JAY-JAY (POV)
After Percy dragged me out of the hospital, we ended up near a convenience store downstairs.
The moment we entered, my eyes sparkled.
Snacks.
Beautiful, beautiful snacks.
Without even waiting for Percy, I grabbed a cart and started throwing things into it dramatically.
Chocolates.
Chips.
Cookies.
More chocolates.
"Hey," Percy called from behind me. "Who's paying for all that?"
I looked at him innocently.
"Of course, you, Kuya."
His jaw dropped. "Do I look rich to you?"
"No," I answered honestly while adding more snacks. "But you look generous."
Percy groaned dramatically while following me around the store like a tired single mother.
I happily kept filling the cart until a sudden movement near another aisle caught my attention.
A girl.
She looked around my age.
And some disgusting idiot was cornering her while trying to touch her arm.
She looked terrified.
Like she wanted to cry but was too scared to react.
My smile disappeared instantly.
Before even thinking—
I grabbed the juice bottle in my hand and threw it.
Hard.
"Ow!" the guy shouted when the bottle hit his head.
He turned toward me angrily.
"Who are you, bitch?!"
I slowly walked toward him.
"Me?" I said calmly. "Someone is trying to help you come back to your senses."
Then I kicked his knee hard enough to make him lose balance.
And before he could react—
I punched his face.
Straight.
He fell onto the floor with a curse.
The entire store became silent.
Even Percy froze with snacks in his hands.
The guy quickly stood up while holding his nose.
"You're crazy!" he shouted before backing away. "I'll come back!"
"Then I'll hit harder next time," I replied sweetly.
He immediately ran away.
Coward.
I sighed before turning toward the girl.
She still looked shaken.
"Hey," I said gently this time. "Are you okay?"
She nodded quickly.
But she still looked scared.
I softened my voice a little more.
"When someone talks to you like that, look them in the eyes," I told her. "And never stay quiet because of fear."
She stared at me for a moment before nodding again.
Then Percy suddenly appeared beside me, pushing a cart.
"Can we leave before you start another street fight?" he said.
I rolled my eyes and grabbed my ice cream again.
Percy muttered something about me being terrifying while paying for all my snacks.
As we walked out of the store, I happily ate my ice cream, and nothing happened.
Honestly?
That idiot ruined exactly three minutes of my peace.
I walked ahead while Percy stayed behind, struggling with the mountain of snacks I forced him to buy.
"Jay! At least pretend to help!" he shouted from inside the store.
"No," I answered proudly while eating my ice cream.
Then—
"Hey."
I ignored it and kept walking toward the hospital entrance.
"Hey, bitch."
I slowly stopped.
Then turned around.
Oh.
The idiot came back.
And this time he brought friends with him.
Three guys.
I stared at them for a second while continuing to eat my ice cream calmly.
Honestly?
Three people were still manageable.
"What?" I asked lazily.
One of them laughed while pointing at me.
"You're the one who hit our friend?"
"The weak-looking girl?" another mocked. "Maybe she got angry because nobody touches her."
The three of them laughed like they had said the funniest thing in the world.
Idiots.
I smiled sweetly.
That should've been their warning sign.
One of them suddenly walked closer and reached toward my arm.
The second, his hand almost touched me—
I kicked him straight in the stomach.
Hard.
His body folded instantly before he crashed onto the ground, coughing.
The laughter disappeared immediately.
"You crazy bitch!" another shouted.
I calmly took another bite of my ice cream.
"You people really don't learn fast," I sighed.
Then the second guy rushed toward me angrily.
I punched him straight in the jaw.
His head snapped to the side before he stumbled backward, groaning.
But before I could move again, the third idiot suddenly grabbed my arm and tried to shove me.
Instantly, I kicked his leg hard enough to make him lose balance.
"Hey!" I complained angrily. "That's cheating!"
The three idiots stared at me like I was insane.
"You can't attack me while I'm busy punching someone else," I continued seriously. "Learn to wait for your turn."
They blinked at me.
"And hello?" I added while pointing at myself dramatically. "I'm a pregnant woman. Have some manners."
"What?" the third guy asked in disbelief.
"What?" I repeated. "You don't understand words?"
