✨Angelo (POV)
I had just finished jogging when I noticed it.
An envelope.
No name.
No address.
Just… there.
Something about it felt wrong.
I picked it up, turning it over in my hands, about to open it—
"Angelo."
Mom's voice stopped me.
I slipped the envelope into my hand and walked inside.
"Haa, Mom…" I said, trying to sound normal.
She was already watching me, worry clear in her eyes.
"What is going on with Jay? Are you getting her treatment?"
For a moment, I didn't answer.
Because I didn't have one.
"She already had a condition… something like selective memory issues," I said finally, my voice low. "Now it's worse. She's forgotten everything."
Saying it out loud still didn't feel real.
"The doctor said it will take time. Let's… wait until she recovers. After that, we'll try proper treatment."
Mom nodded slowly, but I could see it—she wasn't convinced.
"I made coffee," she said gently.
I nodded and walked to my office.
The moment the door closed behind me, the silence hit differently.
Heavy.
I dropped into the swinging chair, exhaling slowly, trying to clear my head as I finished the coffee.
That's when I remembered.
The envelope.
My hand stilled.
For a second… I didn't want to open it.
But I did.
Inside—
Photos.
Jay.
Aries.
Taken last night… at the mini mart.
My grip tightened.
Then I saw it.
Jay's face.
Marked.
A red cross slashed over it.
My heartbeat stopped.
I flipped the photo—
A message.
Simple.
Cold.
"She's having fun… but you'll never see her smile near you again."
The room suddenly felt too small.
Too quiet.
And for the first time…
Something inside me snapped.
I didn't think.
I just moved.
I walked straight to Aries' room and pushed the door open.
And froze.
Jay and Aries were in the middle of a pillow fight.
Laughing.
Carefree.
Like nothing in the world could touch them.
For a second… I just stood there.
Watching her.
Alive. Safe.
Smiling.
My jaw tightened.
You'll never see her smile again.
The words echoed again.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Jay turned to me, still holding a pillow.
"I was bored in my room… so I came to Ari Kuya's room," she said casually.
Ari. Kuya.
I glanced between them… then back at Aries.
"I need to talk to you."
Aries' expression shifted immediately. He nodded.
Jay frowned slightly. "Me? Don't you want to talk to me?"
My eyes softened for just a second… then hardened again.
"No. I need him."
I paused, then added,
"Mom made French toast. Go eat."
Her mood flipped instantly.
"Really?" she said, already excited.
Before I could respond, she ran out of the room.
The moment she disappeared—
My face went cold.
"Come," I said.
We walked into my office.
The door shut.
Silence.
"Did you and Jay go outside last night?" I asked.
Aries frowned slightly. "Yeah… she was hungry. We just went for a walk to the mini mart."
My jaw tightened.
"Don't go out at night again."
He blinked. "Kuya—"
"If you need anything, tell me. Or the maids. But don't take her outside. Not at night."
Now he was fully alert.
"Did something happen?" he asked.
I held his gaze.
For a second… I almost told him everything.
The photo.
The message.
The threat.
But I didn't.
"Nothing," I said.
A lie.
"Just be careful."
He didn't believe me.
I could see it.
But he nodded anyway and walked out.
The moment the door closed, I pulled out my phone.
I texted Cole.
Kiefer.
We need to talk. Now.I attached the photo. No explanation. Just sent it
Within minutes—
The call connected.
"What do we have?" Cole asked immediately.
"Is she okay?" Kiefer's voice cut in, tense.
I looked toward the door unconsciously.
"She's fine," I said. "She's eating breakfast."
A pause.
"But I don't think this is random."
Silence on the line.
"I think it's a message," I added.
Kiefer exhaled slowly. "Then I already have two names."
My eyes narrowed.
"Ram… or Jason."
Cole frowned. "Who?"
Kiefer's voice turned colder.
"Old enemies. One of them kidnapped Jay once… to get to me."
My grip tightened around the phone.
"What?" Cole snapped.
"But she didn't break," Kiefer continued. "She fought back. Beat him badly."
I already knew that from Aries… he was supposed to still be in the hospital. But now… he's back
Pride.
Anger.
Danger.
"So this is revenge?" I asked.
"Most likely," Kiefer said. "Jason wants power. I'm in his way. So he targets what I care about."
My voice dropped.
"She's not a target."
A pause.
Then, quieter—
"She's under my protection now."
Cole spoke next, sharp and decisive.
"I'm not in Manila. I had to come to New York for something urgent."
My jaw clenched.
"I'll be back," he continued. "Send me everything you have. Location, patterns, anything."
Cole's voice turned deadly.
"We end this before they get close to her."
The call ended.
The room fell silent again.
But this time—
It wasn't heavy.
It was burning.
I looked down at the photo still in my hand.
The red cross is over Jay's face.
