Jay's POV
The silence in my room was suffocating. I had spent the last twenty minutes staring at the wall, the word "Donkey" echoing like a funeral bell. But the smell of Jane's pancakes—sweet, buttery, and smelling of home—eventually acted like a tether, pulling me out of the dark.
I stood up, wiped my face, and pulled on a pair of oversized sweatpants over my shorts. I didn't brush my hair. I didn't care. I just needed to be near Jane.
When I walked down the stairs, the living room was a hive of activity. The "Kings" and the "Minister" were talking in low voices, some looking at phones, others whispering. But the moment my foot hit the last step, I felt it.
A gaze.
I didn't have to look to know it was Keifer. But it wasn't the usual sharp, piercing stare he gave me at school—the one that felt like he was trying to solve a puzzle or issue a challenge. This was… softer. It was heavy with something I didn't want to name. Empathy? Concern? It made my skin prickle in a way that wasn't annoying for once. It was unsettling.
I ignored him completely, fixing my eyes on the kitchen.
Jane was there, expertly flipping golden-brown pancakes. The tension in her shoulders dropped the second she saw me. I didn't say a word. I just grabbed a plate, piled it high with three pancakes, and hopped up to sit on the kitchen slab, my legs dangling.
I cut a piece, dripping with syrup, and held it out to her. Jane blinked, surprised, then leaned in and took the bite. I took the next one.
"It's so tasty, Jane," I mumbled, my voice still a little thick from crying. "I love you. You really are the best."
Jane reached out, pinching my cheek gently. "You are such a sweet talker, Jay. Only when there's food involved."
I smiled faintly, the first real spark of light I'd felt all morning. I went back to my plate, cutting another piece, but as I reached down, my fork hit ceramic.
Empty?
I looked down. One of my pancakes was gone. I looked up.
Cin was standing right next to the slab, chewing slowly, his expression a mask of pure, innocent silence. He didn't even have a plate. He had just used his hands like a thief in the night.
"Cinnnnnn!" I roared.
He gave me his "best" smile—the one that usually gets him out of trouble with teachers—and then he bolted.
"I'll kill you!" I screamed, sliding off the slab.
"Jane, help me! Jay gonna kill me !" Cin yelled, laughing as he dove behind the sofa.
"You brought this on yourself, Cin!" Jane called out, her laughter ringing through the kitchen.
I was gaining on him, my competitive spirit obliterating the gloom from earlier. Cin ducked around a chair, and I lunged, but my foot caught the edge of the Snorlax I had dropped earlier.
"Whoa—!"
The world tilted. I braced for the hard floor, but instead, I hit something firm, warm, and decidedly human. I landed right in Keifer's lap.
The room went dead silent again, but for a different reason this time.
His hands moved instinctively, clamping firmly around my waist to steady me. I froze, my hands resting on his shoulders. We were inches apart. I could see the dark flecks in his eyes, and for a second, the "softness" I'd felt earlier was overwhelming. My breath hitched. We both blinked, a weird, magnetic pull holding us there for a beat too long.
Then, the reality of ten pairs of eyes hit me.
I scrambled up, my face burning. I tried to play it off, clearing my throat and leaning over to grab Cin—who had stopped running to watch the show—by the ear.
"You brat," I hissed, whistling a sharp, frustrated note as I dragged him toward the middle of the room.
"Enough, kids," Tita Serina's voice broke through the chaos. She stood up, her expression turning serious but kind. "Actually, Jay, Jane… I need a favor from you both."
Jane walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. We looked at each other, a silent communication passing between us, and then we both nodded at Tita Serina.
"I want you both to attend a gala with Keifer and Yuri today at 7:00 PM," Tita Serina announced. "It's a formal event, and partners are compulsory. I think the four of you are perfect for it. Will you agree?"
Jane's gaze drifted to Yuri. He was already looking at her, his expression unreadable but hopeful. After a moment, Jane gave a small, graceful nod.
I looked at Keifer. He was leaning back, watching me with that same soft intensity. I rolled my eyes, letting out a long, dramatic sigh. "Fine, Tita. Just for you."
"Perfect," Serina beamed. "The boys will be here to pick you up at 6:30. Dress to impress."
Cin suddenly perked up, looking like a puppy who'd been left out of a walk. "Tita Serina! Can I go too?"
Serina tilted her head. "Do you have a partner, Cin?"
"Yes! Rakki!" he said quickly, then his face fell. "But I don't know if she'll actually agree to go with me."
Jane smiled, pulling out her phone. "She agreed."
Cin's jaw dropped. "How do you know?"
"We already messaged her," I said, a mischievous glint returning to my eyes. "She said yes ten minutes ago."
Cin didn't even try to be cool. He let out a cheer and ran over, throwing his arms around Jane and me in a giant, childish hug. We both stiffened for a second, then smiled faintly, leaning into the warmth of our chaotic, broken, but somehow-still-standing family.
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Keifer's POV
Iwatched the wood of the door slam shut, the sound echoing through the hallway like a finality I wasn't ready to accept. My chest felt tight, the kind of pressure that comes right before a storm breaks.