The guy looked completely horrified now.
Good.
Then suddenly, the second idiot got angry again and tried to swing at me—
But another foot hit him on his face first.
Hard.
The guy flew sideways with a painful grunt.
"Who are you, asshole, to hit my sister?" Percy snapped while standing beside me.
I blinked.
Oh.
He finally joined.
The guy groaned from the ground while Percy adjusted the shopping bags still hanging from his arms.
Honestly impressive.
"You're not alone!" one of them shouted angrily at Percy. "Isn't that cheating?!"
Percy looked offended.
"Who said the rules apply to us?"
I immediately nodded proudly. "Exactly."
The two of us high-fived.
The guys looked even more traumatized now.
"Jay," Percy said while staring at the chaos around us, "can you stop picking fights everywhere you go?"
I gasped dramatically.
"I wasn't picking fights."
I pointed at the men on the ground.
"They came in a combo pack."
The idiots tried rushing at us together after that.
Bad decision.
Very bad decision.
Percy sighed dramatically before handing the shopping bags to me.
"Hold this," he said tiredly. "I suddenly became a babysitter."
Then he moved.
Fast.
Honestly…
I forgot sometimes how scary Percy could be when he stopped joking around.
One guy tried to punch him—
Percy dodged easily before kicking his legs out from under him.
Another tried grabbing him from behind, but Percy elbowed him hard enough to make him stumble backward, crying.
The third guy looked terrified now.
Good.
"You know," Percy said while fixing his sleeves calmly, "you people really chose violence against the wrong siblings."
I watched with sparkling eyes.
Wow.
He was really good at fighting.
Maybe I should learn more from him later.
Within minutes, all three idiots were on the ground, groaning dramatically.
Percy looked down at them with disappointment.
"That's it?" he asked. "I canceled my peaceful snack-shopping for this?"
Then I quietly started walking away.
"Hey!" Percy shouted from behind me. "Where are you going?!"
I looked back innocently.
"Kiefer will worry if I stay outside too long."
Percy stared at me as I betrayed him personally.
"And what about me?!" he yelled dramatically while pointing at the men on the floor. "You're leaving these idiots with me? Cruel. Heartless. Evil."
I grinned.
"Kuya, I know you can finish them easily," I said proudly. "They're not even worth helping with."
Percy placed a hand over his chest emotionally.
"…Finally. Respect."
I laughed softly and continued walking toward the hospital entrance.
But then—
I stopped.
A familiar black car was parked near the curb.
And leaning casually against it…
Cassian.
Like he had been waiting for me the entire time.
My smile disappeared slightly.
Cassian looked at me quietly for a moment before glancing toward the men Percy was still dealing with.
Then he looked back at me with something almost amused in his eyes.
"So this is who you really are," he said calmly.
I crossed my arms immediately.
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
Cassian's gaze stayed on me.
"You fight well."
I stared at him suspiciously.
"…Were you watching this whole time?"
"I arrived when you threw someone onto the ground."
"That was self-defense."
"You looked like you enjoyed it."
I shrugged shamelessly. "Maybe a little."
To my annoyance…
Cassian smiled again.
"Jay," he called softly.
I straightened immediately, my voice cold.
"Mr. Cassian Watson…" I said firmly. "We're not close enough for you to call me that."
A pause hung between us.
Then I lifted my chin slightly.
"Address me properly as Mrs. Kiefer Watson."
Cassian's gaze didn't shift.
"But it was you who spoke casually to me first," he said calmly.
My brows tightened. "So what do you want now?"
"Did you decide?" he asked, ignoring my question.
"Yup," I replied immediately.
"Then why didn't you call me? I gave you my card," he added, his tone still calm.
I gave a small, careless shrug.
"Oh… the second you left, I threw it in the dustbin," I said.
For the first time, something colder flashed through Cassian's eyes.
"So you really don't want to leave Kiefer," he said quietly.
"Is it that obvious?" I replied dryly.
He stared at me for a long moment before asking,
"Do you even understand what you're doing?"
"Yes," I said immediately. "And I also know what you're trying to do."
I stepped closer and poked his chest hard with my finger.
