Jay's POV
The morning light filtered through the grand floor-to-ceiling windows of the Watson lounge, painting the room in soft hues of gold and amber. My body felt heavy, but it was a comfortable, grounded weight. I didn't want to move.
I blinked my eyes open slowly, the silkiness of the blanket Keifer must have draped over us tickling my chin.
To my left, Keiren was still out cold, his breathing deep and even, his small hand tucked under his cheek. On my right, Keigan had shifted in his sleep, his head now resting fully on my shoulder, his expression devoid of the usual sharp lines of skepticism.
Then, I felt a presence behind me. A steady, radiating warmth that acted like an anchor. I carefully craned my neck.
Keifer was curled on the floor right behind us, his back against the base of the sofa. He looked younger when he was asleep. The lethal edge he carried as the head of the Watson household was gone, replaced by a peaceful vulnerability.
His dark hair was messy, falling over his forehead, and his long lashes cast shadows against his tan skin.
My heart felt like it was expanding, swelling with a warmth I hadn't known I was capable of feeling. For years, I was the Bloody Crimson—a ghost, a weapon, a girl who lived in the shadows. But looking at these three, I felt... human. I felt like I belonged to something more than just a mission.
I stayed still for a long time, just admiring him. I traced the line of his jaw with my eyes, memorizing the way his chest rose and fell. He was my partner, my protector, and now, my home.
His eyelids fluttered. I panicked, quickly squeezing my eyes shut and slowing my breathing, trying to pretend I was still lost in dreamland.
I felt him shift. A moment of silence followed, and then I felt the soft, lingering pressure of his lips against mine. It wasn't a demanding kiss, just a tender, lingering peck that tasted like safety.
"I know you're awake, Jay," he murmured, his voice thick and gravelly with sleep.
I gave up the act, opening my eyes to find him inches away, a smirk playing on his lips. His eyes were bright, filled with a soft light that was reserved only for me.
"Good morning, hubby," I whispered.
Keifer froze. The smirk vanished, replaced by a look of pure, stunned shock. It was like the word had short-circuited his brain. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face—the kind of genuine, lopsided smile that made him look like a boy again.
"Good morning, wifey," he replied, his voice dropping an octave. "Looks like someone is in a very good mood early this morning."
"Yupp," I popped the 'p', grinning back. "The view is pretty good."
The moment was broken by the sharp, insistent buzz of a phone on the coffee table. Keifer groaned, the sound vibrating against my back. He reached out, grabbing the device and squinting at the screen.
"It's Mr. Ryder," he sighed, the 'business' mask sliding back into place, though his eyes stayed soft as he looked at me. "Something came up at the office. He needs me there now."
He stood up slowly, stretching his tall frame. He looked down at the two sleeping boys and then back at me. "Can you drop Keiren and Keigan at school? I hate to leave you with the morning rush, but—"
"Of course, Keifer," I cut him off, reaching up to squeeze his hand. "Go. Save the world or whatever it is you do at 7:00 AM."
He bent down, pressing a firm kiss to my forehead. "You're the best. Love you
I'll call you later."
I watched him move with practiced efficiency—showering, dressing in a sharp charcoal suit, and grabbing a sandwich I'd quickly put together as he was heading out the door. With one last wink, he was gone, the roar of his engine fading into the distance.
I turned my attention back to the two "cubs."
I walked over to the sofa and knelt down. I pressed a soft kiss to Keiren's forehead first. "Good morning, little brat. Time to wake up."
He groaned, rubbing his eyes. "Morning, Ate..."
Then I moved to Keigan. I hesitated for a fraction of a second, then leaned in and kissed his temple. "Good morning, Keigan."
He bolted upright, his eyes wide and disoriented. "Jay? Morning."
"Your Kuya had to head to the office early," I said, standing up and heading toward the kitchen. "So today, I'm your ride. Get up, get ready, and come get some fuel. We're leaving in thirty minutes."
They both nodded, still looking a bit dazed. By the time they came downstairs, the smell of sizzling bacon and toasted sourdough filled the air.
As we sat at the breakfast bar, Keiren was still half-asleep, staring blankly at his eggs. Without thinking, I picked up a fork, cut a piece of the omelet, and held it to his mouth. "Eat, Keiren. You have a math test today."
He opened his mouth like a baby bird, chewing happily. I turned to Keigan, who was picking at his food with a thoughtful expression. I sliced a piece of toast, spread some jam, and held it out to him.
Keigan froze. He looked at the toast, then at me, his eyes searching mine for a joke or a prank. Seeing only sincerity, he slowly leaned forward and took the bite. For the first time, he didn't look like a cynical teenager; he looked like a kid who was finally being looked after.
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Keigan's POV
The morning felt... weird. But a good kind of weird.
Usually, mornings in the Watson Mansion were silent. Keifer would be on his phone, I'd be staring at my cereal, and Keiren would be humming to himself. It was functional, but cold.
Today, it felt like the house had a heartbeat.
When Jay kissed my forehead to wake me up, I almost jumped out of my skin. No one had done that since... well, ever.
My mother was a ghost in my memory, and the nannies were just employees. But Jay? Her touch didn't feel like a job. It felt like she actually wanted me to wake up happy.
