Morning sunlight spilled through the tall windows of the mansion.
Jay woke to the sound of birds.
For a brief moment, she forgot where she was.
Then she saw the luxurious room.
The wedding.
The attack.
Keifer.
Everything came rushing back.
She sighed.
“So…
this is my life now.”
A knock came at the door.
“Madam, breakfast is ready.”
The dining hall was as quiet as ever.
Keifer sat at the head of the long table, reading reports while sipping black coffee.
Jay walked in and took a seat across from him.
Neither spoke.
The servants quietly served breakfast.
Jay reached for a piece of toast.
At the same moment, Keifer reached for the butter.
Their hands brushed.
Jay quickly pulled back.
“Sorry.”
Keifer didn’t even look up.
“It’s fine.”
The silence returned.
It was so awkward that even the maids avoided making eye contact.
Jay suddenly stood.
“I’m done.”
She left before anyone could stop her.
The mansion was enormous.
As she wandered through its endless hallways, she noticed something strange.
Every servant who saw Keifer immediately lowered their heads.
No one smiled.
No one dared speak unless spoken to.
Even the guards stood perfectly still whenever he passed.
It wasn’t respect alone.
It was fear.
Jay frowned.
“Why is everyone so afraid of him?”
She found the oldest housekeeper trimming flowers in the courtyard.
The woman’s silver hair was tied neatly into a bun.
Everyone called her Nana Rosa.
Jay approached her.
“Nana…”
The old woman smiled warmly.
“Yes, Madam?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
Jay hesitated.
“What kind of man…
is Keifer?”
The smile slowly faded from Nana Rosa’s face.
She looked around to make sure no one else was listening.
“People call him a devil.”
Jay nodded.
“I’ve noticed.”
“But…”
Nana sighed.
“He wasn’t always like this.”
Jay’s eyes widened.
“What do you mean?”
“Years ago…”
“Master Keifer laughed.”
“He smiled.”
“He played basketball with the young guards.”
“He even sneaked into the kitchen to steal desserts.”
Jay blinked.
“That doesn’t sound like him at all.”
Nana Rosa smiled sadly.
“It isn’t.”
“What happened?”
The old woman looked toward the mansion.
“When he was sixteen…”
“…he watched his mother die.”
Jay froze.
Nana’s voice trembled.
“She was killed during a mafia betrayal.”
“Master Keifer couldn’t save her.”
“He blamed himself.”
“From that day…”
“…the smiling boy disappeared.”
“The devil everyone fears was born.”
Jay felt her chest tighten.
“So that’s why…”
“He built walls around his heart.”
Nana nodded.
“He trusts no one.”
“And he never lets anyone get close.”
That evening…
Jay stood alone on the balcony outside her room.
The cool wind brushed against her face.
Below, Keifer was training with his men.
His punches were powerful.
Precise.
Relentless.
There was anger in every movement.
Now she understood.
He wasn’t training because he enjoyed violence.
He was trying to outrun his past.
As if sensing her gaze, Keifer looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a long moment…
Neither looked away.
Then Keifer quietly turned and walked inside.
Jay whispered to herself,
“Maybe…”
“You’re not a devil.”
“…Maybe you’re just someone who’s been hurting for a very long time.”
Hidden in the shadows of the balcony opposite hers…
Someone watched them both.
A masked figure slowly smiled.
“So…”
“The boss finally has a weakness.”
The figure slipped away into the darkness.
Unaware that the most dangerous game had just begun.