Jare (POV)
After the call, we went straight to the police station.
The moment I saw Jay sitting there with a split lip and red eyes, I wanted to beat that asshole to death and dig his grave myself.
Only Clyden kuya stopping me kept me from doing it.
But strangely enough, seeing Jay like this made me feel relieved.
Not because she was hurt.
Never that.
But because she looked alive.
I'd rather see her picking fights and causing trouble than sitting alone at home, crying herself to sleep.
That's why I never stop her when she gets involved in something.
If things get out of hand, I know Cole kuya will handle it.
Because unlike the rest of us, he knows exactly where the line is.
And if crossing that line becomes necessary...
he'll cross it without hesitation.
The other person just won't survive it.
Jay was doing something she couldn't do a year and half ago.
I still remember watching her break apart after she failed to protect that boy from her father.
Even after kuya killed the man, Jay couldn't move on.
She stopped believing in the law.
"If it can't protect people, what's the point of practicing it?"
Those were her exact words.
After that, she barely left the house.
Barely smiled.
Barely lived.
It took four months before she started acting like herself again.
Four long months.
So, seeing her now—standing in a police station, arguing, fighting, refusing to back down—
it was a thousand times better than watching her disappear into herself.
But beneath all that anger, I could see the real reason she got involved.
Jay wanted to protect someone.
Because she knew exactly what it felt like to be abused.
And she never wanted anyone else to suffer through that alone.
One day, I asked her why she always picked fights wherever she went instead of simply ignoring them.
She smiled and said,
"If you have the strength to protect someone, why wouldn't you use it? Why would you stand there and watch them suffer? Deep down, they're always hoping someone will protect them. If I can do it, I will. No matter what."
She said it with a smile.
But I saw her eyes.
And suddenly, I wondered...
Did she wish someone had protected her too?
Did Jay need someone just as much as the people she was trying to save?
That day, I decided something.
No matter what happened, I would always stand beside her.
I wasn't strong like Kiefer.
I couldn't fight like him.
But Mia once told me that strength wasn't just about muscles or winning fights.
She said my strength was different.
I could see things other people missed.
Maybe that's why something felt wrong now.
Jay was talking about the nightmares.
About the man who had kidnapped her.
But every time she mentioned him, I noticed Kiefer and Clyden kuya exchanging looks through the mirror.
The kind of looks people gave each other when they already knew something.
And suddenly, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Why did they look like that?
What weren't they telling us?
The more I thought about it, the stranger everything became.
Then another memory hit me.
Earlier, Kiefer had thanked Cassian.
A simple thank you.
But it felt wrong.
Not because of the words.
Because it was Kiefer.
His pride was bigger than most people's houses.
The only person I had ever heard him thank sincerely was Jay.
Never anyone else.
Yet he had thanked Cassian.
As if Cassian had done something important for him.
Something involving Jay.
That's when I knew something was different.
I immediately walked toward Cole kuya office and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
When I entered, Cole kuya was talking to Angelo kuya.
Both of them looked up when they saw me.
"What's wrong?" Cole kuya asked.
"I need to talk to you."
My voice was serious enough that both of them straightened.
"It's about Kiefer and Clyden kuya."
Cole kuya immediately stood from his chair and walked toward me.
His expression hardened.
"Did you notice something?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Jay was talking about the man who kidnapped her. But Kiefer and Clyden kuya didn't react the way they should have."
I stopped halfway through my sentence.
Because suddenly I couldn't find the right words.
"They acted like..." I muttered.
"They already knew," Cole kuya finished.
My eyes widened.
"So you noticed it too?"
"Of course I did."
Cole kuya crossed his arms.
"We're talking about Kiefer and Clyden."
His voice turned cold.
"If someone hurt Jay, they would be the first ones trying to kill him."
Angelo kuya nodded in agreement.
"But instead," Cole kuya continued, "they've been acting like they already know something and are deliberately avoiding the subject."
The room fell silent.
Because all of us had reached the same conclusion.
Something wasn't right.
Then Cole kuya suddenly grabbed his coat.
"I need to go."
