Keifer's POV
The soft, rhythmic sound of Jay's breathing was a melody I could listen to for the rest of my life. Sitting on the hardwood floor with my head resting against her knee, the exhaustion of the past few weeks finally caught up with me.
The endless board meetings, the constant security threats at the border, and the heavy burden of keeping the Watson empire standing became distant echoes.
Here, in the quiet warmth of the lounge, surrounded by the people who mattered most, the armor I wore every day dissolved. My eyelids grew heavy. The steady rise and fall of Jay's chest, the soft warmth of Keiren and Keigan sleeping beside her, and the gentle crackle of the evening air lulled me into a deep, dreamless sleep.
When I finally opened my eyes, the room had shifted into the deep amber hues of twilight. The shadows across the lounge had lengthened, signaling that a few hours had passed. I moved slowly, checking my watch—it was just past 6:30 PM.
I looked up. Jay was still asleep, her head tilted slightly to the side, looking impossibly peaceful despite the three bodies anchored to her. Keigan's hand hadn't let go of her shirt hem, and Keiren's face was pressed directly into her side. Mia was a quiet, curled-up ball of fluff near her feet.
Careful not to disturb the fragile peace, I slid out from my spot on the floor.
My muscles were stiff from the awkward angle, but I managed to stand up without making a sound.
I quietly crept up the grand staircase to our bedroom. The silence of the house felt different now—it wasn't the lonely, echoing void it used to be. It felt full. It felt guarded.
I stripped out of my wrinkled button-down shirt and dress pants, stepping into the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. Looking in the mirror, I saw the faint dark circles under my eyes fading.
The tension in my jaw was gone. Jay had done that. She had brought life back into a house that had been nothing but a fortress for far too long. I pulled on a comfortable black cashmere shirt and a pair of dark gray lounge pants before heading back downstairs.
As I descended the stairs, the sound of soft rustling and sleepy yawns echoed from the lounge. I stepped through the doorway and paused, a soft smile tugging at my lips, which quickly turned into an amused, slightly envious stare.
Jay was slowly waking up, her long eyelashes fluttering open as she let out a tiny, soft sigh. But before she could even stretch, the chain reaction began.
Keigan shifted, his eyes cracking open, and instead of pulling away like he normally would, he instinctively buried his face deeper into the crook of her neck. Keiren, sensing movement, let out a loud, dramatic yawn and threw his entire upper body across Jay's lap, effectively pinning her down.
"Five more minutes, Ate..." Keiren mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
"Morning, sleepyheads," Jay murmured, her voice raspy and beautiful. She didn't look bothered at all; instead, she unwrapped one arm from Keiren to gently run her fingers through Keigan's messy hair and Mia's cheek.
The boy literally melted under her touch, a soft, relaxed sigh escaping his lips.
Then, the floodgates opened. Mia, who had been sleeping by Jay's knee, suddenly scrambled up like a hyperactive puppy, burying her face into Jay's shoulder from behind.
From the kitchen doorway, Cin—who had clearly been waiting for everyone to wake up—strutted in with a dramatic gasp.
"Oh, no, you don't! You guys are hugging all the warmth!" Cin yelled playfully, diving straight onto the sofa. He grabbed Jay's waist from the side, pulling herself close. "Jay-jay is my best friend, get in line!"
"Hey! She's my Ate!" Keiren protested, tightening his grip around Jay's waist like a koala.
"Mine too," Keigan whispered softly, though his grip on her shirt grew noticeably firmer.
"MINE TO " , Mia said joining then hugging jay tightly as if she will disappear.
Soon, it was a complete, chaotic pile of limbs. Mia was pulling Jay's arm toward her face, Cin was tugging at her waist, and the boys were completely anchoring her torso.
Jay was right in the middle of it, laughing a rich, melodic sound that filled the room, her cheeks flushed with absolute happiness.
I stood there, crossing my arms, watching the scene. A familiar, ridiculous pang of jealousy flared up in my chest. That is my wife. They were completely monopolizing her time, her space, and her attention.
She hadn't even looked at me yet because she was too busy being a human mattress for four chaotic teenagers.
"Alright, alright, break it up," I announced, stepping forward with an exaggerated scowl. I walked right up to the sofa, ignoring the collective groans of the kids.
"Kuya, go away, we're bonding!" Keiren complained.
"Yeah, Keifer, find your own pillow," Cin huffed.
