Author's POV
The gunshot echoed through the basement.
Everything went silent for one second.
Then chaos exploded.
⸻
Jay's POV
Pain.
Sharp pain.
My body froze as I looked down slowly.
Blood.
My breathing became uneven.
I couldn't understand what happened.
Then suddenly—
"JAY!"
Serena screamed.
I fell to the floor weakly.
My vision blurred.
Everything around me started spinning.
"M-my…" I whispered softly.
It hurts…
Why does it hurt so much…?
⸻
Serena's POV
I froze.
She… protected me?
Why?
Why would she do that after everything I did to her?
I crawled toward her quickly despite my tied hands.
"Jay! Jay!"
Blood kept spreading.
"No… no…"
For the first time in years…
Fear entered my chest.
Real fear.
⸻
Ella's POV
This wasn't supposed to happen.
I stepped back slowly.
"N-no…"
The man panicked too.
"You idiot!" I shouted at him.
But suddenly—
The basement door burst open.
⸻
Kiefer's POV
I knew something was wrong.
The moment Mom took Jay out, my chest felt uneasy.
Then suddenly dad called me.
"We can't contact Mom or Jay."
That was enough.
I tracked the car immediately.
And now—
The sight in front of me made my world stop.
Jay…
Covered in blood.
"JAY!"
I rushed toward her.
My hands shook as I pulled her into my arms.
"Baby… baby look at me…"
Her eyes slowly opened.
"K-keif…"
Her weak voice broke me instantly.
"No… no, stay awake…"
Blood covered my hands.
Too much blood.
Too much.
I looked around.
And saw Ella.
The gun.
Mom tied up.
Everything clicked.
Rage exploded inside me.
"You…"
My voice came out deadly quiet.
Ella stepped back in fear.
"Kiefer listen—"
"You touched my wife?"
My eyes were burning.
"You hurt her?"
⸻
Author's POV
Kiefer Watson had finally snapped.
Completely.
Jay's POV
"K-keifer…"
I held his sleeve weakly.
"Don't…"
He immediately looked back at me.
"Baby… stay with me…"
"I'm cold…"
His face turned pale.
"No no no…"
He removed his coat quickly and wrapped it around me.
"You'll be okay."
Tears filled his eyes.
"You promised you wouldn't leave me."
I tried to smile weakly.
"I'm… tired…"
"NO!" he shouted.
"Jay look at me!"
Everything became blurry again.
His voice sounded far away now.
⸻
Serena's POV
My heart shook seeing my son like this.
Broken.
Terrified.
Destroyed.
Because of me.
Because of my hatred.
Jay protected me…
Even after everything.
Why?
Why would she save me?
⸻
Kaiser's POV
Me, Kieran, Keegan, and Kyla rushed inside after Kiefer.
And the moment Kyla saw Jay—
She screamed.
"JAY!"
Kieran started sobbing hard.
Keegan immediately called the ambulance.
And me?
I looked at Ella.
Coldly.
Very coldly.
"You're finished."
Ella's face turned pale.
⸻
Author's POV
Sirens soon filled the air.
The ambulance arrived quickly.
Kiefer never let go of Jay's hand.
Not once.
Even while they placed her inside the ambulance.
Even while doctors tried stopping the bleeding.
He stayed beside her.
Completely broken.
⸻
Kiefer's POV
"Save her."
My voice cracked.
"Please… save her…"
The doctors rushed her inside the emergency room.
And then—
The doors closed.
I stood there frozen.
Blood still on my hands.
Her blood.
Kyla cried in Keegan's arms.
Kieran looked furious.
Kaiser stayed silent.
Dangerously silent.
And Mom…
Mom couldn't even look at me.
I laughed bitterly.
"You happy now?"
She froze.
"Kiefer…"
"You hated her so much…"
My voice shook.
"And she still saved you."
Mom started crying silently.
But I felt nothing.
Nothing except fear.
Fear of losing her.
Author's POV
Hours passed.
Painful.
Silent.
Heavy hours.
Until finally—
The doctor came out.
Everyone stood up immediately.
"How is she?" Kiefer asked desperately.
The doctor sighed softly.
"We managed to save her…"
Relief hit everyone instantly.
But then the doctor continued—
"However…"
Kiefer's heart dropped again.
"The bullet caused heavy stress to her body."
"What do you mean?" Kaiser asked coldly.
The doctor looked serious.
"She was already physically weak before this incident."
Kiefer frowned.
Weak…?
Then suddenly—
The doctor's next words changed everything.
"And there's something else you all should know…"