"You wanted to manipulate me into leaving Kiefer."
Cassian's jaw tightened slightly.
"But listen carefully," I said coldly. "It's never going to be you."
A small silence fell between us.
"And it never will be."
I looked straight at Cassian.
"You know, I really thought we could be friends after you helped me," I said quietly. "But you wanted something more… and that's something I can't give you."
"And I don't understand why you even want me, Cassian. I heard you're great. So find someone who'll love you the way you deserve. Don't try to steal another man's wife."
He stayed quiet for a moment before speaking softly.
"But the way you look at Kiefer…" he admitted. "I want to be loved like that, too. I want to experience that kind of love. And… I wanted it to be you."
A small smile crossed my lips.
"I could never love someone else the way I love him," I said. "For me, it has to be Kiefer."
I slowly pulled back my sleeve and showed him my scar.
"If you really looked into my past, then you should already know how much I love him." My voice softened slightly. "There was a time I wanted to die because I thought I could never have him. And honestly… a part of me still feels that way."
I looked him directly in the eyes.
"So don't waste your time on me, Cassian. One day, you'll find someone who'll love you completely, too. Just like I found mine."
Cassian stared at me silently.
Like he was trying to decide whether I truly meant every word.
I stepped a little closer and pointed at my chest.
"Because this?" I said firmly. "It only beats for my man."
For the first time since meeting him…
Cassian looked genuinely affected.
Not angry.
Not amused.
Just silent.
I continued staring directly into his eyes.
"So stop trying to come between us," I said softly but firmly. "You're wasting your time."
Something in his expression shifted after that.
Then suddenly—
He moved.
Too fast.
Cassian leaned down like he was about to kiss me.
But unfortunately for him—
Living with Kiefer Watson had improved my reflexes dramatically.
I blocked him instantly with my hand against his chest.
"You asshole—who do you think you are?!" I snapped.
Then I kicked his knee hard enough to make him stumble and punched his jaw.
His head turned slightly from the impact.
"If you touch me again," I said furiously, "I'll bury you alive."
"CASSIAN!"
My entire body froze at Kiefer's voice.
I turned around immediately.
Oh no.
Kiefer was standing there.
And the expression on his face?
Furious.
Jealous.
Absolutely murderous.
Damn it.
Cassian was dead.
Before I could even react—
Kiefer crossed the distance between us in seconds and punched Cassian straight across the face.
The sound echoed through the parking area.
"Kiefer!" I shouted in shock.
But he didn't even look at me.
Cassian barely had time to recover before Kiefer punched him again.
Harder.
Cassian lost balance and crashed hard into his car.
Before he could even straighten properly, Kiefer grabbed his collar violently and slammed him back against the car door.
The impact made the entire car shake.
"Kiefer, stop!" I shouted while trying to pull him back.
But he looked terrifying right now.
Not loud.
Not wild.
Worse.
Quiet.
His eyes were completely dark as he stared down at Cassian.
"Cassian," he said coldly, his voice low enough to send chills through me. "This is my final warning."
Cassian looked back at him silently, blood on the corner of his mouth.
"Don't cross my path again," Kiefer continued. "And don't you dare come near my wife."
The way he said my wife made my heartbeat skip.
Possessive.
Dangerous.
Deadly serious.
Kiefer tightened his grip on Cassian's collar again.
"I'm only saying this once," he said quietly.
Then he leaned closer.
"If I ever see you standing next to her again…"
Kiefer's voice became even colder.
"I will kill you."
"Kiefer," I said quickly, trying to pull his arm.
But he barely moved.
God.
This man was seriously one second away from murder.
Cassian looked at him calmly despite being pinned against the car.
"Jay," he said while looking directly at me, "you married an obsessed man."
I almost closed my eyes.
This asshole really wanted his next gift to be a coffin.
The second those words left Cassian's mouth, Kiefer shoved him harder against the car.
"Don't you dare mention my wife's name again," Kiefer snapped.
His voice echoed dangerously through the parking area.
"Do you hear me?"
Even I felt chills.
Cassian wiped the blood from his lip slowly.
"…You really hit hard," he muttered.
Kiefer laughed once.
A cold laugh.
