CHAPTER 59
THE SECRET HE COULD FEEL
KING'S CROWN
The three of them sat around the table.
Kiefer was quiet.
Angelo was staring at him with an expression that was slowly turning from concern into amusement.
Tiger noticed it.
"Don't," Tiger warned.
Angelo ignored him.
"So…"
Kiefer looked up.
Angelo leaned back in his chair.
"My sister has great taste."
Kiefer raised an eyebrow.
Angelo continued with a straight face.
"She didn't choose you."
Tiger couldn't hold it.
A small chuckle escaped him.
Kiefer simply stared at both of them.
"Are you two finished?"
Angelo smirked.
"Not really."
Tiger laughed quietly.
Kiefer shook his head and looked away.
He wasn't going to give them the reaction they wanted.
Angelo eventually became serious.
"But honestly…"
Kiefer looked back at him.
"I know she loves you."
Kiefer's expression changed slightly.
Angelo continued.
"Everyone can see it. I can see it. You can see it."
He paused.
"I just don't understand why she rejected you."
Kiefer remained silent for a moment.
"Neither do I."
Tiger's teasing expression disappeared.
Kiefer looked down at the table.
"She wasn't angry with me."
His voice was quieter now.
"She wasn't pretending either."
He remembered the way Jay had looked at him.
The hesitation.
The apology.
The way she couldn't explain herself.
"She was hiding something."
Angelo nodded slowly.
"I've thought that for a while."
Kiefer looked at him.
"You knew?"
"I knew there was something."
Angelo sighed.
"But I don't know what."
Tiger leaned back.
"So none of us knows."
"No," Kiefer answered.
Then his phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen.
Nothing important.
He put it back down.
For a while, he simply sat there.
He was still hurt.
Still confused.
Still trying to understand what had happened.
But he wasn't going to chase Jay for an explanation she wasn't ready to give.
At least, not yet.
---
Angelo suddenly looked toward the others.
"Where is everyone from Section E?"
Tiger shrugged.
"Summer vacation."
"I know that."
Angelo pulled out his phone.
"I called them."
Kiefer looked at him.
"What did they say?"
"They're with their families. Some are traveling."
Angelo sighed.
"They'll be back soon."
"For what?"
Angelo looked between them.
"We need to discuss everything."
Kiefer nodded.
"That makes sense."
He leaned back.
For the first time that evening, his expression became completely unreadable.
Something about the whole situation bothered him.
He just couldn't put his finger on it.
Not yet.
---
FERNANDEZ MANSION
Jay arrived later that day.
She had barely stepped inside when Angelo looked at her.
He had already been waiting.
Jay stopped.
Angelo crossed his arms.
"Where were you last night?"
Jay looked at him.
"At my mansion."
Angelo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You stayed there?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to."
Angelo studied her face.
He had already spoken with Kiefer.
He knew Kiefer believed Jay was hiding something.
And now, hearing this answer, Angelo couldn't help wondering if there was more to it.
But he didn't push.
Not yet.
Jay walked past him.
Yuri was sitting nearby.
He looked at her.
"You're back."
Jay nodded.
"Yeah."
Yuri didn't ask where she had been.
He already knew.
Jay had stayed at her own mansion.
But he did notice something.
She seemed distracted.
Percy was there too, quietly scrolling through his phone.
Aries stood near the window.
The four of them exchanged brief looks.
Nobody really knew what to say anymore.
Jay noticed.
"What?"
Percy shook his head.
"Nothing."
"Then stop staring at me."
Aries gave a small smirk.
"You're becoming scary again."
Jay looked at him.
"I was always scary."
Yuri chuckled.
"There she is."
For a brief moment, the tension eased.
Then Jay's phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Dad.
She answered.
"Hello?"
Jaspher's voice came through.
"Jay, I'm in a business meeting."
Jay listened.
"Would you like to come?"
Jay frowned slightly.
"Now?"
"Yes."
He paused.
"You're the heir of Mariano Enterprises. You're going to be the next CEO. You should be here."
Jay looked toward the others.
"Fine. I'll come."
"Good."
The call ended.
Aries raised an eyebrow.
"Business?"
"My father wants me at a meeting."
Percy nodded.
"Go."
Jay picked up her things.
"I'll be back."
---
MARIANO ENTERPRISES
The meeting lasted longer than Jay expected.
Jaspher discussed several company matters while Jay listened carefully.
As the heir, she was already being included in more and more decisions.
When the meeting finally ended, Jaspher looked at her.
"You should visit me more often."
Jay smiled.
"I'll try."
"You always say that."
"Because you always ask."
Jaspher laughed softly.
Jay stood.
"I should go."
"Take care."
"You too."
Jay left the office.
The moment she stepped outside, her phone vibrated.
Liam.