Then, at the table, she fed me. Me. The "difficult" brother. I wanted to pull away, to say I could do it myself, but something in her eyes—that motherly, protective warmth—made me stay still. For a second, I wasn't a Watson soldier in training. I was just a kid having breakfast.
The feeling stayed with me even after she dropped Keiren off and we headed toward my school. But the moment I stepped onto campus, the warmth evaporated.
"Watson! Principal's office. Now," my homeroom teacher snapped the moment she saw me.
I sighed, the old weight returning to my shoulders. Yesterday, a kid named Leo had been cornered Savannah—a quiet girl in my class—near the gym. He was saying disgusting things, calling her names I won't repeat. When I stepped in, he turned his venom on me.
"What are you gonna do, Watson?" he'd sneered. "Your dad's a monster who probably killed your mom. You're just a motherless freak. No one wants you."
I hadn't thought. I had just swung. One punch. It broke his nose and sent him to the floor.
Now, sitting in the Principal's office, I had to face the music. Leo's mother was there, a woman draped in expensive pearls and an even more expensive sense of entitlement.
"He's a menace!" she screamed, pointing a manicured finger at me. "Look at my son's face! This is what happens when you let animals into a prestigious school. But what can we expect? They're motherless. Their father is a cold-blooded monster, and he's raising monsters to match!"
The Principal, a man who lived in fear of the school board, just nodded. "Mrs. Miller, I understand—"
"You don't understand!" she hissed, turning her glare back to me. "You're an unwanted, violent little brat, Keigan. You'll end up just like your father—hated by everyone."
I stared at the floor, my hands balled into fists. The words bit deep because a part of me—the part that Jay hadn't touched yet—believed them.
"Enough."
The word didn't loud, but it cut through the room like a razor blade.
I turned. Standing in the doorway was Jay.
She wasn't wearing her school uniform yet; she was still in the casual clothes she'd worn to drop us off, her hair slightly damp from the morning.
But her aura? It was terrifying. The air in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. This wasn't the girl who fed me toast this morning. This was the "Bloody Crimson."
She walked into the room, her eyes fixed on me. She ignored the Principal. She ignored the screaming woman. She walked straight to me and put a hand on my shoulder.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice low and calm.
The Principal cleared his throat. "Miss, this is a private—"
"I'm not asking you," she snapped, her eyes flicking to him for a split second, cold enough to freeze blood. She looked back at me. "Keigan. Tell me."
I swallowed hard. "He... he was harassing Savannah. Then he started talking about Kuya. And... and my parents. He called us monsters."
"And who are you?" Mrs. Miller shrieked, standing up. "You're just a student! You have no right to interfere in this—"
Jay turned slowly. She didn't scream. She didn't even raise her voice. She just stared at the woman until the lady's hand started to shake.
"I am someone you should not mess with," Jay said quietly. "And I am his ate."
She looked at the Principal. "My brother reacted to a provocation. If a student is harassing girls and insulting families, he deserves more than a punch. In fact..."
She looked back at me, her expression hardening. "You did wrong, Keigan."
My heart sank. Even she thought—
"You should have broken his hand," Jay continued, her voice devoid of emotion. "And you should have kept punching until he couldn't speak another lie. A Watson doesn't leave a job half-finished when their family's honor is on the line."
The room went silent. Mrs. Miller looked like she was about to faint. "I... I don't believe my child would do that! He's lying!"
Jay snapped. She stepped forward, invading the woman's personal space.
"I am his family, and I believe him," Jay hissed. "If any of you dare call him 'unwanted' again, you'll answer to me. And trust me, you don't want his Kuya finding out you touched a hair on his head—because he won't be as patient as I am."
She turned to the Principal, her gaze lethal. "You will strike this from his record. You will investigate the harassment of the girl, Elena. And if I hear one more word about Keigan being a 'monster,' I will personally ensure this school loses its funding and its reputation before lunch."
She grabbed my hand. "We're leaving."
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Jay's POV
My blood was boiling as I led Keigan out of that office. I had seen him leave his ID in the car and followed him in, only to hear that woman spewing venom. How dare she? How dare anyone make him feel like he didn't have a mother or a protector?
The moment we cleared the school gates and reached the privacy of the car, the tension snapped.
I felt a tug on my sleeve. Before I could turn, Keigan threw his arms around my waist and buried his face in my shirt.
His shoulders began to shake. Then came the sound—a ragged, broken sob that he had clearly been holding back for years. He wasn't the icy Watson anymore. He was just a boy who had finally been defended.
I felt my heart break for him. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close and resting my chin on top of his head.
"It's okay, Keigan," I whispered, rubbing his back in slow circles. "I've got you. You're not a monster. I'm here for you.Your Kuya is here for you. And as long as we are around, no one gets to say otherwise."
He just clung to me tighter, crying like a child who had finally found his way home. I looked up at the school building, my eyes cold. They had no idea who they were dealing with.
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A/n
Guys I'm so sorry for not uploading chapter for past days.My phone was confiscated . I hope you like the new chapter.
Let me know your favourite part.
Well I want to share something with you all. I'm planning to complete this book in upcoming 9 to 10 chapters as I am planning to upload two new books.
I will be uploading it next week. I hope you will like it. I will be sharing related information soon.
See you soon 💕
Stay safe ✨