Slowly…
I crushed it.
"They think they can touch her…"
My voice dropped into something unrecognizable.
"They won't even get close."
I walked to the window.
From here, I could see the garden.
Jay was outside now.
Laughing.
Talking to Mom.
Like nothing had changed.
Like nothing was coming for her.
My jaw tightened.
She doesn't even know she's being hunted.
That thought alone made something dark rise in my chest.
I picked up my phone again.
Dialed a number.
"Sir," the voice answered immediately.
"Activate full security," I said.
A pause.
Then, more carefully—
"Shadow protocol."
Silence.
Even they weren't expecting that.
"Sir… that means—"
"I know what it means," I cut in coldly.
"No one gets near her without me knowing. I want eyes on every gate, every street, every exit."
I turned slightly, still watching Jay.
"And listen carefully…"
My voice dropped.
"If anyone suspicious comes within range—"
A pause.
"They don't walk away."
The call ended.
I slipped the broken photo into my drawer.
Locked it.
This wasn't just a threat anymore.
It was a countdown.
And I don't lose what's mine.
✨Kiefer (POV) – LONDON
The office felt suffocating.
Paperwork.
Meetings.
Endless decisions.
Clyden worked like a machine.
And somehow—
I hated that I respected it.
"Kiefer," Clyden said without looking up, "you may be the heir… but you still don't hold full power in Watson Group until you complete your business degree."
I leaned back slightly, exhaling.
"I know," I said. "It's like walking through a maze."
A dangerous one.
"But I'll handle it," I added quietly. "For her. For my brother."
Clyden finally looked at me.
There was something unreadable in his eyes.
"You're still a kid, Kiefer."
I scoffed lightly.
"Did you forget I'm an adult?"
He didn't respond.
Just stood up.
"I'm meeting the elders. We'll talk later."
And just like that—
He was gone.
The silence returned.
But my mind didn't.
It went straight to her.
Jay.
It's only been two days
One week… and I'll see her.
Keigen was getting treatment.
Things were finally settling.
Or at least—
I thought they were.
My phone buzzed.
Angelo.
I frowned and opened it.
Photos.
Jay.
Aries.
Something about it felt wrong immediately.
Then we talked.
Ram.
Jason.
The past is coming back again.
I leaned back slowly, staring at the screen.
"This is my fault…"
I muttered under my breath.
"I dragged her into this."
She just came back.
And now—
She's in danger again.
I opened the Section E group chat.
My fingers moved fast.
Me:Jay-Jay is in danger.
The replies came instantly.
C-in: What?? What happened?
Felix: What now, Kiefer?
David: Did something happen to Jay?
Kit: She really likes getting into trouble.
Rory: Isn't she with Angelo?
Edrix: What do you want us to do?
I didn't hesitate.
Me:Ram and Jason. They want revenge.
Blaster: Isn't he still in the hospital?
Drew: Jay almost killed him last time.
Eman: We can protect her.
Calix: But she can't see us, right?
Mayo: We can stay hidden.
Good.
They understood.
I typed again.
Me:Rory. Edrix. I want every detail on Ram and Jason.
Me:Everyone else—stay ready. We protect her from the shadows.
Me:I'll be back in a week.
I paused.
Then added one last message.
Me:No mistakes this time.
I locked my phone.
My expression hardened.
"Touch her again…"
I whispered.
And for the first time in days—
I smiled.
But there was no warmth in it.
"Let's see who survives this."
✨ MANILA — Jay-Jay (POV)
I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
The room felt too comfortable.
Too quiet.
Too… perfect.
Like I was some kind of princess locked inside a palace.
Tita kept feeding me well—just like Clyden used to.
That thought made my chest tighten.
He'd been busy lately.
When I asked why, he just said he was helping his so-called cousin… which meant I couldn't talk to him much anymore.
I texted Jare.
Percy.
No replies.
I sighed and rolled onto my side.
I felt restless.
On the island, I could walk around freely. Even if Clyden nagged me, at least I wasn't stuck like this.
I never thought I'd miss his nagging.
Angelo Kuya kept glaring at me whenever I tried to wander around—even in the garden.
For two days, he barely left the house.
Then suddenly, he got a call and left.
Now it was just me, Tita, and Aries.
I got up and walked downstairs.
If there's nothing to do—
Eat.
That's the best way to stop overthinking.
I opened the fridge.
"No ice cream…?" I muttered.
I probably finished it last night.
I looked around.
No one was there.
Angelo Kuya's voice echoed in my head.
Don't go around alone. It's a new place.
I paused.
Then shrugged.
"I just need snacks," I whispered to myself.
I grabbed my phone and some money—
And stepped outside.
…
I walked slowly, looking around.
Everything still felt unfamiliar.
But I remembered one thing.
The mini-mart.
So I headed there.
Then—
A van stopped right in front of me.