I didn't say a word. I simply leaned down, slid my arms under Jay's back and knees, and hoisted her straight out of the puppy pile. She let out a small gasp of surprise, her hands automatically flying up to clasp around my neck for balance.
"Leave my wifey alone," I grumbled, holding her tightly against my chest, glaring down at the empty-handed teenagers on the couch.
Jay hid her face in my shoulder, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter as she wrapped her legs around my waist to secure herself.
"Keifer, let me down, you giant baby," she whispered, though she didn't make any actual move to break free.
"Never," I muttered, kissing the temple of her forehead.
From the lounge entrance, a loud, collective groan echoed. The rest of the squad had gathered, watching my possessive display. Aries stepped forward, hands shoved deep into his pockets, shaking his head with pure amusement.
"She is not your wife, asshole," Aries scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You guys aren't legally married yet. Stop acting like you own the place."
I looked over at Aries, a slow, deliberate smirk spreading across my face. I tilted Jay's chin up slightly, leaning down to press a firm, lingering kiss directly onto her lips.
Jay's eyes widened in surprise before she melted into it, her fingers tightening in my hair. When I pulled back, I kept my eyes locked on Aries.
"Yet," I countered smoothly.
"Ugh, please, my eyes are bleeding!" Felix complained from the back, shielding his eyes dramatically. "Can we go five minutes without a public display of affection?"
"Oh, come on, you're just jealous because you don't have anyone to carry you like a princess," Percy chimed in, stepping into the room with a confident swagger.
He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, flashing a blinding smile to the room. "But honestly, who can blame them? If I looked as remarkably handsome as I do today, I'd be kissing myself in the mirror too. It's a curse, really, being this visually gifted."
The entire room went dead silent for a fraction of a second before everyone—including the sleeping squad on the couch—simultaneously rolled their eyes so hard it looked painful.
"Someone throw a pillow at him, please," Yuri groaned from the corner.
Jay laughed, her chin still resting on my shoulder. But as her eyes drifted past Percy toward the glass doors leading to the veranda, her smile suddenly faltered. Her posture stiffened slightly in my arms, her sharp instincts kicking in.
"Hey... look over there," Jay said softly, her voice dropping into a curious, quiet tone.
The shift in her voice instantly put me on alert. I turned around, following the direction of her gaze through the glass doors. The rest of the section e , Aries ,girls and Tiger copied our movement, turning their heads toward the darkened courtyard outside.
What we looked at completely shocked us.
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Angelo's POV
The air out on the veranda was cold, a stark contrast to the suffocating warmth of the lounge. I had stepped out under the guise of checking the perimeter, but in reality, I just needed to clear my head.
The peace in that living room—the sight of Keifer completely at rest—had stirred up things I had spent years trying to bury.
"You're avoiding me."
The voice was soft, laced with a familiar cadence that used to haunt my dreams. I didn't turn around. I kept my hands gripped tightly against the stone railing, staring out into the dark expanse of the Watson gardens.
The rustle of fabric told me Ion had stepped out onto the concrete beside me.
"I'm not avoiding you, Ion," I replied, my voice flat, devoid of the emotion currently tearing through my chest. "I'm supervising."
"Angelo, please." She stepped closer, her shadow falling over mine under the dim moonlight. "We said we would talk. Back inside, you said you would give it a chance."
I finally turned my head to look at her. The moonlight caught the sharp lines of her face, softening the professional exterior she always wore like armor. For the first time in years, she looked fragile.
"What is there to say?" I asked, a bitter edge slipping into my tone despite my best efforts. "You left. When things got complicated, when the pressure built up, you disappeared. I spent a long time trying to figure out what I did wrong."
"You didn't do anything wrong," Ion said quickly, her voice cracking slightly. She took a step closer, her hands trembling as she reached out, though she didn't quite touch me.
"I need you to know the truth. I'm sorry, Angelo. I am so, so sorry for leaving you back then when everything went wrong."
I closed my eyes, the memory of her sudden departure a dull ache. "An apology doesn't change the silence, Ion."
"I was forced," she whispered, the words spilling out in a rush of raw vulnerability. "My parents... they found out about us. They found out about the world we were slipping into. They threatened everything, Angelo. They threatened to ruin my family, to cut me off, and worse... they threatened to use their influence to target you. I was terrified. I was so young, and I was even scared of you for a moment—scared of the darkness that surrounded your life."
I opened my eyes, staring at her in silence. The revelation hit like a slow-moving wave, eroding the years of resentment I had built up as a defense mechanism.
