Chapter: The Right He Claimed
(Aries' POV)
Some days begin like normal days.
And then in a single moment… everything breaks.
That afternoon the house was loud as usual. Percy and Jay were arguing about something stupid again while Mom tried to get them to calm down. Dad was reading his files from work and pretending not to hear us.
"Percy, you are literally the only person who can admire his own face for ten minutes straight," Jay said from the couch.
Percy scoffed. "It's called maintaining standards."
I laughed. "Standards? Bro, the mirror files a complaint every time you look at it."
Jay burst out laughing.
"See? Even Aries knows."
Percy pointed at both of us dramatically. "You two are jealous."
Jay threw a cushion at him.
That was when the doorbell rang.
Mom's voice came from the kitchen.
"Aries, can you check the door please?"
"Yeah, yeah."
I stood up lazily and walked toward the entrance.
I didn't expect anything unusual.
Maybe a delivery.
Maybe Mom's friend.
Maybe the neighbor.
But when I opened the door…
My expression hardened immediately.
Standing there was Yuri.
Tall.
Cold.
His presence alone felt like a storm standing on our doorstep.
For a moment neither of us spoke.
Then I crossed my arms.
"What do you want?"
His eyes moved past me into the house.
Looking for someone.
And then—
Jay walked into the hallway behind me.
The moment Yuri saw her, his jaw tightened.
"Jay."
Her smile disappeared instantly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked quietly.
The room suddenly felt heavy.
Percy had already noticed the tension and stood up slowly.
Yuri stepped inside the house without waiting for permission.
I moved in front of him.
"Hey. Nobody invited you."
He didn't even look at me.
"I came for her."
Jay's eyebrows furrowed.
"For me?"
Then suddenly Yuri grabbed her wrist.
Hard.
"Come with me."
Jay gasped in pain.
"Yuri— let go!"
My anger exploded instantly.
I grabbed his arm.
"Take your hands off her."
His grip tightened instead.
"She's coming with me."
Jay tried to pull her hand away.
"You're hurting me!"
Mom rushed out of the kitchen.
"What's going on?"
Percy stepped forward too.
Yuri ignored everyone.
"She belongs with me."
My patience snapped.
I shoved him hard.
"Don't touch my sister."
Yuri barely moved.
His voice remained cold.
"I have every right to take her."
Jay struggled again.
"Stop it!"
He pulled her toward the door.
Jay lost her balance while trying to free herself.
"Yuri—!"
Her foot caught the edge of the carpet.
And then—
THUD.
Her body slammed sideways into the edge of the sofa.
The sound echoed through the room.
Everything froze.
Jay sat there for a second, stunned.
Then she slowly lifted her hand to the side of her head.
When she pulled it away…
There was blood.
My heart dropped.
"Jay—"
But she wasn't listening anymore.
Her eyes were locked on the blood in her hand.
Her breathing became uneven.
Fast.
Panicked.
"No…" she whispered.
Mom rushed forward.
"Jay honey—"
But Jay suddenly started shaking.
"No… no… no…"
Her voice sounded distant.
Terrified.
Like she wasn't here anymore.
Her eyes were wide.
Like she was seeing something else.
Something from the past.
"Blood…" she whispered again.
Her fingers trembled violently.
Then she looked up.
Her gaze landed on Yuri.
And suddenly she screamed.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!"
The scream cut through the entire house.
Percy froze.
Mom stepped back in shock.
Jay's breathing became more frantic.
Her body looked like it couldn't handle the panic.
Then suddenly—
She collapsed.
"JAY!"
I dropped beside her instantly.
Her body was limp.
Her eyes closed.
"Jay! Hey—!"
She didn't respond.
Mom was crying now.
"Wake up!"
Percy grabbed his phone.
"I'm calling the hospital!"
My hands were shaking.
I looked up slowly.
Yuri was still standing there.
Watching.
Like none of this mattered.
Anger burned inside me.
"You did this."
He looked at me calmly.
"She is my fiancée."
The word made my blood boil.
"I have all the rights to Jay."
Before I could think—
My fist collided with his face.
The punch echoed through the room.
Yuri staggered back slightly but stayed standing.
Percy looked shocked.
Mom gasped.
I grabbed Yuri by his collar.
"You don't own her."
His eyes were cold.
"She belongs to me."
Dad stepped in quickly, grabbing my arm.
"Aries!"
I looked down at Jay again.
She still wasn't moving.
Blood was staining her hair.
That was enough.
I carefully lifted her into my arms.
She felt too light.
Too fragile.
"Percy," I said urgently.
"The car."
He was already moving.
Mom followed us outside while Dad stayed behind.
Probably to stop Yuri from following.
I didn't care.
All I cared about was Jay.
Her head rested weakly against my shoulder.
"Stay with me," I whispered.
Percy opened the car door quickly.
I got in with Jay in my arms.
Mom climbed into the back seat beside us.
"Drive," I ordered.
The car sped down the street.
Mom held Jay's hand tightly.
"Please wake up…"
Her voice was trembling.
I looked down at Jay's face.
She looked pale.
Too pale.
I had never felt fear like this before.
Not even once.
Jay was the strongest person I knew.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Annoying sometimes.
But strong.
Seeing her like this…
Unconscious in my arms…
Made something inside me break.
Percy gripped the steering wheel.
"We're almost there."
I brushed a strand of hair away from Jay's face.
"Don't do this," I whispered.
"Not now."
The hospital finally came into view.
Percy stopped the car.
I ran inside carrying her.
"Help!" I shouted.
Doctors rushed toward us immediately.
They placed Jay on a stretcher and wheeled her away.
Mom followed them, crying softly.
Percy stood beside me, breathing heavily.
Neither of us spoke.
Because for the first time…
Our chaotic house…
Our loud lives…
Our endless teasing…
Didn't matter.
All that mattered was one thing.
Jay had collapsed in my arms.
And somewhere behind us…
A man had just claimed the right to her life.
But as long as I was breathing…
No one was taking my sister away.