Jay's POV
Three days passed in a blur I could barely keep up with. Every morning felt like stepping into a life I didn't recognize, yet somehow it kept pulling me in deeper.
Shopping trips where Receeye refused to take "no" for an answer, sightseeing across the city with Percy acting like a personal tour guide, and even visits to the Mariano headquarters where board members greeted me with respect I hadn't earned yet—but was expected to carry.
It was overwhelming.
But… it was also warm.
For the first time in my life, people weren't looking at me like I was something to tolerate. They were looking at me like I belonged.
And somehow, that scared me just as much as it comforted me.
By the fourth day, I had started settling into a rhythm. I laughed more. Spoke more. Even argued with Percy like we had known each other forever. It felt easy in a way I didn't question too much—because I was afraid if I did, it might disappear.
That afternoon, Percy casually asked, "Hey, wanna step out for a bit?"
I looked up from my phone. "Where?"
He shrugged, way too casually. "Just a café I'm craving matcha..."
I narrowed my eyes slightly. "you craving matcha? I doubt that."
He smirked. "Wow. I'm offended."
Still, I agreed.
The café was quiet.
Soft music played in the background, the low hum of conversations blending into something almost peaceful. We sat across from each other, a small table between us, warm cups resting untouched.
Something felt… off.
Percy wasn't talking.
Which was already suspicious.
I leaned back slightly, watching him. "Okay. What's going on?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at me—really looked at me—and something in his expression shifted. The usual teasing lightness was gone.
"Jay,I'm sorry in advance for what I did.." he said suddenly.
My brows furrowed. "For what—?"
Before I could finish—
The café door opened.
And everything inside me froze.
Because the last person I ever wanted to see—Walked in.
David Theodore Braselton.
My fingers tightened around the edge of the table as my chest went rigid. My heartbeat spiked, anger rising so fast it almost made me dizzy.
Section E.
Of course.
Of course they would come crawling back now.
David's eyes found mine instantly. He looked… different. Tired. Like he hadn't slept. But that didn't matter.
None of it mattered.
"What is he doing here?" I asked coldly, my voice sharp enough to cut.
Percy didn't respond.And that told me everything.
"You brought him?" I whispered, disbelief turning into anger. "Percy—"
But before I could say anything else—David walked straight toward us.
And then—He dropped to his knees.
Right there.
In the middle of the café.
A few people gasped softly. Conversations stilled. The entire space seemed to freeze around us.
But I didn't hear any of it.Because my mind had gone completely blank.
"What the hell are you doing?" I snapped, standing up abruptly.
David didn't look away.Not even for a second.
"I'm sorry, Jay."
His voice was steady—but I could hear it. The strain beneath it. The weight.
"I know I don't have the right to stand in front of you after everything," he continued, his hands clenched slightly at his sides. "But I couldn't not come."
My jaw tightened. "Then you should've stayed away."
"I tried," he admitted quietly. "But I couldn't live with it."
Something in his voice made my chest twist—but I crushed it immediately.
"Say what you came to say," I said coldly. "And leave."
He nodded once.
Took a breath.
And then everything started spilling out.
David's POV:
"I flew here this morning," I said, my voice rough despite trying to keep it steady. "The moment I found out you left with Percy… I didn't think. I just came."
Her expression didn't change.
But her silence—God, it was worse than anger.
"I was going to tell the others," I continued, swallowing hard. "But I knew they'd stop me. Or worse—they'd come with me and make things worse."
I let out a small, humorless breath.
"So I came alone."
My eyes stayed locked on hers.
"I'm not here to defend what we did," I said. "Because there's no defense for it. What we said… what we did to you… it was wrong."
Her fingers curled slightly.But she didn't interrupt.So I kept going.
"Keifer's plan—it was real."
The words felt heavier out loud.
"He hated Aries at first. That part wasn't fake. And when you came into the picture, everything was supposed to be simple. Just… a plan."
I laughed bitterly under my breath.
"But it didn't stay that way."
My chest tightened as I forced the next words out.
"He started to love you for real he fell for his own trap. And that's when everything went wrong."
Her expression flickered.
Just slightly.
"The Watson elders—they found out," I continued, my voice dropping. "They already hated him. They never wanted him as the heir. And when they realized you were becoming his weakness…"
I clenched my fists.
"They threatened him."
Silence filled the space between us.
"They told him if he didn't give up the inheritance… they'd hurt you."
The words felt like poison leaving my mouth.
"And Keifer—he broke."
