Jay-Jay (POV)
After I left Kiefer's room, I saw Cassian leaning against the wall, lost in thought.
"What are you thinking about?" I asked.
He looked at me for a second before answering quietly.
"Nothing."
Then his eyes dropped to the trash in my hand.
"Let me help you with that."
Before I could refuse, he took it from me.
"Did you eat?" I asked.
"Hm," he hummed in response.
"Is everything okay between you and Kiefer?" he asked.
I nodded slowly.
"We talked. It's okay now."
He glanced at me carefully.
"And you? Are you okay?"
I looked at him, confused for a moment.
"I mean… you fell," he said softly. "And you're pregnant, so I'm just asking if everything's alright."
"Cassian…" I sighed quietly. "I don't want to lie to you, so I'll say this honestly."
He stayed silent, listening.
"I really hate lies. And I hate when people hide things from me." I looked straight at him. "I know you wanted to be friends with me… so don't betray me."
He stopped walking for a second before a small smile appeared on his face.
"So… you're giving me a chance?" he asked.
"If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have eaten the food you brought," I replied.
He laughed softly after hearing that.
Then he started telling me where he bought all the groceries from, casually talking while we walked.
And somehow…
Listening to him like this…
I felt like maybe he wasn't a bad person after all.
Maybe…
I really attract troublesome people.
While we were walking toward the room, I suddenly heard loud noises from inside.
"Clyden Kuya…?"
The moment I pushed the door open, my heart nearly stopped.
Clyden Kuya was gripping Kiefer by the collar, his eyes filled with anger and something far worse—
Fear.
"Kuya?" I whispered.
Clyden instantly turned toward me.
"Jay…" his voice broke.
He immediately walked toward me and pulled me into a tight hug, almost crushing me against him. His hands trembled as he cupped my face.
"Are you okay?" he asked breathlessly. "I thought I really lost you…"
My eyes instantly became watery.
"I'm okay, Kuya," I whispered softly.
Then his eyes shifted beside me.
Toward Cassian.
His expression hardened immediately.
"What are you doing here?" he asked sharply.
Then he slowly looked back at Kiefer.
"…You knew where Jay was this whole time?"
His voice turned cold.
Dangerously cold.
Before I could even react—
He punched Kiefer hard across the face.
"You asshole!" Clyden shouted. "Do you know how worried everyone was while you were hiding her?!"
"Kuya, stop!" I cried, trying to pull him away, but he was too strong. "Let him go! He's still a patient!"
Then I turned desperately toward the only person standing there doing absolutely nothing.
Cassian was leaning against the door like he was watching a movie.
"Cassian, help me!" I shouted.
Finally, he pushed himself off the wall and walked over before grabbing Clyden and pulling him back.
"Calm down," Cassian warned.
"Don't tell me to calm down!" Clyden snapped furiously.
His chest was rising heavily with anger.
Then he looked back at Kiefer again.
"Did Angelo know?" he asked.
Just hearing Angelo Kuya's name sent a cold chill down my spine.
Then suddenly—
Clyden smiled.
But it wasn't a normal smile.
It was the kind that made fear crawl through your body.
"You're dead, Kiefer," he muttered darkly. "Angelo's going to bury you alive when he hears this."
My stomach dropped instantly.
If Angelo Kuya found out…
Kiefer was finished.
I had never seen Clyden Kuya this angry before.
And if he was already like this…
Then Angelo Kuya…
Jare Kuya…
Cole Kuya…
They would actually kill Kiefer.
I slowly turned toward him.
What have you done, Kiefer…?
"We're leaving. Now," Clyden Kuya said firmly.
"No, Kuya… he can't come," I said quickly. "He's injured… he needs bed rest."
"JAY!"
I flinched instantly.
Clyden Kuya had never raised his voice at me like that before.
My chest tightened.
"Kuya…" I whispered weakly. "You're scaring me now…"
Without realizing it, I took a small step back.
The moment he noticed, his expression changed.
He closed his eyes for a second and loosened his tie roughly before taking a deep breath.
Then another.
When he looked back at me, his eyes still carried anger—
But now I could also see him trying desperately to control it.
He walked toward me slowly before gently holding my hand.
"Sorry," he said quietly. "I shouldn't have shouted at you."
His grip softened.
"But Jay… this isn't right."
I lowered my eyes silently.
"I know you're worried about Kiefer," Clyden Kuya continued. "I understand that."
His voice became tired now.
"But think about our family."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Do you know what everyone went through after you disappeared?"
My chest started hurting hearing that.
"Your brothers stopped sleeping properly," he said quietly. "Angelo almost lost his mind trying to find you. Jare kept blaming himself. Cole nearly killed people looking for information."
I slowly looked toward Kiefer.
"And all this time…" Clyden Kuya's voice hardened again. "He knew where you were."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Painful.