She answered.
"Tell me."
"We've arrived."
Jay stopped walking.
"Japan?"
"Yes."
Her voice immediately became quieter.
"And they're safe?"
"They're safe."
Jay closed her eyes for a second.
"Good."
"We'll bring them to your mansion."
"Do it."
There was a short pause.
Then Jay added,
"Yuri must not know."
"He won't."
"Good."
The call ended.
Jay looked at her phone.
Yuri had no idea.
And that was exactly how she wanted it.
---
JAY'S MANSION
By the time Jay arrived, Liam was already there.
But he wasn't alone.
Jay stepped inside.
Then stopped.
Standing in the living room were two people she had been waiting for.
Yuri's mother.
And his little sister.
The girl was around eight or nine years old.
The moment she saw Jay, she smiled.
Jay's expression softened.
"You made it."
Yuri's mother nodded.
"We did."
She looked at Jay for a moment.
Their history wasn't exactly warm.
They had met before, back when Jay and Yuri's lives had been much different.
And Yuri's mother hadn't exactly been kind to Jay then.
Jay remembered.
So did she.
But today wasn't about the past.
It was about getting them home safely.
Yuri's mother looked around the mansion.
"You did all this?"
Jay nodded.
"I wanted you both somewhere safe."
Her mother looked at her quietly.
"Thank you."
Jay shook her head.
"Don't thank me yet."
The little girl stepped closer.
"Is Yuri here?"
Jay smiled.
"Not yet."
"When will he come?"
"Soon."
Tita Serena walked into the room and immediately stopped.
She looked at Yuri's mother.
Then at the little girl.
Then at Jay.
Her eyes widened.
"Jay…"
Jay smiled.
"Surprise."
Serena slowly smiled.
"You brought them here?"
"Yes."
"Does Yuri know?"
Jay shook her head.
"Not a thing."
Serena covered her mouth for a second.
"Oh, he's going to lose his mind."
Jay laughed quietly.
"That is the plan."
Liam stepped forward.
"Everything is secure."
Jay nodded.
"Good."
She looked toward Yuri's mother and sister.
"Stay here as long as you need."
Yuri's mother nodded.
The little girl smiled again.
Jay looked at her phone.
Then at Serena.
Then back toward the door.
"Let's call him."
---
FERNANDEZ MANSION
Yuri's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Jay.
He answered.
"Where are you?"
"At home."
"Your mansion?"
"Yes."
Yuri frowned.
"Why?"
"Just come here."
"Why?"
Jay smiled.
"You'll see."
"Jay…"
"Just come."
The call ended.
Yuri stared at his phone.
Aries looked over.
"What did she want?"
"I don't know."
Percy raised an eyebrow.
"That's suspicious."
Yuri stood.
"I'm going."
Aries smirked.
"Good luck."
Yuri ignored him and walked out.
He had absolutely no idea what was waiting for him.
Not even close.
---
JAY'S MANSION
Jay stood beside the little girl.
Yuri's mother was behind them.
Tita Serena stood nearby.
Liam quietly stepped away.
Jay heard a car outside.
She smiled.
"He's here."
The little girl immediately became excited.
"Yuri!"
Jay gently placed a finger against her lips.
"Wait."
The front door opened.
Footsteps entered.
Yuri walked inside.
"Jay?"
He looked around.
"Why did you—"
He stopped.
His entire expression changed.
His eyes widened.
For a few seconds, he couldn't speak.
His mother stood there.
His little sister beside her.
Alive.
Safe.
Home.
"Mom?"
His voice barely came out.
His sister ran toward him.
"Yuri!"
Yuri immediately dropped down and hugged her.
He looked completely stunned.
Then his eyes moved toward his mother.
She smiled through her tears.
"Hello, son."
Yuri stood frozen.
He looked at Jay.
She simply smiled.
He finally understood.
She had done this.
Without telling him.
Without asking for anything in return.
Yuri's eyes became glassy.
"Jay…"
Jay shrugged lightly.
"Surprise."
Yuri shook his head in disbelief.
"You…"
He couldn't even finish.
Jay smiled.
"Welcome home."
And for once—
Yuri had absolutely nothing to say.
◇◇◇
AUTHOR'S NOTE
WOW.
One more chapter. 🖤
Yuri's mother and little sister are finally back.
And Yuri had NO IDEA.
Jay secretly arranged everything and didn't tell him because she wanted to give him the surprise herself.
Meanwhile, Kiefer knows something is wrong.
He doesn't know what Jay is hiding.
But after what happened with the Shadow League, he's starting to pay attention.
And Angelo?
He already knows Jay loves Kiefer.
He just doesn't understand why she rejected him.
And now the question is—
What happens when the secrets surrounding Jay start getting harder to hide?
See you in the next chapter. 🖤