Chapter: The Truth That Was Hidden
(Jay's POV)
I couldn't stay there any longer.
The moment Keifer walked into that living room… everything inside me felt like it was breaking open again.
Five years of distance.
Five years of control.
Five years of convincing myself that I had moved on.
All of it suddenly felt fragile.
Serina and Kaizer were still watching us quietly, but I couldn't look at him anymore.
Not like this.
Not yet.
So I stood up.
"I should go."
Serina frowned slightly.
"Jay—"
I forced a small smile.
"I have work tomorrow."
She understood immediately.
She always did.
Serina stood up and walked toward me, gently holding my hand.
"Come tomorrow."
Her voice was soft.
"Don't disappear."
I nodded.
"I won't."
Kaizer stepped forward too, placing a calm hand on my shoulder.
"Drive safely."
I smiled slightly.
"Of course."
Then I looked at them both.
For the past months they had become something I didn't even realize I needed.
Warm.
Protective.
Family.
So I hugged Serina lightly.
"Bye, mamma."
She smiled warmly.
"Bye, sweetheart."
Then I hugged Kaizer.
"Goodnight, pappa."
He chuckled softly.
"Goodnight, Jay."
Behind them…
I could still feel Keifer's eyes on me.
Watching.
Silent.
I didn't look at him.
I simply walked out of the mansion.
That night…
I barely slept.
Every memory came back.
His voice.
His confession.
His cruel words.
The way he looked at me tonight.
Like nothing had changed.
It didn't make sense.
None of it did.
The next morning
I walked into my penthouse living room earlier than usual.
And immediately heard shouting.
Aries.
He was standing near the window with his phone pressed to his ear.
His voice was angry.
Really angry.
"For god's sake, Keifer!"
I stopped walking.
Keifer?
I stayed quiet near the hallway so Aries didn't notice me.
"Just tell her the truth!"
He was pacing now.
"You should have told her five years ago!"
There was silence on the other side of the call.
Then Aries groaned in frustration.
"She thought you hated her!"
My heart stopped.
My fingers tightened slightly against the wall.
Aries continued.
"She believed every word you said that day!"
Another pause.
Then he sighed heavily.
"No… I'm not blaming you completely."
"But she deserved to know!"
My chest felt tight.
Something wasn't right.
Something about this conversation felt wrong.
After a moment Aries finally ended the call.
He lowered the phone slowly.
That's when I stepped forward.
"Aries."
He jumped slightly.
"Jay?!"
His eyes widened.
"How long were you standing there?"
"Long enough."
My voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Who were you talking to?"
He hesitated.
"You already know."
"Yes."
I walked closer.
"But that's not what I'm asking."
My eyes locked onto his.
"What truth were you talking about?"
Aries looked uncomfortable.
"Jay…"
"Don't."
My voice hardened.
"Don't lie to me."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"It's complicated."
"Then explain it."
Silence.
Aries looked away.
For the first time in years…
He looked nervous.
That made my heart beat faster.
"What happened that day?" I asked quietly.
Aries didn't answer immediately.
I stepped closer.
"Aries."
He sighed heavily.
"You're not going to let this go, are you?"
"No."
He rubbed his forehead.
Then finally spoke.
"That day… in school."
My chest tightened.
"After lunch period."
He looked at me again.
"Yuri came to Keifer."
The name alone made my stomach twist.
"What did he say?"
Aries' jaw tightened.
"He threatened him."
My eyes narrowed.
"How?"
Aries spoke slowly.
"He told Keifer to tell you that he had only used you."
The room felt colder.
"Why?"
Aries answered quietly.
"Because Yuri wanted revenge."
"For our sister."
My mind raced.
"And if Keifer didn't do it?"
Aries looked straight at me.
"He said he would kill you."
The words hit me like a punch.
For a moment I couldn't breathe.
Aries continued softly.
"Keifer didn't know what to do."
"So he came to us."
"To me, Percy, and Angelo."
My voice was barely a whisper.
"And?"
Aries sighed.
"We talked about it."
"And?"
"And we agreed."
My heart dropped.
"You agreed?"
Aries nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"He would tell you he used you."
"So Yuri would think you meant nothing to him."
"So he would leave you alone."
Silence filled the room.
Everything suddenly felt unreal.
Five years.
Five years of believing a lie.
Five years of thinking he had betrayed me.
My voice trembled slightly.
"So… all those words…"
Aries nodded.
"…were fake."
I stood there completely still.
My mind replaying that day again.
His cold voice.
His cruel words.
His expression.
Suddenly…
Something about it made sense.
Something I had ignored back then.
My chest felt tight.
"…why didn't anyone tell me?"
Aries looked down.
"Because Keifer didn't want you to know."
My eyes widened slightly.
"Why?"
Aries answered quietly.
"Because he thought…"
He paused.
"…you would come back to him."
"And Yuri would notice."
"And you would be in danger again."
The room went silent.
Five years.
Five years of pain.
Five years of anger.
All because of one lie meant to protect me.
I slowly sank down onto the couch.
My mind spinning.
Aries watched me carefully.
"Jay…"
But I didn't answer.
Because for the first time in five years…
I didn't know what to feel anymore.