"If I ever see you near her again," he said while pointing at him warningly, "then I'll show you exactly who Mark Kiefer Watson is."
The way he said it made even Percy stop walking for a second in the distance.
Then Kiefer suddenly let go of Cassian and turned toward me immediately.
Before I could react, he pulled me tightly into his arms.
My heartbeat skipped.
"Remember this," Kiefer said while staring directly at Cassian over my shoulder.
His arm tightened around my waist possessively.
"She's my wife."
My face instantly burned hot.
"Mine," he continued coldly.
Then his voice dropped into something far more dangerous.
"And mine alone."
"Do you understand?" Kiefer asked without taking his eyes off Cassian.
I swallowed hard, rubbing my chest as my heartbeat sped wildly.
He was basically threatening to kill someone…
And somehow, I was falling for this man all over again.
Jay, snap out of it.
I quickly shook my head, trying to force my thoughts back into place.
Cassian stared back silently for a moment.
Then unbelievably…
He smiled slightly.
Bad decision.
Very bad decision.
Kiefer immediately moved again, like he was about to punch him.
"What is happening here?!" Percy suddenly shouted while running toward us, carrying shopping bags.
"Kuya, pull Kiefer away before he kills him!" I yelled while trying to hold Kiefer's arm.
But God—
He was strong when angry.
Actually terrifyingly strong.
"Jay," Cassian suddenly said again while looking at me, "remember this kind of obsession isn't love."
Before Kiefer could hit him—
I did first.
Smack.
The sound shocked everyone.
Even Kiefer froze.
I grabbed Cassian's collar angrily and glared straight into his eyes.
"I know my man is obsessed with me," I said firmly.
My grip tightened slightly.
"And I don't have a problem with it."
Then I stepped closer slightly and pointed at myself.
"And you know what's funny?" I said coldly. "I'm obsessed with him, too."
Then I shoved him away and turned back toward Kiefer.
"Come on," I muttered while trying to drag him away before another fight started.
But instead—
He suddenly lifted me over his shoulder like a rice sack.
"KIEFER!" I shouted immediately, hitting his back. "Leave me! Everyone is watching! Oh my God, put me down!"
"What's wrong with carrying my wife?" he asked without slowing down.
I glared at the back of his head.
"Then at least carry me properly," I complained. "You're carrying me like I'm kidnapped."
He ignored me completely.
And no matter how much I complained—
He didn't let me down once.
And no matter how much I complained—
He didn't let me down once.
Not until we reached the hospital room.
The second we stepped inside—
CLICK.
He locked the door.
Uh oh.
Before I could even react, Kiefer suddenly pinned me gently against the door, both hands beside my head.
His expression was dark.
Jealous.
Still angry.
"Why did you meet him?" Kiefer asked the second the door closed behind us.
His voice was still cold.
Still angry.
I swallowed nervously before answering quietly.
"I didn't meet him. He was waiting for me."
Kiefer stared at me for a long moment.
Then he walked closer slowly.
"Jay," he said quietly, "if you meet him again…"
His jaw tightened.
"I'll lock you in this room so you can never see him again."
I couldn't help it.
I smiled.
Kiefer narrowed his eyes immediately.
"Jay… I'm not joking," he said seriously.
"No," I said softly while stepping closer to him. "You're jealous."
I reached up slowly and touched his face gently.
"And I like it."
Before he could answer—
I kissed him.
Kiefer froze for half a second, like he genuinely hadn't expected me to make the first move.
Then realization hit him.
His hand immediately grabbed my waist firmly, pulling me against him before he kissed me back.
Hard.
Possessive.
Like he was still angry.
Like he was relieved.
Like he needed proof I was really here with him and not walking away.
Like he was trying to erase the thought of another man even standing near me.
My fingers tightened around his shirt instantly.
"Kiefer…" I breathed softly against his lips.
But he only kissed me deeper.
The frustration from earlier was still there.
The jealousy.
The fear.
Everything he had been holding back since seeing Cassian near me.
His forehead rested briefly against mine while his breathing stayed uneven.
"Jay… you're becoming shameless now," he muttered softly.
I tightened my arms around his neck and smiled.