I froze.
Then stepped aside, trying to walk past it.
"Hey."
A voice called out.
"I've been waiting for you."
I turned slightly.
"Do I know you?" I asked, pointing at myself.
He smiled.
"You really don't remember anything, do you?"
Something about his eyes—
Felt wrong.
Familiar.
And irritating.
"I don't," I said honestly. Then I tilted my head slightly. "But I do know one thing."
I smiled.
"I don't like you."
His smile dropped.
In the next second—
He lunged at me.
My balance broke as his hand grabbed my arm, trying to drag me toward the van.
"What the—!"
I didn't think.
My body moved on its own.
I twisted hard—
And kicked his knee.
He dropped slightly.
I followed instantly—
Kicked his face.
He stumbled back.
I blinked.
Then smiled.
"…Wow," I said, a little breathless. "I'm actually good at this."
"You're still strong," he muttered, wiping blood from his lip. "Even without your memories."
Before I could react—
He reached into his pocket.
And pulled out a knife.
I frowned.
"Hey… that's cheating."
He didn't respond.
He charged again.
This time—
Faster.
He grabbed me from behind, his arm tightening around my neck.
My breath hitched—
But my body moved again.
Automatically.
Like I remembered something I didn't.
I drove my elbow back—
Straight into his stomach.
He loosened.
I twisted his arm—
Stepped behind him—
And kicked his leg out.
He dropped.
Before I even realized it—
I had him pinned.
His arm locked behind his back.
My breathing was heavy.
My heart is racing.
Where…
Did I learn this?
Then—
A sharp pain hit my head.
Voices.
Fragments.
"Follow your heart, Jay."
"Don't listen, don't hesitate."
"Strike first. Don't give them an inch."
My grip tightened unconsciously.
I heard myself breathing—
But it didn't feel like me.
I felt dizzy.
Disoriented.
"What… is this…?" I whispered.
Then—
A sudden sharp hit—
Right at my neck.
My vision blurred instantly.
My body went weak.
I lost my balance—
And collapsed to the ground.
Darkness swallowed everything.
After some time, I opened my eyes.
Everything felt heavy—my head, my body, even my breath.
I was tied to a chair.
My hands were pulled tightly behind me, the ropes digging into my skin, my shoulders aching from the strain.
Slowly, I lifted my head.
The room was unfamiliar.
Cold. Silent.
Then—
"You're finally awake."
My eyes snapped forward.
"Who the hell are you?" I shouted, my voice rough but sharp.
He stepped closer, calm… like he had all the time in the world.
"I just needed you to get to them," he said. Then his expression twisted, anger flashing through his eyes. "But even after you forgot everything… I didn't."
He leaned closer.
"Because of you, I was stuck in a fucking hospital for two months."
A chill ran down my spine.
My fingers moved behind me, trying to loosen the ropes.
"You look good…" he murmured.
His hand came up, gripping my chin and forcing my face up.
"Don't touch me," I snapped, jerking against his hold. "Take your dirty hands off me."
He didn't move.
So I leaned forward as much as I could, locking my eyes onto his.
"You'd better let me go now," I said, my voice low and deadly. "Because if I break out of this—"
I didn't blink.
"I will kill you."
For a second—
Silence.
Then he smiled.
Slow. Twisted.
His fingers moved to my shirt.
Unbuttoning.
Rage exploded through me.
"Do you have a death wish?" I glared at him. "You touch me again, and you're dead. Do you understand?"
He paused.
Just for a second.
I didn't stop.
"If my brothers find you…" I continued, my voice shaking but unyielding, "They won't leave anything of you behind."
I was scared.
Terrified.
My heart was racing so fast it hurt.
My hands trembled behind me.
But I couldn't show it.
Not now.
If I hesitated—
If I broke—
Something worse would happen.
So I held his gaze.
Even as my breath turned uneven.
Even as tears burned in my eyes.
My head started hurting again.
Sharp.
Like something inside me was trying to break through.
Voices.
Fragments.
Echoes I couldn't understand.
I clenched my jaw.
Don't show fear.
Don't break.
Then—
Footsteps.
Heavy. Steady.
Coming closer.
The man in front of me stepped back slightly.
Another figure entered.
Tall. Broad.
Dressed in a suit.
But it wasn't how he looked—
It was how he walked.
Controlled.
Cold.
Like he owned everything in the room.
"Finally," the first man said. "Where are the others?"
I couldn't focus anymore.
My vision blurred.
My head pounded harder.
But before everything slipped—
I looked up.
And saw him.
For a second—
Everything went quiet.
The fear.
The pain.
The noise in my head.
Gone.
Replaced by something else.
Warm.
Safe.
Relief flooded through me—
So sudden it almost hurt.
My lips parted.
And without thinking—
Without understanding why—
I whispered,
"Kiefer…"