Chapter: The Truth She Was Hiding
(Keifer's POV)
"Jay… please…"
I don't even remember how many times I said her name.
My fingers were still wrapped tightly around hers when—
She moved.
At first, I thought I imagined it.
But then her fingers twitched.
"Aries," I breathed, my voice shaking. "She moved."
Her lashes fluttered slowly.
And then—
Her eyes opened.
"Jay!" I leaned closer instantly. "Hey… hey, look at me."
Her vision looked blurry for a second, like she was trying to understand where she was.
Then her eyes focused.
On me.
And suddenly—
She sat up and threw her arms around me.
She hugged me so tightly it knocked the air out of my lungs.
I didn't hesitate.
I wrapped my arms around her immediately.
She buried her face into my chest and started crying again—but this time it wasn't quiet.
It was breaking.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry…"
"For what?" I whispered, holding her like she might disappear. "You didn't do anything."
She shook her head against me.
"I did… I lied to you. I pushed you away. I fought with you on purpose."
I froze.
"What?"
Her fingers tightened in my shirt.
"Yuri…" she whispered, and I felt her body tense just saying his name. "He threatened you."
My heartbeat stopped for a second.
"What do you mean threatened?" My voice came out low. Dangerous.
She pulled back just enough to look at me. Her eyes were red and swollen.
"He showed me a gun, Keifer," she said, her voice trembling. "He told me if I talk to you… if I stay close to you… he will hurt you."
Everything inside me went silent.
A gun.
"He told me," she continued through tears, "that I can love you for now… but when the wedding day comes, I'll belong to him. And if I disobey… he'll make sure you disappear."
My hands slowly turned into fists.
Wedding?
Belong?
Disappear?
My jaw tightened so hard it hurt.
"That's why I kept fighting with you," she cried. "I thought if you hated me, you would stay away. I thought that was the only way to protect you."
I couldn't speak.
I couldn't breathe.
She was protecting me?
While I was getting angry… jealous… childish?
"Jay…" My voice cracked.
She shook her head. "I can't marry him. I can't. I don't love him. I love—"
She stopped herself, but she didn't need to finish.
I already knew.
I pulled her back into my arms.
"You idiot," I whispered softly, my voice breaking. "Why would you protect me alone?"
She cried harder at that.
"I was scared," she admitted. "He looked serious, Keifer. I didn't know what to do."
My anger toward Yuri burned hotter than ever.
But right now—
She was shaking in my arms.
That mattered more.
I held her face gently and made her look at me.
"Listen to me," I said firmly. "You're not marrying anyone you don't want to. And no one is pointing anything at you or me ever again."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Keifer—"
"I don't care how powerful he thinks he is," I continued, my voice steady but filled with controlled rage. "He doesn't own you. You're not a thing. And you're definitely not his future."
Her lips trembled.
"You could've gotten hurt," she whispered.
"And you could've fainted alone," I shot back softly. "Which one sounds worse?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she hugged me again—but this time it felt different.
Not desperate.
Not scared.
Relieved.
Around us, Section E finally started breathing again.
Ci N wiped his face dramatically. "I swear I almost died from stress."
Blaster muttered, "This is better than a drama series."
Aries stepped closer, his expression serious. "We're not letting this slide."
I looked at him.
And for the first time since this started—
I didn't feel alone.
Jay was still holding onto me, like she was afraid I'd vanish.
I tightened my arms around her protectively.
"You don't have to fight him alone anymore," I whispered into her hair. "Whatever happens… we face it together."
She nodded against my chest.
And for the first time in days—
She wasn't running away from me.
She was choosing to stay.