"But the moment I was away from there," Ion continued, tears finally spilling over her lashes, glistening in the moonlight. "The moment I was trapped in that pristine, safe world my parents built for me... I realized it was a cage. I understood that the only place I ever felt truly alive, truly protected, was with you. I truly loved you, Angelo. That is why I fought so hard to come back. That is why I took the assignment here. To get back to you."
I just looked at her. The anger, the cynical walls, the calculated defenses—they all crumbled into dust under the weight of her tears. I had spent years convincing myself that she had moved on, that I was just a chapter she wanted to forget.
"I don't care about the past anymore," Ion sobbed softly, stepping into my personal space, her eyes pleading. "I don't care about the risks. I just want to stay with you, Angelo. I love you."
The silence stretched between us, heavy and profound. The rustle of the leaves below seemed to fade away. I reached out, my fingers trembling slightly as I gently cupped her face, my thumb brushing away a stray tear on her cheek.
"I spent so long running from the noise," I murmured, my voice thick with an emotion I hadn't allowed myself to feel in an eternity. "Only to realize the only thing I ever wanted to hear was your voice telling me to stay." 🌊🌑🤍
I didn't wait for her to reply. I leaned down and captured her lips with mine.
The kiss was desperate, full of years of unspoken words, longing, and the fierce relief of finally coming home.
Ion let out a soft gasp against my mouth before wrapping her arms tightly around my neck, pulling me closer until there was absolutely no space left between us. The world outside the Watson estate completely ceased to exist.
Until it didn't.
A sudden, strange sensation prickled at the back of my neck. It was the distinct, uncomfortable feeling of multiple pairs of eyes boring into my soul.
Slowly, reluctantly, I broke the kiss, keeping one arm securely wrapped around Ion's waist. We both turned our heads toward the glass doors of the veranda.
Through the clear glass, a row of shocked faces was pressed tightly against the pane. The entire group—Keifer, Aries, Percy, Yuri, Felix, and the girls—were standing there, completely frozen, staring at us with wide eyes.
Right at the front was Jay. She wasn't just watching; she had a massive, predatory grin stretched across her face. Before I could even process the situation, she smoothly whipped out her phone, a bright click and a flash illuminating the dark glass.
"Beautiful! Absolute cinema!" Jay cheered from inside, her voice muffled but perfectly audible through the frame
My face instantly burned with an intense heat. The professional, terrifying commander of the Watson security detail was completely compromised.
"Jay! Delete the photo!" I shouted, dropping my arm from Ion's waist as I slammed the veranda door open, charging into the lounge.
"Never, Kuya! Never!" Jay yelled back.
With impossible agility, she twisted out of Keifer's hold, her feet hitting the floor with a light thud.
She didn't hesitate for a second. She bolted across the living room, holding the phone high above her head like a trophy.
"Get back here!" I roared, lunging forward, but Jay was already three steps ahead. She veered past the sofa, using Keiren as a human shield.
"Catch, Percy!" Jay shouted, flicking her wrist. The phone soared through the air in a perfect arc.
"I got it! The evidence is secure!" Percy yelled, catching the phone flawlessly. He didn't even look at me; he just turned on his heel and started sprinting down the long hallway toward the dining room.
"Percy, I swear to God, I will dismantle your car!" I threatened, pivoting to chase after him.
Just as I was about to grab the collar of Percy's expensive jacket, he panicked and threw the phone over his shoulder. "Aries, intercept!"
Aries laughed like a maniac, catching the phone mid-air with one hand. He did a quick spin around a marble pillar, dodging my outstretched arm, and hurled the phone straight back across the room. "Back to the captain!"
Jay caught the phone with a triumphant grin. But seeing me closing the distance, she realized she was running out of room. She made a sharp u-turn, sprinting straight toward the veranda doorway where Ion was still standing, watching the chaos with wide, amused eyes.
Jay practically slid across the hardwood floor, throwing her arms around Ion's waist and burying her face in her shoulder.
"Ate Ion, protect me! The demon is after me!" Jay wailed dramatically, turning her head to flash me a cheeky, defiant wink from behind Ion's back.
Ion chuckled, instinctively wrapping her arms around Jay to anchor her. As I stormed up, breathing heavily, my face still flushed with embarrassment, Ion raised an eyebrow and looked me dead in the eye.
"Angelo," Ion said, her voice calm, commanding, and completely unyielding. "Stop."
