Keifer pov
The first night at the Black Box without her was louder than any storm. The silence of the house didn't just sit there; it screamed. It echoed off the marble floors and gathered in the corners of the rooms where her laughter used to live.
I was sitting in the dark of the nursery, the only light coming from the soft, green glow of the baby monitors. Alexander and Aurora were finally asleep, their tiny breaths the only thing keeping me tethered to reality. My suit jacket was thrown over a chair, my tie undone, hanging around my neck like a noose.
I couldn't go into our bedroom. I couldn't look at the pillows that still held the scent of her hair, or the brown cardigan draped over the vanity chair.
A soft knock at the door made me stiffen.
"Keif? It's us." C in's voice was a whisper.
I opened the door to find the entire Section E squad standing in the hallway. They looked like a defeated army. Felix was holding a laptop, his eyes rimmed with red. Mica had a tray of food I knew I wouldn't eat, and Kit was clutching a plush blanket, looking completely lost.
"We aren't going home," Felix said, his voice flat. "We've already cleared it with the security team. We're staying in the guest wing. But... I found something on the cloud server. Jay... she uploaded a file the morning you guys left for the hospital."
My heart did a slow, painful roll in my chest. "What is it?"
"It's a video," C in said, stepping forward. "It's labeled 'In case the Starlight flickers
The Final Message
We moved to the small sitting area outside the nursery. The squad sat in a semi-circle on the floor, the same way they used to when Jay would roast them after a long shift. Felix set the laptop on the coffee table and hit play.
The screen flickered, then Jay's face filled the frame.
She was sitting in the Black Box garden, the morning sun hitting her face. She looked tired but beautiful, her hand resting on her massive bump. She leaned into the camera, a small, mischievous smirk on her lips.
"Hey, Hubby," her voice came through the speakers, making me gasp. It was so clear, so her. "If you're watching this, it means I'm currently being dramatic and taking a very long nap while you're probably losing your mind."
A choked laugh broke out from Mica. C in buried his face in his hands.
"First off, Keifer... stop it. Stop that 'Monster' look you're doing right now. I know you're doing it. The jaw clench? The scary eyes? Ease up. You have two humans to raise, and they don't need a CEO, they need a dad who lets them eat ice cream for breakfast at least once a month."
I felt a tear track down my cheek, hot and stinging.
"To my boys... Keigan, Keiran. Don't you dare stop being annoying. Your Kuya needs you to keep him grounded. And to Section E..." She paused, her eyes softening. "Felix, keep taking photos. Kit, dress my babies in the best silk. C in... you're a pain in the ass, but you're the best doctor I know. Don't blame yourself for anything. It was always my choice to bring them here."
She took a shaky breath, looking directly into the lens. It felt like she was looking through the screen, straight into my soul.
"Keifer, I'm not worried about the kids. I'm worried about you. You've always been afraid of the dark, but look at them. Look at Alexander and Aurora. They aren't just my legacy; they're the light I'm leaving behind for you. When it gets too quiet, look at their eyes. You'll see me there. I'm not gone, Keif. I'm just... watching from the ridge."
She blew a kiss to the camera, her eyes shimmering. "I love you, hubby. Always have, always will. Now go change a diaper. I bet Alexander has a present for you already."
The screen went black.
The Aftermath
The silence that followed was different. It wasn't empty anymore. It was full of her.
Felix closed the laptop slowly. Kit was sobbing into the silk blanket. C in stood up, walked over to me, and put his hand on my shoulder. He didn't say anything, but for the first time since the hospital, his grip was steady.
"She knew," Keiran whispered from the doorway. He and Keigan had been listening the whole time. "She knew she was the Starlight."
I looked at the squad—my brothers, my friends, my family. They weren't just my employees or my soldiers. They were her people.
"No one leaves," I said, my voice finally finding its strength. "The guest rooms are ready. We're raising them here. All of us."
To the Boss," Felix whispered, raising a phantom glass. "To the Boss," the squad echoed.
I walked back into the nursery. I looked at the two tiny sleeping faces in the bassinets. I reached down and touched Aurora's cheek. She shifted in her sleep, and for a split second, she made the exact same smirk Jay had made in the video.
I sat down in the rocking chair, the weight in my chest finally starting to shift from lead to something I could carry. I wasn't alone. The Monster had a home, and the Starlight... the Starlight was everywhere.
......