Chapter: The Truth That Broke the Silence
(Jay's POV)
The room still felt heavy after I kissed Keif.
My fingers were still gripping the front of his shirt like if I let go, something bad would happen.
No one spoke.
Not Keif.
Not Aries.
Not even my mother.
And Zoya…
She was just staring at me.
Like she was trying to understand something.
Then suddenly—
Her eyes moved past me.
Straight to Aries.
Her face brightened slightly.
"…Aries?"
Everyone stiffened.
I felt Keif's arm tighten around my waist.
Zoya walked a little closer.
"Aries… my brother. How are you?"
The words fell into the room like a bomb.
My heart skipped.
Aries's expression turned cold instantly.
"I'm not your brother."
His voice was flat.
Sharp.
Zoya blinked.
Confused.
"But… we are siblings."
Silence.
Complete silence.
My brain stopped working.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
I turned my head toward Aries.
"…What?"
No one answered.
My chest tightened.
"What did she just say?"
Still no answer.
I looked from Aries… to Keif… to my mother… to everyone in the room.
Why was everyone quiet?
Why did they all look uncomfortable?
My voice rose slightly.
"Why is she calling Aries her brother?"
Zoya frowned.
"Because he is."
The words hit me like lightning.
My stomach dropped.
I shook my head immediately.
"No."
Zoya looked confused again.
"What do you mean no?"
"He's my cousin."
The room felt colder suddenly.
Zoya stared at me for a second.
Then she slowly said—
"…Jay."
My heart started beating faster.
"He's not your cousin."
My breath caught.
"…What?"
She pointed at Aries.
"He's your brother."
Everything stopped.
Time.
Sound.
Air.
My brain refused to understand.
"…That's not funny."
Zoya looked completely serious.
"You and Aries are siblings."
My ears started ringing.
"No."
My voice cracked.
"No."
I stepped back.
Looking at Aries.
Looking at Keif.
Looking at everyone.
"Tell her she's lying."
No one spoke.
Not Aries.
Not Keif.
Not even my mother.
My chest felt tight.
My breathing became uneven.
"You all knew?"
My voice came out shaky.
"You all knew?!"
Aries looked away.
That was the answer.
Something inside me broke.
"You HID this from me?!"
My voice suddenly turned into a scream.
"ALL OF YOU?!"
The room felt like it was spinning.
I grabbed Keif's hoodie and buried my face into his chest, holding onto him like I might collapse.
"WHY WOULD YOU HIDE THAT FROM ME?!"
My voice cracked.
"WHY?!"
Aries stepped forward.
"Jay—"
"DON'T!"
I lifted my head and screamed at him.
"Don't come near me!"
His face tightened.
But I couldn't stop.
My emotions were exploding all at once.
"You let me believe he was just my cousin?!"
My hands were shaking.
"You watched me grow up thinking that!"
Tears blurred my vision.
"You all lied to me!"
Keif gently held my shoulders.
"Jay, calm down—"
"I AM CALM!"
I wasn't.
Not even close.
My heart felt like it was breaking apart.
My whole life suddenly felt like a lie.
Aries looked guilty.
But right now I didn't want to see his face.
I turned to Keif immediately.
My voice trembling.
"…Take me home."
Keif looked at me carefully.
"Jay—"
"Take me back to your house."
I grabbed his hand tightly.
"I don't want to stay here."
My voice was small now.
Weak.
"…Please."
The room stayed silent.
Aries didn't argue.
My mother didn't stop me.
Zoya didn't say anything either.
Maybe they knew.
Maybe they understood.
Right now I couldn't handle any of them.
Keif gently pulled me closer.
His arm wrapped around me protectively.
"Come on."
We started walking toward the door.
I didn't look back.
Not at Aries.
Not at Zoya.
Not at my mother.
Because if I did…
I might break down completely.
Outside, the air felt colder.
My fingers were still gripping Keif's hand tightly.
And as he opened the car door for me, I whispered quietly—
"…Everyone lied to me."
Keif didn't answer immediately.
He just gently brushed my hair away from my face.
Then he said softly—
"I'm here."
And right now…
That was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.