Then Clyden Kuya looked back at me again.
"We were suffering too, Jay."
The moment he said that, tears finally slipped down my cheeks.
"Kuya…" my voice trembled. "I know… I missed everyone too…"
I wiped my face quickly, trying to calm myself.
"But please… let's wait until tomorrow."
Clyden Kuya stared at me silently.
And without even realizing it…
I looked at him with the same expression I always used whenever I wanted to convince him.
My puppy eyes.
The same look that usually made him give up immediately whenever I wanted something.
For a few seconds, he tried to stay serious.
Really tried.
But then he suddenly looked away and cursed under his breath.
"Kiefer already agreed," I whispered. "I was going to tell the family too."
His expression didn't soften immediately, but I could see him listening carefully now.
"I know what we did was wrong," I admitted quietly. "And I know everyone's hurt because of it."
I looked down at my shaking hands.
"But Kiefer's injured right now… please don't force him to move."
The room stayed quiet.
Then suddenly—
"You're seriously asking me to pity that asshole?" Clyden Kuya snapped again.
He pointed furiously at Kiefer.
"You think those injuries can stop him, Jay?" His voice rose again. "That monster can survive worse than this. He's probably just acting!"
"Oi," Kiefer muttered tiredly from the bed. "That's a little harsh."
"Shut up," Clyden shot back instantly.
I flinched slightly as the tension in the room rose again.
"Kuya, please…" I whispered again. "Just one more day."
Clyden Kuya ran a frustrated hand through his hair before looking away for a moment.
I could tell he was struggling between his anger and his worry for me.
Finally, his eyes shifted toward Kiefer lying there silently.
"You're lucky she's the one asking," he muttered coldly.
Kiefer gave a smirk before wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"I know," he replied quietly.
Clyden Kuya clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Then he pointed at Kiefer.
"But tomorrow?" Clyden warned darkly while staring at Kiefer. "The moment we reach Manila… you're explaining everything to the family yourself."
The entire room fell silent after his words.
Kiefer leaned back against the hospital bed slowly, exhausted, but he still nodded once.
"I will."
And somehow…
That answer scared me more than the fighting did.
The room stayed quiet for a moment before Clyden Kuya suddenly looked toward Cassian.
"Why are you here?" Clyden Kuya asked suspiciously. "Shouldn't you be in Singapore?"
Cassian shrugged casually, like none of this chaos had anything to do with him.
"I came back."
"I can see that," Clyden replied dryly. "I'm asking why you're here with my sister."
Then his eyes slowly moved between Cassian and Kiefer.
"And what is this unusual combination?"
Even I had to admit—
Seeing Cassian and Kiefer in the same room without trying to kill each other felt unnatural.
Cassian glanced at me before answering calmly.
"I came to see Jay. I also helped Kiefer get admitted to the hospital." Then he added casually, "And I stayed because Jay and I became friends."
The room went silent.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
Clyden Kuya turned his head toward me.
"Jay…" he said carefully. "What do you mean by friends—"
Then suddenly his expression changed.
He froze.
Wait.
That wasn't the important part.
His eyes slowly turned back toward Cassian.
"…Not that," he muttered.
The atmosphere instantly became dangerous again.
"What do you mean you came to see Jay?" Clyden asked coldly.
Cassian stayed calm.
"I mean exactly what I said."
Clyden's eyes narrowed.
"You knew she was alive?"
Silence.
And somehow—
That silence answered everything.
Clyden laughed once in disbelief before looking between Cassian and Kiefer.
"Oh, this just keeps getting worse."
"Kuya—" I tried to speak.
"No, Jay," he cut me off while staring at Cassian. "How long?"
"Just a week ago," Cassian answered calmly. "And today we met again and Jay agreed to be my friend."
Silence.
Then—
"What?" Clyden asked slowly.
Cassian looked completely relaxed.
"We're friends now."
Clyden turned toward me so fast I almost stepped back.
"Friend?" he repeated in disbelief. "Jay, what are you thinking?"
I opened my mouth carefully.
"He's not that bad—"
"NOT THAT BAD?!" Clyden shouted.
Cassian looked offended immediately.
"Why is everyone reacting like I'm a criminal?"
Three people looked at him silently.
"…Okay, fair enough," he muttered.
Clyden pointed dramatically at Cassian.
"You want to be friends with him?!"
"I was also asking that," Kiefer interrupted from the bed.
Clyden instantly snapped toward him.
"You asshole, I'm talking to my sister!" he shouted. "And you don't have the right to complain about her!"
"That just happened," I muttered under my breath.
Clyden Kuya closed his eyes and sighed heavily like he was already exhausted dealing with all of us.
"Jay… you're really impossible to deal with," Clyden said tiredly.
Then suddenly, he grabbed my shoulders dramatically.
