Jay POV
The ride home was surprisingly peaceful.
For once.
No explosions.
No fights.
No Ci-n.
No Section E chaos.
Just me and Matteo arguing about music the entire drive.
😭
When we finally reached my house, Matteo stopped the car near the front entrance.
I grabbed my bag.
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"The ride."
"You're welcome."
I opened the door.
Then paused.
"And Matteo?"
"Hm?"
"You're still insane."
Matteo laughed.
"I've been told."
😭
Then I got out.
As the car drove away, I headed toward the mansion.
The moment I stepped inside, one of the maids greeted me.
"Welcome home, Miss Jay."
"Thanks."
The house felt unusually lively.
Which was strange.
Normally everyone was busy.
But today...
It felt different.
As I entered the living room, I spotted Angelo sitting on a couch with his laptop.
Working.
As usual.
"You're home."
"Unfortunately."
"School was that bad?"
"School is always that bad."
😭
Angelo chuckled.
Then returned to his work.
I was about to head upstairs when another familiar voice spoke.
"Jay."
I froze.
No way.
I turned around.
And there he was.
My father.
Jasfher Mariano Fernandez.
Standing near the doorway.
"Dad?!"
His face immediately brightened.
"There's my favorite daughter."
"I'm your only daughter."
"Exactly."
😭
I laughed.
Then ran over and hugged him.
My father hugged me back.
For a moment, everything felt warm.
Safe.
Comfortable.
Like being a little kid again.
When we pulled apart, he studied my face carefully.
Too carefully.
Dangerously carefully.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Dad."
"Nothing."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You're smiling."
"I always smile."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
😭
I immediately pointed at him.
"You're imagining things."
"Sure."
That smile.
That father smile.
The one that meant he knew something.
I hated that smile.
😭
A few minutes later, Dad invited me to his office.
Not for work.
Not for a lecture.
Just to spend time together.
The moment I entered, I noticed something beautiful.
Snacks.
Everywhere.
😭💖
Cookies.
Chips.
Chocolate.
Juice.
Cake.
I almost cried.
"Dad..."
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I bought snacks."
"Exactly."
😭
Dad laughed as I immediately attacked the food.
A few minutes later, we were sitting comfortably together.
Talking.
Laughing.
Enjoying the rare chance to spend time together.
Then suddenly Dad smiled.
Uh oh.
That smile meant trouble.
"Remember when you were five?"
"No."
"Liar."
😭
I groaned.
"What did I do this time?"
Dad immediately started laughing.
Which was never a good sign.
"You walked into one of my business meetings."
"Okay."
"Climbed onto a chair."
"Okay."
"Pointed at twenty executives."
"Okay."
"And announced..."
Dad struggled to keep a straight face.
"'My daddy is richer than all of you.'"
😭😭😭
I buried my face in my hands.
"NO."
"YES."
"NO."
"YES."
😭
Dad was laughing too hard now.
"One of the executives nearly choked on his coffee."
"Please stop."
"Never."
😭
Before I could recover, he continued.
"What about the pen incident?"
"What pen incident?"
"The fifty-thousand-dollar pens."
I froze.
Oh no.
Not that.
"I was five."
"You stole every pen in the boardroom."
"Borrowed."
"You hid them."
"Temporarily."
"For six months."
😭
I couldn't even defend myself.
Because he was right.
Unfortunately.
Dad wiped away a tear from laughing.
Then continued.
"And let's not forget the conference table."
I immediately groaned.
"Dad."
"You disappeared during an international meeting."
"I was tired."
"Security searched the entire building."
😭
"Thirty minutes later..."
Dad pointed under his desk.
"You were asleep under the conference table."
"It was comfortable."
"You used my briefcase as a pillow."
😭
I laughed despite myself.
The memories felt distant.
But warm.
Like opening an old photo album.
Then Dad became quiet.
Not sad.
Just thoughtful.
He looked at me for a moment.
Then smiled softly.
"You know..."
I looked up.
"No matter how old you get..."
His voice was gentle.
"You'll always be my little girl."
😭💖
I immediately looked away.
Embarrassed.
"Dad."
"It's true."
"I'm eighteen."
"You'll be fifty and I'll still say the same thing."
😭
I couldn't help smiling.
Then...
Danger arrived.
Without warning.
"So."
I immediately became suspicious.
Very suspicious.
"What?"
Dad casually picked up his coffee.
Far too casually.
"What's going on between you and Keifer?"
😭🔥
I nearly choked on a cookie.
Actually choked.
"WHAT?!"
Dad calmly handed me juice.
Traitor.
"Well?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"You sure?"
"Dad."
😭
He smiled.
That smile again.
That dangerous smile.
"So you're just friends?"
"Yes."
"Only friends?"
"YES."
"Hmm."
😭😭😭
I hated that "hmm."
Dad leaned back in his chair.
Still smiling.
"If that's what you say."
"It is."
"Of course."
"Dad."
"Yes?"
"Stop smiling."
"I can't."
😭
A few minutes later, I finally escaped his office.
As I headed upstairs, I could still feel him smiling behind me.
And somehow...
That was terrifying.
Because my father knew me better than anyone.
Including myself.
And if there was one thing he had learned when I was five years old...
It was this:
Jay Mariano was a terrible liar.
😭💖
End of Chapter 101 📖✨👨👧💖😂