Author’s pov
The room remained silent.
Five men stood near the entrance.
Four guards.
One masked man in the center.
Nobody knew who they were.
Nobody knew why they had returned.
Except Jay.
Jay’s eyes stayed fixed on the man in the center.
Percy.
Her brother.
Her protector.
The man she had secretly asked to prepare the documents.
But this time…
something was different.
He wasn’t here to discuss papers.
He wasn’t here to threaten anyone over a signature.
He had come for her.
Jay could see it in the way he stood.
The way his eyes stayed on her.
The way the guards positioned themselves.
And suddenly— the masked man spoke.
His voice was cold.
Masked Man: “We are here to take Miss Jayjay Mariano with us.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Jeena’s face changed immediately.
Jeena: “What?”
Gemma stepped forward.
Gemma: “Take Jayjay?”
Angelo immediately moved between Jay and the five men.
Angelo: “Absolutely not.”
Aris stood beside him.
Aris: “Nobody is taking her anywhere.”
The masked man didn’t move.
He simply looked at them.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Almost as if he had expected exactly this reaction.
Masked Man: “I wasn’t asking.”
Angelo’s eyes hardened.
Angelo: “And I said no.”
The masked man slowly turned his head toward him.
Masked Man: “Your refusal is irrelevant.”
Aris stepped forward.
Aris: “You think you can just walk into our house and take her?”
The man looked at him.
Masked Man: “Yes.”
That single word made the room even colder.
Everyone was arguing.
Everyone was refusing.
Everyone was trying to protect her.
But Jay?
Jay didn’t say anything.
She simply watched Percy.
She understood.
He wasn’t trying to hurt her.
He wasn’t trying to frighten her.
He wasn’t even truly giving the family a choice.
He had decided that Jay was not staying here anymore.
And Jay understood why.
She was sick.
She is not here safe with the people who don’t think that she is person she has her own life.
There had already been threats.
There were too many people around her who could become targets.
And Percy had probably decided that keeping her in this house was no longer safe.
Jay — thoughts:
So that’s why you came.
You don’t want me staying here.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
You could’ve told me.
But of course…
You had to make an entrance.
A tiny, irritated smirk appeared.
Angelo stepped forward again.
Angelo: “You have no authority to take her.”
The masked man reached into his coat.
He pulled out a copy of the guardianship document.
He placed it on the table.
Masked Man: “Mr. Mariano’s order.”
Everyone stared at the document.
Masked Man: “The guardianship agreement has already been signed.”
He looked directly at Angelo.
Masked Man: “I am acting under the authority of her guardian.”
Angelo shook his head.
Angelo: “That doesn’t mean you can take her whenever you want.”
Masked Man: “It means exactly that when her safety is involved.”
Jeena stepped forward.
Her voice trembled with anger.
Jeena: “She’s my daughter.”
The masked man looked at her.
Masked Man: “Then you should understand why she needs protection.”
Jeena’s expression hardened.
Jeena: “Protection doesn’t mean kidnapping her from her family.”
The man’s eyes became colder.
Masked Man: “Call it whatever makes you comfortable.”
A pause.
Masked Man: “She is leaving.”
Gemma stepped in front of Jay.
Gemma: “No.”
The masked man’s eyes moved toward her.
Gemma: “You will not take her.”
Masked Man: “Move.”
Gemma: “No.”
Aris moved beside Gemma.
Aris: “You heard her.”
Angelo joined them.
Angelo: “You’re not taking Jay.”
Jeena stood behind them.
Jeena: “She stays here.”
The four of them stood together.
The five men remained opposite them.
The tension was unbearable.
Jay watched silently.
She could almost hear the calculation happening in Percy’s head.
Jay — thoughts:
Perse…
Don’t.
She knew that look.
If they continued refusing…
Percy would escalate.
And he would do it without hesitation.
The masked man slowly removed his gloves.
He folded them neatly.
Then placed them into his coat.
His voice remained calm.
Masked Man: “I will say this once.”
Nobody spoke.
Masked Man: “Step aside.”
Angelo shook his head.
Angelo: “No.”
Masked Man: “Think carefully.”
Angelo: “I already have.”
The masked man looked at the others.
Masked Man: “You are confusing a warning with a negotiation.”
Aris clenched his fists.
Aris: “And you’re confusing yourself with someone who owns this family.”