I shook my head slowly.
"He came to us. Told us everything. Every single detail. And at the same time, the fights around school… the tension… it was getting worse. People were watching. Getting suspicious."
I finally looked away for a second.
"So we made a choice."
My voice dropped to almost a whisper.
"We pushed you away."
---
Jay's POV
Each word felt like it was hitting me somewhere deep inside my chest.
But instead of pain—
It was anger.
Cold.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
"So all of that…" I said slowly, my voice dangerously quiet. "The insults. The humiliation. The way you all looked at me like I was nothing…"
David didn't speak.
Because he knew.
"That was your idea of protection?" I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. "You don't destroy someone to protect them."
His shoulders tensed.
"I know," he said hoarsely. "I know that now."
"Too late," I snapped.
The café felt suffocating.
Every memory came rushing back—his voice, their laughter, Keifer's words cutting deeper than anything else.
"I stood there," I continued, my voice shaking despite trying to hold it steady, "and I believed every single word you all said."
Silence.
"I thought I meant nothing."
That one line broke something in my own voice.
And I hated it.
David's eyes filled slightly.
"That was never true," he said immediately.
"Don't," I cut him off sharply. "Don't you dare say that now."
---
David's POV
Every word she said hit exactly where it should.
Because she was right.
We had destroyed her.
And now we were standing here, trying to explain it like that would fix anything.
"Since I'm telling you everything right now , you might as well know that I also helped Percy," I said quietly.
That made her pause.
"I kept watch over you. Made sure nothing got close to you when things started escalating. You didn't see it—but we were there."
Her eyes hardened again.
"That doesn't change anything."
"I know," I whispered.
And I meant it.
---
Jay's POV
Silence stretched between us.
Heavy.
Final.
Then slowly, I exhaled.
"Get up."
David blinked slightly.
"I said get up," I repeated, my voice calmer now—but colder than before.
He stood up slowly and sat in the chair across from me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I looked at him.Really looked at him.And for the first time—I didn't see one of them.
I saw someone… broken.But it didn't matter anymore to me.
"I heard everything you said," I spoke quietly.
Hope flickered in his eyes.And I crushed it immediately.
"But I'm not ready."
His expression fell.
"I don't want to see any of you," I continued, my voice steady now. "Not you. Not anyone from Section E.and especially Keifer."
My fingers tightened slightly in my lap.
"I don't hate you."
That seemed to surprise him.
"But I don't forgive you either."
Silence.
"So leave David.."
---
David's POV
I nodded slowly.
Because that was more than I deserved.As I stood up, my chest felt unbearably tight. My legs moved on their own, carrying me toward the exit.
But just before I stepped out—
I looked back.
She didn't.
And that… hurt more than anything.
The moment I stepped into the alley beside the café—Everything collapsed.
My hands shook as I dragged them through my hair, my breathing uneven as the weight of everything finally crashed down on me.
A broken laugh escaped my lips before it turned into something else.
Something closer to a sob.
I bent forward slightly, pressing my hand against the wall.
And then—A hand landed on my shoulder.
I froze.
"Rough, huh?"
Percy.
I let out a shaky breath, not trusting my voice.
"You love her, don't you?" he asked quietly.
The question hit harder than anything else.
Because I didn't answer.I didn't have to.He already knew.The next second, he pulled me into a hug.
And for a moment—
I didn't fight it.
"You did the right thing coming here telling her the truth and not telling her your feelings..." Percy said softly. "Because right now… she's not in a place to hear it."
I swallowed hard.
"I know percy,and I have tried to stop loving her because she doesn't need my love for her she needs her loved ones around her who'll protect her..and the man who has nearly destroyed himself just to protect the girl he loves more than anything is sitting in London right now fighting even harder for her and his love for her....."
He pulled back slightly, reaching into his pocket before handing me a small piece of paper.
"I know till the time he's busy in here ,I'll protect her and give her whatever she needs....by the way here,this is her new number."
I looked at it, stunned.
"Percy—"
"Don't call her yet," he interrupted. "Give her space. I'll talk to her… when the time's right..and I'm giving you this because I know you david,you are a really good person though you two can't be together,I know you'll protect her the same way I'll do if she ever needs help or needs to be protected...."
"Thank you Percy.."
I nodded slowly.Then turned to leave.
But before I did—I looked back at him.
"Take care of her."
Percy didn't hesitate.
"Always she's my sistah and section e's mutya....."
And that was enough.So I walked away.
This time—
For real...