Cole (POV)
I was walking through the hospital doors when I heard Jare say that Jay was in the hospital.
I made a few calls to find out what happened, and my blood boiled.
I swear, the second I see the people who hurt her, I will kill them.
Good thing I trusted my gut feeling. I had already made some calls. Otherwise, I would not have made it in time.
I walked toward the ICU, loosening my tie and collar, unbuttoning my cufflinks, and rolling up my sleeves. I was ready to punch anyone who had hurt my sister.
Then I saw Percy.
He was breaking down. Crying.
Percy—the one who laughed at everything, the one who always acted chill—was completely falling apart.
That was when I realized they did not need someone to fight right now. They needed Kuya.
So I took a deep breath and forced myself to bury my anger.
Then I walked toward Percy and wrapped my arms around him.
"Don't cry. Kuya is here. I'll take care of her," I said softly.
Then Jare broke too. He hugged me tightly and cried just as hard.
So I held both of them close and tried to calm them down, even though I was falling apart too.
"What are you doing here?" Angelo asked, his voice filled with surprise.
I slowly looked up at him, my eyes burning with anger.
"You think I would stay away when my little sister is fighting for her life?" I asked bitterly.
When I snapped, almost immediately, people in scrub suits rushed toward the operating room. I had already called every specialist in Manila while I was on the private jet.
I tightened my arms around Percy and Jare.
"Percy. Jare. Pack your things," I said while wiping the tears from their faces. "After her operation, we're leaving for New York on a private jet."
"Who gave you the right to take her?" Angelo snapped. "I'm her legal guardian until she turns eighteen."
I looked at him coldly.
"Try me. You know exactly what I'm capable of."
I took a step closer.
"She's my sister. My blood. A Mariano."
"I think that's more than enough reason for me to take her."
"She trusted you, Angelo," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "She looked at you like a father figure."
My jaw tightened.
"But you took advantage of that trust and forced a fucking engagement on her."
"Did you even stop for one second to think about what she wanted?"
"Did you even ask her?"
The room fell silent.
"You didn't even ask my father."
"Why are you so quiet, Angelo? I asked sharply. "Do you think I don't know every damn thing you did to her?"
Angelo looked away.
I let out a bitter laugh.
"I know everything that happened in this house. I would've taken her away a long time ago. The only reason I left her here was that I respected my father, and because she blackmailed him." I pointed at Jeana.
"But that doesn't mean I didn't care about her."
"I always had my eyes on my sister."
"You can't take her!" Jeana shouted. "I'm her mother!"
I looked at her with disgust.
"For your fucking information, I'm not asking for permission. I'm taking her."
"Being her mother means more than just giving birth to her."
"Did you ever become her mother even once?"
"Did you ever ask if she was okay? What did she want?"
"She wanted love. A mother's touch."
"You abandoned her when she needed you the most."
The room fell silent again.
"From the time she was four until Lola took her away, she was abused by her stepfather. She didn't even understand why they were hurting her, but she still carries that scar on her back."
"Did you ever ask her why she learned how to fight? Or why does she fight so hard?"
"She was suffering. She was bullied in school. Because of you, my sister had to fight for her identity—not because she wanted trouble, but because nobody else fought for her."
"That's why she had to learn how to protect herself. While other children were being protected by their families, she had to survive on her own."
"But everyone called her a troublemaker. A nuisance. None of you ever stopped to ask why."
I looked around at everyone in the room. "It's such a simple question… so weren't any of you even curious why?"
"She was just a ten-year-old child."
"Every child her age was thinking about pretty dresses and playing with friends… but she was trying to get stronger so nobody could hurt her again."
"She was cleaning wounds on her body. Your fucking husband created."
"You all expected her to act mature when her entire childhood was nothing but pain and abuse."
"You all made her believe that everything was her fault."
"That's why she sits alone in the corner of the room and cries… because she feels like she has no one to lean on."
Then I leaned closer to Angelo.
"Not everyone can be a Watson like you," I whispered coldly. "Not everyone can be as strong as you."
His face turned pale. He looked at me with confusion.
"Of course, I know you're a Watson," I said with a cold smile. "Remember who I am," I leaned near his ear.
Then I turned toward Aries.
"And you…"
My voice hardened.
"You're her brother. You should've been the first person she could run to."
"I don't have that chance, but you do. And you still pushed her away."
Aries clenched his fists.
"You don't know anything," he snapped.
"I know enough," I said bitterly. "You blamed her for something she had no control over."
"You know she's scared of her own blood. You know why she became like that."
"If anything happens to her…" I said quietly, "None of you will survive me."
Then I looked at Kiefer.
"And you, Kiefer…"
My voice softened slightly.
"If you really wanted to protect her, you should've fought for her instead of taking the easy way out."
"She had no friends, no one to lean on, until she came to Section E. That's where she finally found people who made her feel safe, who made her believe she could be strong and still be loved."