The masked man tilted his head.
Masked Man: “No.”
A pause.
Masked Man: “I don’t need to own your family.”
He looked at the guardianship document.
Masked Man: “I only need authority over one person.”
His eyes moved to Jay.
Masked Man:
Jay finally stepped forward.
Everyone immediately turned toward her.
She looked at the masked man.
Their eyes met.
For a second— neither said anything.
Jay knew.
Percy knew she understood.
She took one slow breath.
Then spoke.
Jay: “I’m coming.”
Everyone froze.
Jeena: “Jay, no!”
Gemma: “Jayjay!”
Aris immediately turned toward her.
Aris: “No.”
Jay looked at him.
Jay: “Aris—”
Aris: “No!”
His voice cracked.
Jay stopped.
Aris moved closer to her.
Aris: “You’re not going anywhere with them.”
Jay remained calm.
Jay: “I said I’m coming.”
Angelo: “Jay, you don’t have to do this.”
Jay: “I know.”
Jeena: “Then don’t!”
Jay looked at her mother.
Jay: “Mom…”
Jeena shook her head.
Jeena: “No, Jay.”
Her eyes filled with fear.
Jeena: “I don’t care what those papers say. You’re my daughter.”
Jay: “I know.”
Aris stepped directly in front of Jay.
His voice was no longer angry.
It was hurt.
Aris: “Please don’t.”
Jay looked at him.
He swallowed hard.
Aris: “Please, Jay.”
She didn’t answer.
Aris: “I know I made mistakes.”
Jay’s eyes stayed on him.
Aris: “I know I didn’t understand you.”
His voice shook.
Aris: “I thought I knew what was best for you.”
He looked down for a moment.
Then back at her.
Aris: “I was wrong.”
Jay remained silent.
Aris: “I realized it too late.”
He took another step toward her.
Aris: “But I realized it.”
His eyes became emotional.
Aris: “Please don’t leave me.”
The room went silent.
Even Percy didn’t interrupt.
Aris continued.
Aris: “You can hate me.”
Jay’s expression changed slightly.
Aris: “You can be angry with me.”
His voice cracked.
Aris: “You can tell me that I’m the worst brother in the world.”
He took a shaky breath.
Aris: “But don’t leave like this.”
Jay looked at him carefully.
Aris: “I don’t want to lose you.”
A long silence.
Jay finally spoke.
Jay: “Aris…”
Aris: “No.”
He shook his head.
Aris: “Don’t say goodbye.”
Jay’s eyes narrowed.
Jay: “I’m not saying goodbye.”
Aris: “Then don’t go.”
Jay: “I have to.”
Aris: “Why?”
Jay didn’t answer immediately.
Aris looked toward the masked man.
Then back at Jay.
Aris: “Is he threatening you?”
The masked man remained silent.
Aris stepped toward him.
Aris: “Are you threatening her?”
The masked man finally answered.
Masked Man: “No.”
Aris frowned.
Masked Man: “I’m protecting her.”
Aris laughed bitterly.
Aris: “By taking her away?”
Masked Man: “If necessary.”
Jay suddenly stepped between Aris and the masked man.
Her expression became cold.
Jay: “Enough.”
Everyone went silent.
Jay looked at Aris.
Jay: “Don’t.”
Aris: “Jay—”
Jay: “I said enough.”
Her voice wasn’t loud.
But it carried authority.
Then she turned toward the masked man.
Her eyes sharpened.
Jay: “And you.”
The masked man looked at her.
Jay: “Stop threatening my family.”
Silence.
Jay stepped closer.
Jay: “You already got what you came for.”
The masked man’s eyes narrowed.
Jay: “The papers are signed.”
She pointed toward the documents.
Jay: “The engagement is cancelled.”
A pause.
Jay: “So don’t push them anymore.”
For the first time, something changed in Percy’s eyes.
Pride.
Because even now—
Jay was protecting everyone else.
But Percy wasn’t backing down.
His voice became colder.
Masked Man: “Then make them understand.”
Jay’s eyes narrowed.
Jay: “They understand.”
Masked Man: “They don’t.”
He looked at Angelo.
Masked Man: “If anyone attempts to stop us…”
He paused.
Masked Man: “Fernandez Corporation will be finished.”
Angelo’s face hardened.
Angelo: “You already threatened my company.”