"Living with my shameless husband for six months," I whispered while kissing the tip of his nose gently, "turned me into one too."
Kiefer stared at me for one second—
Then laughed quietly under his breath.
Actually laughed.
The sound was soft.
Real.
And somehow it made my chest feel warm.
Then my eyes caught something near his cheek.
A small cut.
I frowned immediately and reached up carefully, brushing my fingers gently against it.
"What happened to your face?" I asked softly.
Kiefer froze for half a second.
Too fast.
Too suspicious.
Then he answered casually, "Nothing. The flower vase in your room broke earlier, so I got cut while picking the pieces up."
I blinked.
Then slowly looked around the room.
Different curtains.
Different flowers.
Different furniture arrangement.
Wait.
I narrowed my eyes immediately.
"…Did you change the entire room because a vase broke?"
Kiefer looked away.
Which was basically a confession.
I sighed dramatically.
"You're insane."
"No need to worry," he said quietly while pulling me closer again. "Nothing happened."
I hugged him anyway.
Because even if he acted calm—
I knew him.
That cut probably happened because he punched something after hearing about Cassian trying to kiss me.
Idiot.
Then suddenly—
Knock. Knock.
"Kiefer… we need to talk," Angelo Kuya's voice came from outside.
Kiefer immediately closed his eyes as if his soul had left his body.
"I really hate your brothers," he whispered against my hair.
I smiled instantly.
"No, you don't."
"…Unfortunately."
He kissed the top of my head softly before stepping back.
Then his eyes darkened slightly again.
"Wait for me," he murmured.
A small pause.
"I still have unfinished business with you."
My face heated instantly.
"Kiefer!"
He smirked this time.
Actually smirked.
Then he walked out of the room.
The second the door closed—
I immediately fell backward onto the bed dramatically while holding my chest.
"Oh my God…"
My heartbeat was going insane.
I kicked my legs into the blanket and buried my face into the pillow for a second before laughing quietly to myself.
This man was seriously going to kill me one day.
After calming down a little, I stood up carefully and decided to walk toward Clyden Kuya's room again.
But halfway there, I remembered—
My things were still in my old room.
So I turned around and walked toward it instead.
But when I reached the door—
It was locked.
"Huh?"
I stared at the door in confusion.
Why was it locked?
I turned, planning to ask one of the nurses about it.
Then suddenly—
Two staff members walked past nearby.
"…they already cleaned most of it," one of them whispered quietly.
"Still," the other muttered nervously, "I've never seen that much blood inside a hospital room before."
My heartbeat slowed instantly.
Blood?
"The patient in that room was lucky," the first one continued quietly. "If those men hadn't stopped them in time…"
I froze completely.
"…What happened?" I asked before I could stop myself.
Both nurses startled and immediately looked at me.
Then one of them recognized me.
Their expressions changed instantly.
"S-sorry, ma'am…"
"What happened in that room?" I asked again softly.
Silence.
Too much silence.
And somehow—
That terrified me more than words.
Then finally one of them answered carefully.
"Some people entered that room about an hour ago."
My chest tightened painfully.
"They came to kill someone."
Everything around me suddenly felt cold.
I couldn't breathe properly anymore.
"…What?"
The nurse lowered her eyes nervously before quietly pointing toward Clyden kuya's room.
"But the people inside that room stopped them before they could hurt anyone."
My mind instantly remembered everything.
The cut on Kiefer's cheek.
The changed room.
The locked door.
The way they were hiding things from me earlier.
Then the nurse added quietly,
"And… someone had to change his bandages again because they were soaked with blood."
My legs almost gave out completely.
"And other person injured his hand during the fight too."
Fight.
There was another fight.
Another bloodbath.
And they hid it from me again.
Because they knew exactly how I would react.
I couldn't hear anything else after that.
I slowly turned around and walked away before they could stop me.
Not toward Clyden's room.
Just away.
The moment I reached the bathroom inside the empty room nearby—
I locked the door immediately.
Then I opened the tap quickly so nobody outside could hear me crying.
And the second water started running—
I broke.
"It's never going to stop…" I whispered shakily while gripping the sink tightly.
Tears fell endlessly down my face.
