The world didn't stop.
That was the worst part.
Outside, everything kept moving—cars passing, people laughing, phones ringing.
But inside Jay?
Everything had gone quiet again.
Not loud pain.
Not even tears.
Just… empty.
She didn't go back to the gala.
Didn't answer calls.
Didn't check messages.
Ren was gone.
And somehow, that hurt in a completely different way than Keifer ever did.
Because Ren didn't leave her confused.
He left her with the truth.
And now she had to face it.
The next morning—
A knock.
Sharp.
Impatient.
Familiar.
Jay opened the door slowly.
And there he was.
Keifer.
Looking like he hadn't slept.
Like something was eating him alive.
"Where's Ren?" he asked immediately.
Jay blinked. "What?"
"He's not answering. The engagement—people are talking. What happened?"
Straight to the point.
Always him.
Jay let out a hollow laugh. "Why do you care?"
His jaw tightened. "Don't do that."
"Do what? Pretend this isn't your fault?"
That hit.
Hard.
Keifer's expression darkened. "My fault?"
"Yes," she snapped, her voice finally cracking again. "You come back after nine years, mess everything up, and now you're asking me what happened?"
"I didn't ask you to break up with him."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "You just made sure I couldn't lie to myself anymore."
Silence.
Heavy.
Truth-filled.
Keifer stepped closer. "So you did break up."
Jay looked away. "He ended it."
That… surprised him.
Just for a second.
"Why?
She laughed again, but it was broken this time. "You really don't get it, do you?"
"Then explain it to me."
Her eyes snapped back to his. "Because I love you."
There it was.
No running.
No hiding.
Just truth.
And it hit him harder than anything else ever could.
"I tried not to," she continued, tears forming again. "For nine years, Keifer. I moved on, I built something stable, something safe—and then you come back and suddenly everything I buried starts breathing again like it never died."
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Because for the first time—
He had nothing to fight back with.
"You don't get to look shocked," she said, her voice trembling. "You don't get to act like this is new. You were the one who left me with all of this."
"I didn't leave you by choice."
"Then why?"
That question—
The one that's been waiting for nine years.
Keifer closed his eyes for a second.
Like saying it out loud would make it real again.
"My father," he finally said. "He found out about us."
Jay frowned slightly. "So?"
"He threatened you."
Her heart stopped.
"What?"
"He said if I didn't cut you off completely… he'd make sure your family paid for it. Financially. Socially.
Everything."
Jay's breathing slowed.
Processing.
Breaking.
"I thought," he continued, his voice rough now, "if I stayed away… if I made you hate me… you'd be safe."
Tears fell silently down her face.
"All these years," she whispered, "I thought I wasn't enough."
"You were too much," he said immediately. "That's why I had to let you go."
That hurt in a different way.
A deeper way.
Jay shook her head slightly. "You should've told me."
"And risk you getting dragged into it anyway?" he shot back. "You think I could live with that?"
Silence.
Both of them breathing the same heavy air.
Nine years of pain.
Misunderstanding.
Love that never really left.
"So what now?" Jay asked quietly.
Keifer looked at her.
Really looked.
No walls.
No ego.
No pretending.
"I'm not leaving again," he said.
Her heart skipped.
"But this time," he added, stepping closer, "I'm not making decisions for you."
The distance between them disappeared.
Slowly.
Carefully.
"Jay… if you want me gone, I'll go."
Her chest tightened.
"But if there's even a part of you that still chooses me—"
"There is."
She didn't hesitate this time.
Didn't think.
Didn't overanalyze.
Just truth.
Raw and immediate.
"There always was."
That was it.
That was all he needed.
Keifer exhaled like he'd been holding that breath for nine years.
Then, softly—
Almost like he was afraid she'd disappear again—
He reached for her.
And this time—
She didn't pull away.