Masked Man: “And I meant every word.”
Then he looked at Aris.
Masked Man: “If you attempt to follow us—”
His gaze moved toward the guards.
Masked Man: “You will not get close enough to her.”
Aris stepped forward.
Aris: “Try stopping me.”
The masked man didn’t react.
Masked Man: “I won’t try.”
A pause.
The room fell silent.
Jay looked around the room.
At Mom.
At Gemma.
At Angelo.
At Aris.
Then she looked at Percy.
She knew what he wanted.
He wanted her away from this house.
Away from the danger.
And perhaps most importantly— he wanted her somewhere he could protect her himself.
Jay finally turned toward Aris.
Jay: “I need to meet Dad.”
Aris froze.
Aris: “What?”
Jay’s voice remained calm.
Jay: “I want to meet my father.”
Jeena stared at her.
Jeena: “Jay…”
Jay continued.
Jay: “There are things I need to ask him.”
Angelo looked confused.
Angelo: “You can ask him from here.”
Jay shook her head.
Jay: “No.”
She looked toward the masked man.
Then back at her family.
Jay: “I need to go.”
Aris shook his head immediately.
Aris: “No.”
Jay: “Aris.”
Aris: “No, Jay.”
He stepped closer.
Aris: “If you want to meet Dad, I’ll take you.”
The masked man immediately spoke.
Masked Man: “That won’t be necessary.”
Aris glared at him.
Aris: “I wasn’t talking to you.”
Jay looked between them.
Jay: “Stop.”
Both went silent.
Jay took a breath.
Jay: “I’m going because I want to.”
She looked at her mother.
Jay: “Not because he forced me.”
Then at Gemma.
Jay: “Not because anyone threatened you.”
Then Angelo.
Jay: “And not because of those papers.”
Finally—
Aris.
Jay: “I want answers from Dad.”
Aris’s eyes remained emotional.
Aris: “And when you get those answers?”
Jay paused.
Aris: “Will you come back?”
Jay looked at him.
A long silence.
Then she answered softly.
Jay: “Yes.”
Aris searched her face.
Aris: “Promise?”
Jay held his gaze.
Jay: “Promise.”
Aris lowered his head.
He was still scared.
Still emotional.
But he knew Jay had made her decision.
The masked man stepped forward.
Masked Man: “We leave now.”
Jay turned toward him.
Jay: “Give me five minutes.”
The man stared at her.
Masked Man: “Three.”
Jay raised an eyebrow.
Jay: “Five.”
Silence.
Then—
Masked Man: “Four.”
Jay almost smiled.
Jay: “Fine.”
Aris looked at her.
Aris: “You’re really going?”
Jay nodded.
Aris: “I’ll wait for you.”
Jay shook her head.
Jay: “Don’t.”
Aris: “Why?”
Jay looked at him.
Jay: “Because I don’t want you fighting someone over me.”
Aris’s expression tightened.
Aris: “You’re my family.”
Jay answered quietly.
Jay: “Exactly.”
She touched his shoulder once.
Jay: “So trust me.”
Aris closed his eyes for a moment.
Then nodded.
Aris: “Come back.”
Jay gave him a small nod.
Jay: “I will.”
Jay turned toward the staircase.
She stopped halfway.
Then looked back.
The five men were waiting.
Four guards.
One masked man.
And nobody in that room knew that the man behind the mask was the same person who had been secretly protecting Jay all along.
Jay’s eyes met his.
For everyone else— he was a dangerous stranger.
For Jay— he was simply Perse.
Her secret brother.
Her protector.
And right now…
the man taking her away from home.
Jay — thoughts:
You better have a very good reason for this, Perse.
Her eyes narrowed.
Because once we’re alone…
I’m going to ask you everything.
The masked man seemed to understand.
His eyes softened for half a second.
Then disappeared behind the cold mask again.
Jay walked toward him.
The room watched in silence.
Aris looked like he wanted to stop her.
Jeena looked heartbroken.
Gemma held her hands together nervously.
Angelo stood frozen.
But Jay didn’t look back again.
She walked forward.
Calm.
Controlled.
Untouchable.
Because she wasn’t being taken.
She was choosing to go.
And only Jay and the man behind the mask knew the real reason.
She wanted to meet her father.
And perhaps…
it was time to finally hear the truth from him.