"Donkey."
That stupid word. It had stripped her bare in a way no physical threat ever could. I'd seen her fight off thugs in an alleyway without blinking, but one inside joke from a ghost of her past had sent her running like she was on fire.
I took a step toward the stairs, my hand already reaching for the banister. I didn't have a plan. I just knew that the look in her eyes—that hollow, haunted vacancy—was something I couldn't leave her alone with. I needed to tell her... I didn't even know what. Just that I was there. That I wasn't afraid of her ghosts.
A heavy hand landed on my shoulder, stopping my momentum.
I spun around, ready to snap, but I stopped when I saw it was Angelo. His face was a mask of weary discipline, his eyes dark with a history I was only just beginning to understand.
"Leave her, Keifer," Angelo said. It wasn't a suggestion; it was a command from a man who had spent years guarding the very person I was trying to reach. "She needs time."
I stood there for a long moment, my pulse thrumming in my ears. Then I slowly nodded.
I watched her walk down.
I couldn't stop. When Jay came back down the stairs, she looked like she'd been through a war, but she was standing tall. She ignored me, which was expected, but I couldn't ignore her.
Seeing her feed Jane, seeing that raw, unfiltered love she had for her sister, it did something to me. It shifted the way I saw her. She wasn't just the "lethal girl" or the "bratty rival." She was a girl who had lost everything and was clinging to the one person who made her feel safe.
Then she fell.
When she landed in my lap, the air left my lungs. She felt small, but her energy was electric. Holding her waist felt… right. Too right. When our eyes met, I saw the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide.
Then she was gone, masking it with anger and ear-pulling.
When Mom—proposed the gala, I waited. I didn't think she'd say yes. But when she rolled her eyes and agreed "just for Tita," I felt a strange surge of triumph in my chest.
6:30 PM. I'd be ready. And I'd make sure she knew she didn't have to be "Jay" for the whole night.
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Yuri's POV
Jane looked at me.
That was all it took. When Serina asked about the gala, Jane's first instinct was to check my reaction. I saw the hesitation in her, the way she carries the weight of the world—and Jay's trauma—on her shoulders.
I want to be the one who carries it for her, even if just for one night.
When she nodded, I felt a weight lift off my own heart. The gala isn't just about business or partners. It's a chance. A chance to step out of the shadows of the "The Revenge" and just be Yuri and Jane.
Watching Cin hug them both, I realized how much this group needed a win. We're all scarred, all haunted by the same history, but as Jane smiled faintly at Cin's antics, I saw a glimpse of the future.
Tonight, the masks come off. Tonight, we're not rivals. We're just people trying to find our way back to the light.
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Jane's POV
I stood in the center of my room, the silence finally feeling like a canvas rather than a weight. The steam from my shower had long since dissipated, replaced by the scent of expensive lilies and silk. I reached for the gown draped over my chaise—a floor-length, stark white creation. It was strapless, with a clean bandeau-style neckline that felt daring yet sophisticated.
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As I pulled it on, the fabric felt like a cool second skin. I stepped in front of the full-length mirror and stopped breathing for a second. The white silk clung to my curves before cascading down to the floor in a seamless flow. My shoulders looked pale and polished, the absence of straps highlighting the line of my neck. I looked... serene. Like a woman who wasn't currently living in the middle of a cold war between powerful families.
"Well, well, well," a voice drawled from the doorway. "Who is this goddess and what has she done with my sister?"
I turned to see Jay leaning against the frame. If I looked serene, Jay looked like a storm wrapped in midnight. She was wearing a mermaid-style formal gown made from plush black velvet. It hugged her every curve, flaring out dramatically at the knees.
Her hair, usually a chaotic mane, was pulled back into a sleek, high bun, exposing the sharp, beautiful angles of her face.
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"Jane, you look absolutely illegal," Jay continued, walking toward me with a dramatic flourish of her hands. "You look like a literal angel who accidentally wandered into a gala."
I felt a heat rise to my cheeks, a genuine smile tugging at my lips. "And you," I said softly, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair back into her bun. "You look like the queen of the night, Jay. That velvet is so rich, and the mermaid cut... it's lethal. You look powerful. Gorgeous."
Jay smirked, though I saw the softness in her eyes. "Lethal is the goal. Now, let's go show them that the 'Kings' aren't the only ones who can own a room."
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Jay's POV
I caught my reflection in the hallway mirror as we headed for the stairs. I barely recognized myself. The black velvet of my mermaid gown was so dark it seemed to absorb the light, making my skin look like porcelain. The bun pulled my face tight, making me look older, sharper. I looked exactly how I wanted to feel: untouchable.
Beside me, Jane was a vision in white. Her strapless gown was simple but the way it moved—the way she moved—made it look like a masterpiece.
We hit the top of the stairs, and the chatter in the living room died down instantly. Tita Gemma was there, her eyes widening as she took us in.
"Oh, my girls," Tita Gemma breathed, clasping her hands together. "You both look absolutely breathtaking. Like night and day, and both equally stunning. The boys won't know what hit them."
