Chapter 26 — The Mind Games 🥀✨
Jay's POV
The spotlight still burned hot against my skin, but it wasn't the light that made my chest tighten. It was the man in the shadows—calm, smirking, like he owned the air we breathed.
Whispers rippled across the grand hall.
"Who is he?"
"Why does he know her?"
"Is this part of the reveal?"
Angelo's jaw was locked, Aries stood frozen, and even Kaizer—usually the loudest—kept quiet, studying me with hawk-like eyes.
The phantom tilted his head. "Quite the speech, Jasper Jean Mariano. 👏" His voice was silk wrapped in venom. "You almost had them fooled into thinking you're untouchable."
My pulse skipped. No one here knew my full name—yet he said it so casually, like a card he'd been saving.
Gasps burst from the CEOs. Aries looked at Angelo in disbelief. Keifer moved closer, his hand brushing mine in warning.
I steadied myself. "Almost?" I smirked, refusing to let my voice crack. "Then I suppose I should try harder."
The phantom chuckled. "Or stop pretending." His gaze pierced me. "Tell them, Jay. Tell them the parts you left out."
A knife of silence cut the hall.
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Kaizer pounced immediately. "Left out? Hah. What else could our little Crownveil queen be hiding?"
Yuri shifted uncomfortably. "Kaizer, enough."
But the phantom didn't stop. He circled the words like a predator. "You talk of love, family, resilience… but is that really the full story? Or are you protecting something darker?"
My heart thundered. One slip and my mafia side would burn everything I built.
I forced a laugh, tilting my head. "You sound like a bitter ex who didn't get invited tonight. Should I be flattered?"
Laughter erupted from Section E, breaking the tension. Even Angelo's lips twitched.
The phantom's smirk faltered for a breath. "Deflection. Clever. But cracks always show."
I stepped forward, heels clicking on marble, chin raised. "Then watch closely. You'll find nothing but strength in my cracks. Crownveil was built from my scars, not my secrets."
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The Regain of Control 👑
The room shifted—the crowd leaning toward me, not him. Power slipping back into my hands.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I addressed the hall, my voice sharp and commanding, "tonight was meant to celebrate resilience. Not gossip. Not shadows. If anyone here wishes to test me, know this—Crownveil doesn't bend. And neither do I."
Applause roared. The phantom's face hardened, Kaizer grit his teeth, and Yuri actually smiled faintly, almost proud.
I met the phantom's gaze one last time. "Enjoy the show while you can. Because I always win in the end."
And with that, I turned my back on him—owning the stage, the hall, and the night.
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As the crowd surged with cheers, Keifer reached for my hand, squeezing it firmly. His voice brushed against my ear, low enough for only me to hear.
"I've never been prouder of you," he whispered.
I let myself smile, just for him. "Then don't blink, Keif. This is only the beginning."
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End of Chapter 26 — The Mind Games 🥀
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