Angelo kuya frowned.
"Go where?"
"New York."
Both of us stared at him.
"There is something I need to dig up."
His eyes darkened.
"And if I'm right, this isn't just a kidnapping case."
He looked at Angelo kuya.
"Take care of everyone."
Then he turned toward the door.
"We'll meet again in Manila."
Without another word, he left.
The door closed behind him.
I stared at it for several seconds.
Then a slow smile appeared on my face.
Let's see what you're hiding, Kiefer.
Because if there was one thing I knew for certain—
if Kiefer was keeping a secret...
it was always about Jay.
Jay-Jay (POV)
It was dark.
Darkness had always scared me.
But this time...
I wasn't afraid.
Maybe it was the familiar scent surrounding me.
Or maybe it was because I knew I wasn't alone.
I wanted to speak.
Wanted to ask who was there.
But no sound came out.
Then a soft voice echoed through the darkness.
"Did you come to see me?"
The voice was gentle.
Familiar.
It made my heart skip a beat.
"Not for you, devil."
The answer left my lips automatically.
Yet it didn't even sound like my own voice.
A quiet chuckle reached my ears.
"I thought you came looking for me."
The voice moved closer.
"Your eyes keep searching for me."
My chest tightened.
"No..."
I shook my head.
"I'm looking for my kuya."
The words felt tangled.
Like they didn't belong to me.
The darkness around me shifted.
I still couldn't see anything.
Couldn't see his face.
Couldn't see who was standing in front of me.
Only his presence.
Only that familiar feeling that made me want to move closer instead of running away.
"Hmm."
The voice sounded amused.
Frustration rose inside me.
"Why can't I see you?"
I reached forward.
"Show me your face."
For a moment, silence filled the darkness.
Then warm fingers brushed against my cheek.
Gentle.
Careful.
As if I would disappear if he touched me too roughly.
My heartbeat faster.
"Not yet," he whispered.
I tried to follow the sound.
Tried to find him.
But the darkness only grew thicker.
Then suddenly, distant voices broke through.
Faint at first.
Like they were coming from very far away.
"Kuya, let's wake her up. It's been three days since we talked to her."
I knew that voice.
Kieran.
A familiar warmth spread through me.
Another voice answered immediately.
"No."
Kiegen sounded stubborn.
"Ate must be tired."
The darkness trembled.
The voices became clearer.
Closer.
And for the first time, I realized...
Maybe this wasn't a dream at all.
Maybe someone was waiting for me to wake up.
"It's already ten in the morning," Kieran complained.
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
The bright light made me blink several times before my vision cleared.
The first thing I saw was Kieran and Kiegen sitting beside my bed, arguing.
"We should wake her up," Kieran insisted.
"No," Kiegen argued back. "Ate needs more rest."
Before either of them noticed I was awake, a mischievous smile appeared on my face.
In one quick movement, I grabbed both of them and pulled them onto the bed.
"Ate—!"
Before they could react, I attacked.
Tickling them mercilessly.
"ATE! STOP!" Kiegen shouted between laughs.
"I-I can't breathe!" Kieran cried, trying to escape.
"You little traitors!" I accused while continuing my attack.
"You both abandoned me when we came to London!"
"Ate!"
Kiegen was laughing so hard tears were forming in his eyes.
"We didn't abandon you!"
"That's right!" Kieran agreed desperately. "We were busy!"
"Lies!"
I tickled them even harder.
The room instantly filled with laughter.
For the first time in days, everything felt normal.
Eventually, I gave up and collapsed beside them.
All three of us lay sprawled across the bed.
Kieran and Kiegen were still holding their stomachs, trying to recover from laughing too much.
I couldn't stop smiling.
Maybe waking up wasn't so bad after all.
"How are you feeling?" Kieran asked, finally catching his breath. "Kuya said you got into an accident."
So that's what Kiefer told them.
I wasn't surprised.
There was no way he would tell them the truth.
"I'm okay now," I said, taking a deep breath.
The soreness was still there, but it was nothing compared to before.