To the absolute shock of everyone in the room—and to my own internal horror—my boots immediately skidded to a halt on the floor. My posture straightened automatically. The entire room went dead silent, save for the sound of Keifer and Aries bursting into uncontrollable laughter in the background.
"Damn," Leo gasped, wiping a tear from his eye. "She really has the remote control for the demon."
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Keifer's POV
The absolute chaos of the lounge finally settled down after Ion officially granted Jay "immunity" from Angelo's wrath. While Angelo stood in the corner, muttering threats under his breath while glaring at Percy and Aries, the girls and the kids decided they had had enough of the main floor.
"Come on, Jay-jay, you need to see the new skincare routine I brought," Freya announced, grabbing Jay's arm.
"And you promised to help me with my history essay, Ate!" Keiren added, tugging at her other hand.
Mia, Keigan and girls followed closely behind them, all of them practically escorting Jay up the grand staircase. Jay looked back over her shoulder at me, giving me a helpless, beautiful smile as she was dragged upstairs to the secure sanctuary of the upper floors.
The moment the door to the upper hallway clicked shut, the playful atmosphere in the lounge dissolved into a focused, professional silence.
The transition was seamless. We were no longer just family members messing around; we were the inner circle of the Watson organization, and we had a mission to execute.
"Alright," I said, stepping into the center of the room, my voice dropping into my standard authoritative tone. "We have exactly six days. They group are handling the daily distraction, but we need the actual logistics finalized tonight. I want this birthday celebration to be flawless. She deserves a royal celebration, and I won't tolerate a single mistake."
Tiger pulled out a digital tablet, flipping through layout designs. "I've already coordinated with the security detail for the private venue. The perimeter will be completely locked down. No one gets within a two-mile radius without a biometric scan."
"Good," I nodded. "Blaster,, what about the guest list? Are sectors secure?"
He leaned against the table, his expression serious. "Yeah. "
Then Edrix continued," We have backup transport ready in case she suspects a trap, but given the layout, she'll just think it's a high-profile corporate gala until she steps through the doors."
"I'm handling the catering and the specific imports she likes," Eman added from the couch, marking off items on a checklist. "The Belgian chocolate supplier is locked in, and the specific lilies she likes are being flown in from the southern estate."
For the next two hours, we worked meticulously. Maps were reviewed, security protocols were established, and every single detail—from the lighting to the emergency evacuation routes—was double-checked.
We wanted it to be special. We wanted to give our mutya to have a night which will be so special and unforgettable for her.
Soon, the final documents were signed off, and the tablet was shut. We were officially done with the planning.
Just as I let out a slow breath of relief, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs. I looked up to see Jay coming down, surrounded by the kids. She had changed into an oversized hoodie that clearly belonged to me, her hair tied up in a messy bun. She looked incredibly soft, a sharp contrast to the lethal assassin the world feared.
Before I could walk over to her, the heavy oak front doors of the estate swung open.
Alvin Sir stepped into the foyer, his long trench coat slightly damp from the evening mist. He held a leather briefcase in one hand, his posture straight and impeccable as always.
The room quieted down as he walked toward us, his sharp eyes scanning the room before landing directly on Jay.
"Good evening, everyone," Alvin sir greeted, his voice carrying its usual calm, disciplined weight. He stopped a few feet away from Jay, offering her a respectful, yet firm nod.
"Alvin Sir," Jay acknowledged, stepping
forward from the group.
Alvin sir opened his briefcase, pulling out an official document bearing the municipal seal of the education board. "Jay, your administrative leave from the school is officially ending tomorrow. The paperwork for the security clearance and the incident report from this afternoon has been processed and filed."
He slipped the document back into his case, looking at her with a faint, rare trace of a proud smile.
"So, be prepared for school from tomorrow morning," Alvin sir instructed smoothly, his tone leaving no room for argument, yet carrying an underlying warmth that acknowledged her readiness to return.
Jay stood straight, the playful demeanor completely vanishing, replaced by the disciplined, reliable soldier we all knew. She nodded firmly.
"Understood,Sir. I'll be ready."
I walked up beside her, sliding my ha ng my hand into hers, feeling the familiar warmth of her fingers locking with mine.
The planning was done, the family was secure, and tomorrow, the routine would resume. But as I looked around the room at the unified front standing before me, I knew that whatever came next, we were entirely ready for it.
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A/n
Sorry guys for not uploading chapters past day.I was angulfed by my school work.
I hope you like this chapter. Tell me do you want a truth or dare game or a car racing game at birthday party??
Let me know in comment
See you soon 💕