"They look like they're missing half their clothes," a gruff voice interrupted.
We both turned to see Angelo standing by the fireplace, his arms crossed. His eyes scanned our bare shoulders with the typical overprotective scowl he'd perfected over the years.
"It's an off-shoulder look, Angelo," I said, rolling my eyes. "It's called fashion. Look it up."
"It's called a cold," Angelo countered, stepping forward. "It's night. You both need coats. Or at least a shawl. I'm not letting you go out there like that."
Jane and I shared a look, then simultaneously looked at Tita Gemma.
"Angelo, honestly," Tita Gemma said, waving a dismissive hand. "Let them wear what they want. They're young, they're beautiful, and they're going to a climate-controlled gala, not the Arctic. Let them have their moment."
Angelo grumbled something under his breath but retreated, though he didn't stop glaring at the door as if he could prevent the evening from happening through sheer willpower.
Then, the doorbell rang.
Jane led the way out, her white silk trailing behind her. Through the glass of the front door, I could see them.
Yuri was leaning against the car, looking like a storybook prince in a white suit paired with a crisp black shirt. Jane slowed her pace, her eyes lingering on him with a look of pure admiration. I could practically see the sparks flying between them across the driveway.
But then, my gaze shifted to the figure standing by the driver's side.
Keifer.
He was in a classic black suit. No bells, no whistles, just perfectly tailored lines that accentuated his broad shoulders and lean frame. His hair was styled back, but a few rebellious strands still caught the evening breeze.
He looked... incredible.
My eyes traveled down the lapels of his jacket, and for some reason, my brain decided to remind me of the way he'd felt when I fell into his lap earlier. Firm. Strong. I found myself imagining the hard lines of his abs beneath that dress shirt, the heat of his skin—
What the hell are you thinking, Jay? I snapped at myself, blinking rapidly to clear the image. He's the enemy. He's a brat. He's... annoying.
I straightened my velvet skirts and tilted my chin up, determined to look like I hadn't just been mentally undressing him.
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Yuri POV
I've seen Jane in a lot of things. I've seen her in school uniforms, in casual hoodies. But nothing—nothing—prepared me for the moment that door opened.
The world seemed to slow down.
She stepped out into the evening light, and for a second, I forgot how to speak. The white gown was so bright, so pure against the darkening sky. The strapless neckline showed off the elegant curve of her shoulders and the delicate line of her collarbone. She looked like a dream I didn't want to wake up from.
As she walked toward me, the silk of her dress rippling like water, our eyes locked. I saw the slight flush on her cheeks, the way her gaze took in my white suit. I felt a surge of pride, a desperate need to protect her and stay by her side all night.
"Jane," I managed to say as she reached me. I didn't have the words. I just reached out, my fingers grazing the small of her back as I guided her toward the door. "You... you're stunning."
She gave me a small, shy smile that hit me harder than any physical blow ever could. "You don't look too bad yourself, Yuri."
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Jane's POV
When I stepped outside, the first thing I saw was Yuri.
He was leaning against the car, and for a heartbeat, I thought I was looking at a mirage. The white suit was bold, unconventional, and it made him look absolutely regal. The white t- shirt underneath added a hint of his confidence.
He looked like he belonged on a throne.
As I got closer, I saw his expression soften. The cool, composed facade cracked, replaced by a look of such raw admiration that it made my heart stutter. He looked at me like I was the only person in the world.
When he called my name, his voice was lower than usual, thick with something I couldn't quite name. His hand felt warm against my back, a steadying presence in the whirlwind of the evening. For a moment, the gala didn't matter. The warning didnt matter. There was just him, in white, and me, in white, standing in the quiet of the night.
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Keifer's POV
I heard the door click open before I saw them. I was busy adjusting my cuffs, but the sudden silence from Yuri made me look up.
My breath didn't just hitch; it left my body entirely.
Jay was coming down the steps. She looked like a creature made of shadow and elegance. The black velvet of her gown clung to her in a way that should have been illegal, trailing behind her in that dramatic mermaid flare. Her hair was up, exposing the long line of her neck and the fierce, beautiful intensity of her eyes.
She looked like a queen coming to claim a throne she'd already conquered.
When she got closer, I realized I was staring.
I forced myself to blink, to regain some semblance of the "Keifer" everyone expected. But as she stepped onto the gravel, the light from the porch hitting the velvet, I knew I was in trouble.
I stepped forward, my movements a bit more mechanical than usual, and opened the car door for her. Our eyes met for a fraction of a second—hers were defiant, mine probably looked like I'd just seen a ghost. Or an angel.
"Don't get used to it," she whispered as she slid into the seat, her velvet skirts brushing against my hand.
I didn't say anything. I couldn't. I just closed the door, walked around to the driver's side, and got in. All four of us sat in the plush interior of the car, the scent of Jane's lilies and Jay's subtle, spicy perfume filling the space.
The gala was waiting, but as I pulled out of the driveway, I realized the real battle had already begun right here in this car.