Chapter 40 - Chapter 38 the fiance reveal ..

Jay Jay's POV

🌙 Chapter: 29 February — Her POV

The music was elegant.

Too elegant.

Soft violins.

Controlled rhythm.

Perfectly timed transitions.

Fake.

I stood near the center of the ballroom, fingers lightly wrapped around a glass I hadn't even touched, my eyes lazily scanning the room through the white mask resting over my face.

Everything here screamed power.

Wealth.

Influence.

And yet—

it all felt boring.

"Two and a half hours drive…" I muttered under my breath, lips twitching slightly. "For this?"

A faint smirk tugged at my lips.

The drive had more life than this entire room.

Engines roaring.

Music blasting.

Everyone smirking like they owned the road.

And here?

People pretending.

I shifted my weight slightly, gaze moving across the crowd—

and paused.

They were staring.

Not at the stage.

Not at the elders.

At us.

More specifically—

at the girls.

Aurora stood near the edge, silver-grey gown flowing like liquid metal under the lights.

Calm. Observant. Untouchable.

Chloe?

Soft colors.

Dangerous confidence.

Sarah leaned casually beside Leo, like she didn't care—

which made people care more.

Mia was already talking to someone, probably confusing them beyond repair.

And me?

I didn't even need to try.

My lips curved slightly.

Pathetic.

Whispers started.

Low.

Barely controlled.

"Who are they?"

"Which family—?"

"I've never seen them before…"

Of course you haven't.

One of them finally stepped forward.

Bold.

Or stupid.

"Excuse me," he said, stopping in front of Aurora.

She looked at him.

Just looked.

He straightened slightly.

Confidence building.

"Would you—"

"No."

Flat.

Calm.

Immediate.

He blinked.

"I didn't even finish—"

"You didn't need to."

I almost laughed.

Another one tried with Chloe.

"May I have the pleasure of—"

"No, but you can have the experience of being rejected."

Oh.

That was brutal.

I turned slightly, hiding my smile.

Mia didn't even let them speak.

"No. Next."

Sarah just looked at one—

and he walked away on his own.

Smart man.

The whispers grew louder.

More curious.

More cautious.

Good.

Let them wonder.

Let them try.

They won't get anything.

A soft laugh escaped me.

Chaos.

Perfect.

"Enjoying the attention?"

The voice came from behind me.

Smooth.

Annoying.

I turned.

Aries.

I rolled my eyes instantly.

"Don't start, horoscope.

He smirked.

"Still calling me that?"

"Until your predictions stop sounding like vague poetry? Yes."

He chuckled, stepping closer.

"You should be careful tonight."

I raised a brow.

"Why? Are the stars telling you something?"

His smirk deepened slightly.

"No."

Pause.

"But your life usually gets interesting when you ignore them."

I leaned slightly closer, voice low.

"My life gets interesting when people stop talking and start making sense."

He laughed.

I stepped back.

Done.

Then—

another presence approached.

Different.

Controlled.

"Miss , it's an honour to meet you , I have heard a lot about you , you are the senior executive of J & 'Elvara Global."

I turned.

Angelo.

My posture shifted instantly.

Not visibly to others—

but internally?

Complete switch.

Jay—

was gone.

CEO—

was here.

"Mr. Angelo," I replied calmly.

No smirk.

No sarcasm.

Just precision.

"I didn't expect you here," he said.

"You should expect the unexpected," I replied smoothly.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Measuring.

"Business seems to be moving… fast."

"It always does," I said. "The question is—who keeps up."

A pause.

Respect.

Then he nodded slightly.

"Enjoy the evening."

"I plan to."

He left.

And just like that—

I exhaled slowly.

Back.

Jay Jay returned.

"Ugh," I muttered. "That was exhausting."

And then—

everything stopped.

Because I saw them.

Across the room.

Familiar.

Too familiar.

My breath caught for a second.

"…Dad?"

Jasfher Mariano.

Reycee Mariano.

Standing like they belonged here.

Of course they did.

But still—

I didn't think.

I moved.

Fast.

"Dad—"

I reached him and hugged him tightly.

No control.

No mask.

Just me.

"Jay," he said softly, holding me just as tight.

For a moment—

everything else disappeared.

I pulled back slightly.

"You're here?"

"Of course we are," Reycee said with a calm smile.

Too calm.

Too… ready.

Something felt off.

Before I could question it—

"Wait—WHAT?!"

Percy's voice.

Loud.

Panicked.

We all turned.

And there he was—

staring at a couple across the room like he'd just seen a ghost.

"…Mom?"

"…Dad??"

Oh.

Oh this was gold.

"They're HERE?!" Percy whisper-shouted, running a hand through his hair. "Why didn't anyone tell me?!"

Sebastian was already laughing.

"No one tells you anything. You panic too much."

"I do NOT panic!"

"You screamed."

"That was a controlled reaction!"

I snorted.

Chaos.

Perfect chaos.

But then—

The music shifted.

Lights dimmed slightly.

And the elders stepped forward.

My smile faded.

Something was coming.

Something important.

I could feel it.

The room fell silent.

And then—

they spoke.

At first—

normal.

Keifer's name.

His power.

His rights.

I didn't react.

Didn't care.

Until—

"However…"

My fingers tightened slightly.

"…there remains one final condition."

Something cold settled in my chest.

Then—

"As per Serina Watson's will…"

No.

And then—

"…we announce the engagement of Mark Keifer Watson… and the chosen heir."

Silence.

For a second—

I didn't understand.

Engagement?

Then it hit.

Hard.

Cold.

Sharp.

Me.

Tita serina took a promise from me to .....be with keifer ...now I understood what she meant .

My chest tightened.

What?

My gaze snapped toward the stage—

then toward my group.

Justice Veil.

And what I saw—

was worse than the announcement.

They weren't shocked.

They were watching me.

Carefully.

Like they were waiting.

"You knew," I said quietly.

No one answered immediately.

Then Mia sighed.

"…Yeah."

My heart dropped.

"You ALL fucking knew?"

Silence.

That was answer enough.

I turned slowly.

Toward my parents.

"Tell me you didn't know," I said.

A pause.

Then—

Jasfher spoke.

"We did."

Everything inside me—

went still.

Reycee stepped forward slightly.

"It's good for you, Jay."

Good.

For me.

A hollow laugh almost escaped me.

"Good?" I repeated softly.

My eyes burned—but I didn't let it show.

Of course.

Power.

Alliance.

Future.

Always the same.

Always above me.

I exhaled slowly.

And just like that—

Jay Jay disappeared.

Jay remained.

Cold.

Calm.

Untouchable.

"Fine," I said.

One word.

Everyone froze slightly.

Because that wasn't the reaction they expected.

I turned.

Toward the stage.

Toward him.

Keifer.

Standing there.

Refusing.

Fighting.

Not knowing.

My lips curved slightly.

Irony.

Beautiful irony.

I walked forward.

Slow.

Controlled.

Every step deliberate.

The room shifted.

Attention moved.

And without a word—

I reached the stage.

Stopped.

Exchanged the rings , keigan bought, he looked different like another version of himself.

Didn't reveal myself.

Didn't remove my mask.

Just stood there.

Silent.

Present.

Accepting.

And in that moment—

the engagement—

happened.

Without him knowing.

Without the world knowing.

But with me—

fully aware.

And somewhere between chaos, betrayal, and power—

I realized something.

This wasn't the end of control.

This was the beginning of a game.

And this time—

I wasn't the one being played.

End of Chapter.