don't you dare fucking touch me!" I snapped, my voice shaking. "Just being near you makes me want to throw up."
Tears blurred my vision as I screamed, "Why, Yuri? You don't love me. You only wanted to prove to Keifer that you're better than him. That's why you forced this engagement between us!"
"Jay, please… I really do love you," Yuri said, his voice breaking.
"Well I don't, Yuri!" I yelled, my chest heaving. "And you know it. We both know it."
I turned, my eyes locking on Section E. They were all watching—silent, tense, shocked.
"From what I remember, I only ever helped you. I never hurt you," I shouted, pointing at them, tears streaming down my face. "Then why did you hurt me?"
"Jay, please listen to us," Ci‑n cried, his voice breaking.
"Jay…" David called out softly.
"Jay, please," Felix added, his tone desperate.
"Just shut up!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the room.
I grabbed Keifer by the collar, my hands shaking. "Why, Keifer? If the problem was between you and Aries, then why drag me into it? You think that makes you strong? It doesn't. It just makes you a coward."
For a moment, guilt flickered in his eyes—but then he masked it with that cold, empty expression. He pried my hands off his collar, pushing them away.
"Did you really never love me?" I asked one last time, my voice breaking.
Keifer smirked, his words sharp as knives. "I already told you—I used you. It's funny you actually thought I could love someone like you."
I stumbled back, my chest tightening.
"You know what? You're all the same!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "Every single one of you wants something from me. Why don't I deserve love? What did I do to deserve this?"
"Jay, please… listen to us," Lola begged, her voice trembling.
"Don't touch me. Don't follow me," I snapped, heading for the door.
I didn't wait for their answers. I couldn't. I ran.
"Jay, stop!" Kuya called, his footsteps echoing behind me.
"Jay, stop running—you might get hurt!" Aries shouted, chasing after me.
"Jay, please… stop running!" Percy's voice cracked, desperate, but I didn't look back.
I didn't stop. My legs kept moving, faster and faster, even as my chest burned.
Behind me, I could hear Section E shouting my name, their voices overlapping—panic, anger, desperation.
But I didn't stop. I couldn't.
And then—impact.
Something slammed into me.
The world spun.
Maybe it was a car, maybe a truck—I couldn't even tell.
All I knew was the blinding pain, the sound of screeching tires, and the way the ground rushed up to meet me.
My body hit the pavement hard.
My vision blurred, colors bleeding together.
"JAY!" voices screamed—Percy, Kuya, Aries, Section E—all of them.
+++++++++++++++++++++
💙🔥 Author's Note 🔥💙
Sooo how was the first chapter??? 😭💭
It's already emotional, I know… like we're starting off with feelings right away 👀✨.
Please comment your thoughts—I wanna see how you guys felt reading it 💬💙.
Your support means everything and keeps me writing 🌌🔥.
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