"Jay," he said seriously. "Promise me you won't collect dangerous men like stray cats anymore."
"You're saying I'm a stray cat?" Cassian complained immediately.
Clyden looked at him blankly.
"Yes."
Cassian looked deeply offended.
"I have more money than you." he mutted.
Then he looked toward Cassian seriously.
"After this matter settles, I need to talk with you."
Cassian raised a brow.
"That sounds threatening."
"It is."
Cassian actually laughed after hearing that.
And somehow…
That worried me too.
—
The next morning, everyone started heading back to Manila.
The entire ride felt painfully silent.
No teasing.
No arguments.
No laughter.
Just tension.
Heavy tension.
I sat quietly beside Kiefer while staring outside the window, my fingers nervously twisting together.
Something bad was waiting for us in Manila.
I could feel it.
And strangely…
Cassian followed us too.
I still didn't know why.
What surprised me more was the fact that Clyden Kuya allowed it.
Which probably meant he wanted to keep an eye on him himself.
The second we landed in Manila, the atmosphere became even heavier.
Kiefer immediately made calls.
One after another.
My brothers.
Section E.
Everyone.
Then he finally said the words that made my stomach twist nervously.
"Gather at the Fernanandez mansion."
My breathing slowed.
Because if everyone were gathering there…
Then this wasn't going to be a normal conversation.
This was going to be a disaster.
And knowing my family…
Someone was definitely going to die today.
When we finally stood outside the mansion, my hands were already sweating.
I stared at the huge doors nervously.
What was going to happen inside…?
Clyden Kuya went in first.
"Wife," Kiefer whispered while holding my hand tightly. "I'm here."
Somehow, that only made me more nervous.
Then Cassian followed behind us quietly.
The moment Kiefer stepped inside the mansion—
"Kiefer… did you know where Jay was?" Yuri asked immediately.
"Why did you call all of us here?" Percy added.
"Kiefer, say something," Jare said coldly.
"Kiefer" Aries said.
Then—
I walked in.
The entire mansion fell silent.
I heard gasps everywhere.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Some people even stood up instantly.
Before anyone could speak again—
"My lady!"
Kai suddenly ran toward me and wrapped himself around my legs tightly.
I smiled instantly despite my nervousness.
"Hey, baby," I whispered while touching his hair softly. "Did you miss me?"
The second I asked that, his face crumpled.
"Why did you go on vacation without me?" he cried. "Do you hate me? You didn't even call me!"
My chest hurt hearing that.
"No, baby," I said softly. "I was just busy."
Then his small hand touched my stomach carefully.
Right at that moment—
The baby kicked.
Kai's eyes widened instantly.
"My lady!" he shouted excitedly. "The baby kicked me!"
A small laugh escaped my lips for the first time in days.
"He must already like you," I whispered before kissing his forehead gently.
But when I looked back up—
Everyone still looked stunned.
Like they still couldn't believe I was standing there alive.
Then my eyes landed on Kiran.
He was standing still, like he wanted to run to me but was holding himself back.
Slowly, I opened my arms toward him.
And nodded.
That was enough.
Kiran and Kiegen immediately rushed toward me and hugged me tightly.
"I thought I lost you too," Kiran whispered brokenly.
My eyes started burning again.
"You never will," I whispered back while kissing both their foreheads gently. "I'm never leaving any of you again."
Then suddenly—
Section E surrounded me completely.
And before I realized it, they all pulled me into a huge group hug.
"Where were you, Jay?!"
"Do you know how much we missed you?!"
"You scared all of us!"
"your idiot..why did int he first place you ranaway"
"I'm okay...I'm alive; nothing to worry about."
Everyone started talking at once while hugging me tightly.
And standing there in the middle of all of them…
For the first time since everything happened…
I finally felt like I came home.
Mia, Honey,Ella, Ion, and Amy were crying while hugging me, but my brothers stayed where they were.
Waiting.
Watching.
Holding themselves back.
I could see it in their eyes.
The relief.
The anger.
The hurt.
I took a slow breath before walking toward them first.
I hugged Percy, Aries, and Jare tightly.
"Idiot…" Jare muttered, his voice rough. "Where were you? I missed you."
"I missed you too," I whispered back.
Percy flicked my forehead lightly.
"You nearly gave us heart attacks."
Aries just held my shoulder quietly, like he was checking if I was really there.
Then slowly…
I walked toward Cole Kuya and Angelo Kuya.
The moment I hugged them, the entire room became silent again.
Cole hugged me immediately.
Tightly.
Like he never wanted to let go.
But Angelo…
Angelo stayed still for a few seconds before finally wrapping one arm around me.
"So…" he said quietly.
That tone scared me more than shouting.
"Where have you been hiding all this time without telling us?"
That was it.
My smile disappeared instantly.
The room suddenly felt cold again.