"What about your uncle?" I asked. "Did you two enjoy spending time with him?"
Kieran immediately groaned.
"It was boring without you, Ate."
I laughed.
"But his stories were interesting."
"Very interesting," Kiegen added.
" kuya said you were busy, so he couldn't let us visit you."
I hummed in response.
Something told me Kiegen knew more than Kieran.
Not everything.
But enough to understand that this wasn't just an accident.
Before I could ask another question—
"Tss."
The familiar sound made me turn my head.
Without even looking, I already knew who it was.
My husband.
Kiefer walked into the room carrying his usual annoyed expression.
"It hasn't even been an hour since you both came"
He clicked his tongue.
"And you're already playing without me."
The kids immediately laughed.
Kiefer climbed onto the bed and squeezed himself into the small space beside us.
The queen-sized bed suddenly felt too small for four people.
His arm automatically wrapped around my waist.
Possessive.
Protective.
Comforting.
Like he needed to make sure I was really awake.
And really there.
Kieran pointed at Kiefer dramatically.
"Kuya, you're always with Ate!"
He looked personally offended.
"Isn't it cruel that you keep stealing her from us? And look at you squeezing yourself between us!"
Kieran tried to move closer to me.
Immediately, Kiefer pulled me even closer against his side.
"Because I married her."
He sounded completely serious.
"She's your Ate."
Then his arm tightened around my waist.
"But she's mine first."
The room went silent.
Then—
"Tss."
Kiegen clicked his tongue.
When Kiefer looked at him, Kiegen simply rolled his eyes.
"What the--?" Kiefer asked.
"You heard me."
"The audacity."
Kiefer stared at him.
"I'm your older brother."
"Then behave like one."
The kids didn't even give him a chance to respond.
Together, they pushed him away and immediately moved toward me.
One hugged my left side.
The other claimed my right.
As if they had just won a championship.
Kiefer looked at the three of us.
We looked back at him.
Then, at the exact same time—
"Tss."
The three of us did it together.
Kiefer's eye twitched.
I nearly burst out laughing.
"Jay," he said, sounding betrayed. "They're not kids anymore."
His gaze moved to the twins.
"You're spoiling them too much."
"Shoo."
I waved my hand at him dismissively.
They instantly copied me.
"Shoo."
"Shoo."
Kiefer stared at all three of us in disbelief.
For a moment, Kiefer looked like he was seriously considering throwing every one of us off the bed.
And judging from his expression—
he was already regretting letting the twins come home.
Knock.
Knock.
The room fell silent.
"Come in," Kiefer called.
The door slowly opened.
The moment I saw who was standing there, my smile disappeared.
Adrian.
He stood quietly by the doorway.
The twins immediately sat up.
Their playful expressions vanished.
"Who is he?" Kieran asked.
Then he frowned.
A second later, recognition flashed across his face.
"Wait..."
His eyes widened.
"Isn't that Adrian Watson?"
Beside him, Kiegen had already gone completely still.
Unlike Kieran, he wasn't looking at Adrian.
He was looking at Kiefer.
"What is he doing here?" Kiegen asked quietly.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Nobody answered.
Kieran looked between all of us.
Then at Adrian.
Then back at Kiefer.
The confusion on his face slowly turned into suspicion.
"Why is everyone acting weird?"
I looked at Kiefer.
Kiefer looked at me.
For the first time since waking up, I didn't know what to say.
Because no matter how I explained it...
nothing about this situation was normal.
Adrian remained standing near the door.
His eyes met mine briefly before looking away.
Almost as if he didn't know whether he should stay or leave.
The silence stretched.
Long.
Uncomfortable.
Then Kiegen spoke again.
This time his voice was much calmer.
Much more dangerous.
"Kuya."
His eyes never left Kiefer.
"Is there something you're not telling us?"
And just like that—
The playful atmosphere disappeared completely.
"I'll explain," I said.
Kiefer immediately looked at me.
As if silently asking whether, I was sure.
I gave him a small nod.
Then I told them the truth.
Well...
Part of the truth.
I explained how Adrian had been abused by his uncle.
