Jay's POV
The cool garden air hadn't fully quelled the fire Keifer's "wife" comment had lit in my chest. I smoothed out the pink silk of my gown, took a deep breath, and stepped back into the mahogany warmth of the mansion. The music had shifted to something lighter, more melodic.
As I entered the foyer, a small blur of energy barreled into me.
"Ate Jay!" Keiren cheered, his face beaming as he looked up at me. "You look like a real princess! Kuya Keifer wasn't lying—he said you'd be the prettiest girl here tonight."
My heart softened instantly. It was impossible to stay mad when Keiren looked at me with such pure admiration. I knelt down, ignoring the way the expensive fabric bunched around my knees. "And you look very sharp, Keiren. A real gentleman."
"I missed you, Ate," he whispered, throwing his arms around my neck.
"I missed you too, little warrior," I murmured, hugging him back. For a second, the mansion didn't feel like a fortress or a battlefield. It just felt like a home.
"Ahem."
I looked up to see Keigan standing a few feet away. Keifer's younger brother.He was dressed in a matching mini-suit, hands tucked into his pockets.
He offered a polite, practiced smile, but as our eyes met, something felt... off. The warmth I usually saw in the Watson family didn't quite reach his gaze. There was a calculation there, a shadow that felt far too heavy for a boy his age.
"Good evening, Jay," Keigan said, his voice smooth. "Mother is very happy you could make it."
"Good evening, Keigan," I replied, standing up but keeping my hand on Keiren's shoulder. I searched his eyes, trying to find the source of that coldness, but he masked it quickly with a blink.
"I love you, Ate!" Keiren piped up again, sensing the shift in mood.
I laughed, the sound genuine and bright. "I love you too, Keiren." I leaned down and planted a big, loud kiss on his cheek, making him giggle and turn red.
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Keifer's POV
I stood by the arched entrance of the ballroom, a drink forgotten in my hand. My eyes were locked on the scene in the foyer. Jay—my fierce, swearing, life-threatening warrior—was currently glowing.
The way she smiled at Keiren, the way her eyes crinkled with actual affection... it was a side of her she never showed at school. And then she kissed him.
A simple, sweet gesture, but it made my blood simmer with a possessive heat that was becoming harder to control.
Why him? I thought, my grip tightening on the glass. Why does the kid get the soft Jay while I get the one who wants to bury me in the garden?
I wasn't just jealous; I was frustrated. She called me an "arrogant asshole" five minutes ago, and now she was looking like an angel in pink. I needed to remind her who she was dealing with. I needed to see that "warrior" look back in her eyes—the one that meant she was focused entirely on me.
I turned away, spotting the rest of Section E huddled near the buffet table. Felix, Drew Eman,Eren, and the others were already looking mischievous.
"Yo, Keifer," Felix smirked as I approached.
"You look like you're ready to punch a wall. Jay giving you trouble?"
"She's too comfortable," I muttered, looking back at her one last time. "She thinks she can just waltz in here and act like she belongs in this soft world. We need to remind her what Section E is all about."
"A prank?" Blaster's eyes lit up. "What are we thinking? Glue in the hair? Fake spiders?"
"No," I said, a dark idea forming. "Something that'll actually get a reaction. Fake blood. We'll make her think someone's actually hurt. Let's see how that 'warrior' handle a real scare."
The boys grinned. It was classic Section E—mischievous, slightly cruel, and definitely going to cause chaos.
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Jane's POV
I watched from the edge of the room as Jay interacted with the Watson boys. For the first time in months—maybe years—Jay was smiling. Not a smirk, not a challenge, but a real, soulful smile.
It made my chest tighten with relief. Between the training, the fights, and the constant pressure of our section, I'd almost forgotten that she was still just a girl who used to eat cookies in this very house.
Seeing her happy, even for a moment, made this whole uncomfortable party worth it.
"She looks different when she's not trying to kill someone, doesn't she?"
I didn't have to turn to know it was Yuri. I kept my gaze on Jay. "She's earned the right to have a night where she doesn't have to be the shield for everyone else."
"You both have," Yuri said softly. I didn't look at him, but I could feel his eyes on me. I still hadn't apologized for the heel-crush, and I didn't plan to.
Before he could say more, Tita Serina approached us, her presence commanding and graceful. She took Jay's hand as she walked over, pulling her into our small circle.
"Listen, kids," Serina said, her voice warm but firm. "I've already called Angelo. You, Jay, and Aries are staying here at the mansion tonight. It's too late to be driving back, and honestly, I want more time with you all."
Jay blinked, surprised. "Tita, we didn't bring any—"
"No excuses," Serina laughed. "And Aries? Your friends from Section E can stay in the guest wing too. It'll be like a giant sleepover. The boys are already thrilled."
Jay and I exchanged a look. We couldn't exactly say no to her.We both nodded politely. "Thank you, Tita."
"I'll need to grab some things from my car," Jay said, her "warrior" mode clicking back in as she prepared for the task. "I have a bag with extra clothes in the trunk."
"Go ahead, dear," Serina patted her cheek. "I'll go tell the staff to prepare the rooms for everyone else."
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Keifer's POV
The plan was set. We had the theatrical blood—a dark, viscous syrup that looked terrifyingly real under low light.
"Felix, you go call her," I commanded. "Tell her there's an emergency in the back hallway near the storage rooms. Make it sound urgent."
Felix nodded, his usual joker persona replaced by a focused glint. "On it, Boss."
I watched Jay head toward the front doors, presumably to get her things. This was the perfect window. We'd set the scene in the dimly lit corridor she'd have to pass through on her way back to the guest wing.
It was just a prank. A way to see her crumble, just a little. A way to prove that despite the dress and the smiles, she was still the girl who belonged in our chaotic, messy world—and maybe, just maybe, it was a way to make sure she'd have to turn to me for comfort when the "scare" was over.
"Get ready," I whispered to the guys. "The 'Warrior' is about to get a Section E welcome."
Felix moved toward the foyer, timing his approach for when she'd be coming back inside. I felt a flicker of doubt—the way she'd looked at Keiren flashed in my mind—but I pushed it down. Jealousy was a much louder voice.
"Jay!" Felix's voice echoed from the hallway, sounding perfectly frantic. "Jay, help!"
The trap was laid. And the 'warrior ' was about to be trapped.