"It's not going to stop until I'm gone…"
My breathing became uneven again.
Because now I understood why they were all acting strangely.
Why Kiefer changed rooms.
They were protecting me again.
Bleeding for me again.
Fighting for me again.
And I hated it.
I hated that everyone around me kept getting hurt because I existed.
I cried quietly into my hands for several minutes before finally forcing myself to calm down.
Kiefer could never find out I knew.
If he realized I heard everything—
He would worry even more.
So I washed my face carefully with cold water until the redness faded slightly.
Then I took a deep breath and walked back toward the room.
The second I opened the door—
Kiefer was already standing there waiting.
Like nothing had happened.
Like he hadn't bled again because of me.
The moment I saw him—
My chest hurt so badly I thought I would cry again.
So instead—
I walked straight toward him and hugged him tightly.
Immediately, his arms wrapped around me protectively.
He kissed my forehead softly.
"Miss me already?" he asked teasingly.
My throat tightened painfully.
"A lot," I whispered quietly.
And this time—
I meant far more than he realized.
I lowered my eyes for a second before speaking again.
"Kiefer… I want to go home."
He immediately looked at me carefully.
"Okay," he said softly. "I'll ask for discharge."
My chest hurt hearing how naturally he agreed.
How easily he trusted me.
"Kiefer," I said quietly while forcing a small smile, "stay with Clyden kuya. I'll come back after taking a bath and getting breakfast."
His brows furrowed instantly.
"But Jay, I'll come with you."
"No," I said a little too quickly.
He stared at me for a moment.
Like he sensed something strange.
My heart started beating painfully fast.
So I looked away first and grabbed my bag.
"I'll be back soon," I whispered.
Slowly—
He nodded.
But he still walked me downstairs himself.
And somehow…
That made this even harder.
Because even now—
He was still protecting me.
The entire drive home felt blurry.
My hands shook against the steering wheel the whole way.
Every memory kept replaying inside my head.
Blood.
Bandages.
Gunshots.
Kiefer is bleeding again.
Clyden is collapsing in my arms.
Everyone is risking their lives for me over and over again.
And one thought kept destroying me from the inside.
It's never going to stop.
Not while I stay beside them.
The second I entered the house—
The silence almost crushed me.
This place used to feel warm.
Safe.
Home.
Now it only felt painful.
I walked upstairs slowly toward our room.
The room smelled like him.
Everything inside immediately made my chest tighten harder.
His clothes.
His watch was near the table.
The photos of us.
Our messy blankets.
Our life together.
A broken sound escaped my throat.
"No…" I whispered shakily.
I opened the drawer with trembling hands and pulled out my passport.
Then money.
Then clothes.
Every second felt harder than the last.
"I don't want to leave…" I cried softly while stuffing clothes into the bag carelessly.
Tears blurred my vision completely.
"I don't want to leave…"
My breathing became uneven again.
"But if I stay…"
A sob escaped me.
"They'll just keep getting hurt again."
I dropped to my knees beside the bed and pulled my legs tightly against my chest, like I was trying to hold myself together before I completely fell apart.
Everything hurt.
My chest.
My head.
My heart.
Even breathing felt painful now.
Because what if next time—
They didn't survive?
What if one day…
I really lost all of them forever?
The thought alone shattered something inside me.
I cried harder immediately, pressing my trembling hands against my mouth to stop the broken sounds escaping me.
Images kept flashing inside my head over and over again.
Then slowly—
I forced myself to stand again.
Because if I stayed any longer—
I knew I wouldn't be able to leave at all.
With shaking hands, I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote slowly.
I know what happened. I know none of you will stop, even if I beg you to. So I'm leaving somewhere you can't find me. Please don't search for me anymore. And please… don't get hurt because of me again. I want all of you to live happily, even without me. Time will keep moving forward… so don't stop your lives here because of me. Don't fight anymore. Don't chase revenge anymore. Just… be happy. goodbye.
— Jay
A tear dropped onto the paper.
I stared at the note for several seconds before placing it carefully on the table.
Then I looked around the room one last time.
Our room.
My home.
And suddenly—
I couldn't breathe anymore.
I was choosing to leave everything behind myself.