How he didn't have a safe place to stay.
And how we had brought him here temporarily until everything was sorted out.
I left out the darker details.
The things children shouldn't have to hear.
When I finished, the room fell silent.
Kieran stared at Adrian for several seconds.
His expression was difficult to read.
Meanwhile, Kiegen simply nodded.
"Okay."
That was all he said.
No questions.
No complaints.
Just one word.
Then both of them stood up and quietly walked downstairs.
Adrian looked surprised.
Honestly...
So was I.
After freshening up and changing clothes, I headed downstairs.
The entire family was already gathered in the living room.
For the first time since waking up, everything felt almost normal.
Almost.
My eyes automatically searched the room.
"Where's Cole kuya?"
"He left for New York," Angelo answered.
I frowned.
Without saying goodbye?
That was unusual.
"We're leaving for Manila at four."
I nodded.
Across the room, Percy sighed dramatically.
"London is never peaceful."
"That's because trouble follows Jay wherever she goes," mia said.
"I heard that."
"You were supposed to."
Everyone laughed.
Then my gaze landed on Adrian, who was sitting quietly in the corner.
Compared to everyone else, he looked completely out of place.
Like he wasn't sure whether he was allowed to be there.
I pointed at him.
"Then what about him?"
The room became quiet again.
Cassian was the first to answer.
"He can come with us."
My eyebrows rose.
"What?"
"You're currently his temporary guardian."
Cassian shrugged.
"And I can handle everything here."
Adrian's head immediately snapped up.
For the first time since entering the room, real surprise appeared on his face.
As if he hadn't expected anyone to actually want him around.
My chest tightened slightly.
Would he be okay with us?
More importantly...
Would he be okay with me?
The poor kid looked terrified every time I got too close.
Before I could think about it any longer, Kiefer walked into the room carrying Orion.
"My baby!"
I immediately reached for him.
"Jay."
Kiefer moved Orion slightly out of reach.
"You're still recovering."
I ignored him completely.
Leaning forward, I kissed Orion's chubby cheek.
The little traitor immediately reached for me.
"See?" I said proudly.
"He clearly loves me more."
Kiefer rolled his eyes.
I grinned and stole another kiss from Orion.
Eventually, I walked over to Clyden kuya.
He had been unusually quiet all morning.
Something felt off.
"Kuya."
I lowered my voice so only he could hear.
"What happened?"
He looked up.
"You've been avoiding me."
His expression didn't change.
"Did I do something wrong?"
For a second, something flashed across his face.
Guilt.
Then it disappeared.
"Nothing, Hurricane."
His hand briefly patted my head.
"Just business problems."
I studied him carefully.
He was lying.
Not completely.
But enough.
Still, I nodded.
"Okay."
If he didn't want to talk about it, I wouldn't push.
For now.
Breakfast was as chaotic as ever.
Since all the chairs were occupied, I ended up sitting on Kiefer's lap.
Nobody even questioned it anymore.
I stole food from his plate.
Fed him a few bites.
Then ate some myself.
Across the table, Mia looked horrified.
"We are still here, you know."
I looked at her.
"Your husband is sitting right beside you."
Mia immediately turned toward Jare.
Without missing a beat, Jare pulled out his chair slightly.
"You can sit here."
Mia nearly choked.
"See?"
She pointed at Jare and me.
"The two of you are disgustingly clingy."
I laughed.
Kiefer looked entirely too pleased with himself.
A few hours later, everyone finished packing.
By afternoon, we were already on our way back to Manila.
The others talked, argued, and slept during the flight.
But I couldn't relax.
Something still felt unfinished.
Like there were pieces missing from a puzzle nobody wanted me to solve.
Then another thought returned to me.
A detail I had almost forgotten.
I turned toward Angelo kuya.
"There's something I need to tell you."
His attention immediately shifted to me.
"The man who kidnapped me..."
The conversation around us slowly stopped.
I swallowed.
Then continued.
"He's the same person who attacked Kiefer."
The silence that followed was immediate.
And judging from the expressions around me—
that wasn't information they expected me to know.