JAY'S POV
He stepped in front of me, shielding me from those boys, and said coldly,
"If you try to touch her with your filthy hands again, I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life in a hospital."
I froze.
Why was he saving me?Why did he even come?
The boys looked terrified. Without another word, they backed off.
Then he turned to me, his expression softening.
"Are you okay, Jay? Did they hurt you? Why are you crying? Did something happen?"
"Percy…" my voice broke. "Take me somewhere quiet… please. Away from everyone… just take me away."
"Okay," he said gently. "Come with me."
I followed him without asking where we were going. It didn't matter. I just wanted to get away… away from those snakes.
I couldn't stop crying. Their words echoed in my mind the entire time.
At some point, exhaustion took over, and I fell asleep.
When I woke up, the car had stopped.
Percy wasn't beside me.
I looked out the window and realized we were at a beach. He was sitting by the shore, staring at the sea.
I wiped my face, stepped out of the car, took a deep breath, and sat beside him.
"Sorry… I gave you trouble. You had to listen to me cry the whole ride."
He chuckled softly. "It didn't trouble me. Besides, you were asleep half the time."
"Oh…"
He looked at me carefully. "Tell me… are you okay now?"
"I'm fine," I said—but even I could hear how unconvincing it sounded.
"You can tell me," he said gently. "I'll listen. Why were you crying?"
"Maybe you already know," I muttered. "You're in contact with David, right?"
"I am. He told me about the plan."
I nodded.
"See?" I laughed bitterly. "Everyone knows… except me."
"I tried to get there as fast as I could after David told me," Percy said, his voice tightening. "But I was late. I couldn't protect you."
I turned to him sharply. "Who are you to protect me? Are we even related?"
He looked straight at me.
"Yes. We are."
My heart skipped.
"You're my stepsister."
"What?" I stared at him. "How?!"
"We share the same father," he said quietly. "And… we're both illegitimate."
I went still.
"I don't understand. Explain everything."
And he did.
He told me about my grandfather…the forced marriage…how their lives separated…the accident…and the four years everyone thought he was dead.
"This is how," he finished, "I get to know about you , about us ."
I let out a slow breath. "Anything else? Any more secrets left?" I let out a bitter laugh.
"None. Not from my side."
I sighed.
Even...he is trying to hide things from me.
What do they think I am?
"Am I made of glass?" I muttered. "Something that'll shatter if I hear the truth?"
"What? No," Percy frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing. Forget it." I stood up. "Drop me at the Fernandez house."
"You mean Aries' house," he said.
"I said Fernandez house. Any problem?" I glared.
"Nope. Come on."
We got back in the car.
"Do you want to eat something?" Percy asked. "You must be starving."
"My appetite is already dead. Eat alone."
"I won't eat if you don't."
"Then starve."
"Jay, you're really heartless," he said dramatically. "Think about me for once."
"I already told you. Eat alone."
He tried to lighten the mood with jokes, but my anger refused to fade.
Eventually, he gave up.
"Fine. I'll eat at home."
The rest of the ride was silent.
Soon, we reached the Fernandez house.
I noticed familiar cars parked outside.
So… the snakes are already here.
I turned to Percy. "I won't ask you to join the upcoming drama. If you want to face them, come inside. If not, go home."
He nodded.
I stepped out and walked into the house.
The moment they saw me, questions came rushing like a storm.
"Where were you?""Why didn't you answer our calls?""Who were you with?""Why didn't you tell us?""Are you okay, Jay?"
"SHUT UP!" I shouted.
Silence fell instantly.
Then I looked straight at them.
"Why the hell are you here?" I demanded.
"Jay, why are you yelling?" Tita said. "They were worried about you—"
A bitter laugh escaped me.
"They don't, Tita. They don't."
I looked each of them in the eye.
"I'm alive. Unfortunately, as you can see. So you can all drop your fake concern."
"Jay!" my so-called mother shouted.
I ignored her.
"You got what you wanted. No need to continue this act. And right now… leave me alone. I want to talk to the Fernandez family."
Angelo signaled them to leave.
And they did.
Now, only the Fernandez family and I remained.
They were all staring at me…
Like they were seeing me for the first time.
Maybe they were.
Because the Jay they knew—
was already dead.