I looked at Section E and said, "But when she knew the truth, she believed that she was not loved by anyone, even if she tried hard…she felt alone again."
Kiefer and Section E looked down. I walked towards Kiefer.
"You knew she loved you because you saw through her."
"She believed everyone could hurt her… but she believed you never would."
"She trusted you more than she trusted herself."
I looked him straight in the eyes.
"I'm not Angelo. I'm not going to give you endless chances."
"So get up, fix your problems, and prove that you're worthy of being with her."
"I'll help you."
He slowly rose from his knees and looked at me.
God, he looked awful. Bandages wrapped around his head, lips pale, body frail from not eating. And still, he had stayed by her side in the hospital while bleeding himself. Idiot. Stubborn. But I couldn't deny it—he cared.
"You need rest," I said, rubbing my temple. "I'll take care of her. Go rest. You've got a war ahead."
"I promised her I'd wait outside," Kiefer muttered, eyes glued to the operating room doors. "I'll rest after she opens her eyes."
I let out a heavy sigh, frustration coiling in my chest. "That's exactly why I don't like Watsons. Always thinking they can handle everything themselves."
I smacked him lightly on the back of his head. He wobbled and nearly fell, and I caught his arm just in time. I could feel the tension in him, the guilt, the exhaustion—but that wasn't my problem. Not right now.
I looked at the kids from Section E. They were tense, scared, broken—but they needed guidance, not coddling.
"Take him to his room," I said, my voice sharp.
"Why did you do that?" Angelo asked, suspicious and slightly terrified.
"He won't listen," I said coldly, letting the anger simmer in my tone. "And I don't have time to waste arguing with him. Not when she's in there fighting for her life."
I turned and walked toward my brothers, every step measured, every muscle coiled like a spring. My jaw ached, my fists itched, but I forced myself to keep it together. Protecting her wasn't just about strength—it was about control. And I had none of that right now.
Aries (POV)
Did I really deserve to keep calling her my sister?
They were more like brothers to her, even though they had only known her for a few months. But I was there. I was beside her. I saw her suffering.
Angelo Kuya always told me that none of it was her fault. But I was a child too.
Every time I looked at her face, I kept seeing those memories. That was why I avoided her. But avoiding her only hurt her more.
I slowly walked toward the operating theater and looked through the small glass window. She was lying there, fighting for her life.
My chest tightened painfully.
"I promise you," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I'll become your kuya again."
I wiped my face with shaking hands.
"But I need time."
Kiefer (POV)
When I opened my eyes, I saw Kiegen sitting on the couch, working on his laptop. I slowly sat up on the bed.
"Did she wake up?" I asked immediately.
"The operation was successful," he said. "The doctor said she needs seventy-two hours before she opens her eyes."
He closed the laptop and looked at me.
"Kuya, you promised us you would be there for us. I already called the pilot. We're leaving for London."
Did he think he was my elder brother? He was seriously getting on my nerves.
But I needed his help. And once all of this was over, I needed to have a serious conversation with him.
I got dressed and went to see Jay before leaving for London.
She was still lying there, motionless.
I walked closer to her bed and leaned down near her ear.
"I promise I'll come back," I whispered. "So get better soon."
Then I kissed her softly on the lips.
"I marked you. You're mine, No, I'm Yours, Mrs. Watson."
Then I walked out of the ICU.
"Are you done?" Angelo asked, leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest.
He pushed himself off the wall, slipped one hand into his pocket, and glared at me.
"Don't kiss her while she's unconscious again," he said coldly. "I'll kill you if I see it happen again."
I followed him without saying anything.
I texted Kiegen that I would go directly to the airport before sliding into my car. A few seconds later, Angelo sent me a message telling me to meet him at Kingsground.
When I got there, I froze.
People from different countries were gathered inside. It was the same group I had once asked Angelo to let me join to gain power and influence.
Angelo and Cole were standing together, drinking like they had known each other for years.
"Why are you all together?" I asked.
Cole looked at me for a second before stepping forward and extending his hand.
"I'm C.J., leader of the group."
I stared at him in shock.
Even Angelo looked tense around him back at the hospital.
I saw the way Cole glared at people—it was enough to send a chill down your spine. Even Angelo had taken a step back.
That was when I realized something.
If someone like Angelo was careful around him, then Cole was not someone to mess with.
My gut feeling was right all along. He was far too powerful—powerful enough to control a top businessman with the tip of his fingers.
I shook his hand.
We spent two hours talking about the group. Cole explained the rules, the terms, and everything I needed to know.
Then he looked at me seriously.
"You put Jay's name into this," he said coldly. "So you better be smart."
"I will," I said. "I'll protect her with my life."
Then suddenly, all three of our phones rang at the same time.
Me. Cole. Angelo.
We looked at each other before answering.
Angelo got a call from Aries. Cole got one from Jare. I got one from Percy.
And that one call changed everything.
"Jay Jay is missing."