JAY’s POV
“Jay.” His voice was low, rough—like gravel underfoot.
It sent an unwanted shiver down my spine.
” What’s with that look on your face.”
I froze, fingers tightening on his shoulder.
How the hell does he know?
“Wh—what look?” I stammered, forcing my gaze to the window.
“There’s nothing.”
A lie.
A terrible one.
Keifer’s hand shot out, fingers gripping my chin with just enough pressure to make me look at him.
His thumb brushed my jawline, too gentle for the storm brewing in his eyes.
“Don’t ‘nothing’ me, Jay.” His voice dropped, a warning wrapped in velvet.
“Something’s wrong. I know the way your eyes dart when you’re hiding.”
I shoved him—hard.
My palms hit his chest, but he didn’t budge.
Not an inch.
“I said it’s nothing.” My voice louder than I supposed.
Keifer studied me, his gaze razor-sharp, dissecting every micro-expression I failed to hide.
Then—
“Was it that monkey?” His voice darkened, something feral slipping beneath the words.
Concern?
Rage?
“Did he say something?”
My pulse spiked.
“None of your business, Keifer.”
Too fast.
Too defensive.
His face went unreadably still.
“So it is that bastard.” The words were a growl, low and lethal.
My neck prickled.
“What. Did. He. Say.”
I swallowed.
“He didn’t say anything. We were just—planning the wedding.”
A beat.
Then something dark flickered across his features—anger, possession, something worse—before it vanished behind a smirk.
The bastard actually smirked.
He clearly is a jerk.
“I doubt your planning will be a total waste,” he purred, thumb tracing a slow, maddening circle on my waist.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
My eyes narrowed to dangerous slit .
” Are you planning something against us.”
He stepped back, snatching his clothes from the chair.
“Something very big, darling.” A wink.
A taunt.
And walked towards the bedroom door as he finished his clothing.
” There’s a surprise waiting for you.” Then he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him like a period at the end of a threat.
I stayed on my knees, staring at the wood as if it would explain him.
What.
The.
Hell.
What exactly is this bastard….
planning?
I lied on bed , staring at ceiling.
“Ughhh—!” I groan into pillow, “I am going to kill this jerk with bare hands . I swear.”
Then I quickly got up from bed and rushed towards bathroom to change into comfy clothes.
KEIFER’s POV
The second the door shut behind me, my smirk died.
He’s moving fast.; a thought came ; we need to do something, fast.
I descended the stairs, my stride controlled, my face a mask.
Percy and Aries were already watching me, their expressions mirroring my own tension.
A stiff nod—our signal.
Going to Jay’s room wasn’t a coincidence.
It was a intentional.
FLASHBACK START
“Jay’s gone to meet Liam.”
Aries’ voice was a blade in the dark, low and precise.
“He’s definitely going to manipulate her.”
Percy scoffed.
“And why exactly do you think now?”
I didn’t look away from the whiskey in my glass.
“Because yesterday, we humiliated him. And Liam? Judging by his look , I don’t think he will let it slide. He doesn’t forgive.”
A beat.
Then Percy leaned in.
“So? What’s the play? How are we supposed to know what he is planning?”
“We need a solid plan.” I set the glass down.
“But first, we find out what the hell they talked about.”
“How about a dinner at Mariano Estate…a family dinner , no suspicious, ” Aries suggested, looking at me. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“If me or Percy will ask her she won’t tell. But if you talk to her , maybe she will show the crack behind the mask”
“Is that even possible ?” Percy snorted.
“You do remember how much Jay hates Keifer, right?”
Aries’ gaze flicked to me.
“She hates him for being a arrogant bastard—which he is.” His gaze turned razor-sharp.
“But the crack shows when someone unexpected actually gives a damn.”
” If we asks her” he continued “she will hide it too well, and you know it too well how she is, she will endure anything, rather than talking to us”
“Indeed , she will” Percy exhaled, rubbing his temples.
“Fine. But how do we get her to talk? She’ll just shut us out.”
They both look at me, I raised my brow.
” If I ask her infront of every one, we aren’t getting answer.
We need a privacy ”
I knew that better than anyone.
We were thinking for a while, when suddenly Aries smirked.
“I have got then plan , that would definitely work.”
We leaned forward , as the plan was made.
FLASHBACK END
I slid onto the couch beside them, my posture relaxed, my voice blending into the hum of the Mariano Estate’s chaos, like nothing happened upstairs 5 minutes ago .
Tito and Dad droned on about mergers.
Tita and Mom debated dessert recipes.
Keiren and Keigen’s laughter spilled in from the garden.
” I know Liam manipulated her,” My voice a murmur.
I kept my gaze forward.
“But not what he said.”
“She told me that they were planning about wedding” I continued ” but a wedding talk doesn’t make people hyper alert.”
Aries’ fingers tapped his knee.
“She told you they were planning the wedding.”
“Exactly, ” I told “But before I could further ask, she shoved me away before I could push. Then she lied.”
Then I smirked and said ” And I could help but to come back to my usual ‘ jerk ‘ self.”
But the smirk vanished, the moment I realised, this isn’t going to end soon, my mind already three steps ahead.
Here’s your new chapter
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What do you guys think…will Jay able to convince her family…?
Will Keifer, Aries and Percy come with a plan to expose Liam…?
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So my lazy readers give me your ideas…if you have any….to make this book more JAYFER.
SO…here I am, your lazy writer, signing off.
And will be soon back with new chapter.