JAY-JAY POV
We went to the dining table and Eden sat at the head like she owned the world.
Jare sat across from me, eyes flicking between me and Eden like he was waiting for the right moment to breathe.
"Anyways," Eden began, picking up her fork like this was some casual brunch, "there was another kid with Raffy. My men told me he wouldn't let Raffy go alone, so they had to bring him too."
My stomach dropped.
"I think his name was Teagan… no, it's Keigan," she said, waving her hand like the name didn't matter.
I froze.
Keifer froze.
We looked at each other — the same fear, the same panic, the same oh hell no hitting us at the exact same time.
"Where the fuck is he?" Keifer snapped, voice louder than the room could handle.
Eden rolled her eyes like he was being dramatic. "He is with Raffy upstairs. Both of them locked themselves up."
I exhaled shakily.
But the relief didn't last long.
Because Eden's tone — that bored, dismissive tone — made my blood boil.
She started to eat, like nothing was wrong.
Section E followed her lead, awkward and tense, picking at their food like they were afraid to make noise.
Aries looked at me from across the table.
I gave him a small nod — the kind that said I've got this even though my chest felt like it was caving in.
He exhaled and reached for Ella's hand under the table.
She squeezed back.
Good.
At least they had each other.
Keifer was next to me.
He didn't say anything.
His hand slid over mine under the table — warm, steady, grounding.
His thumb brushed my knuckles, slow and careful
Then Eden spoke.
"So, my dear niece… how was life without me?" she asked, smiling like she expected me to say thank you for ruining my morning.
I stared at her.
I leaned back in my chair, still holding Keifer's hand under the table, and said:
"Perfect"
Eden tilted her head, pretending she wasn't bothered. "Oh? Really now?"
I didn't blink. "Yeah. Really."
Her smile sharpened. "Still have that edge?"
I rolled my eyes. "You're the one who keeps poking it."
She ignored that. Of course she did.
"Okay, how are your studies?" she asked, like she suddenly cared.
"That's none of your business," I said flatly.
"Of course it is," she said, placing a hand dramatically on her chest. "You're my niece, and it's my responsibility to take care of you."
"Bullshit."
The word dropped like a stone.
Section E froze mid‑chew.
Eden ignored all of it and turned to Aries like she was picking her next target.
"You're Aries, right?" she asked.
Aries nodded politely, shoulders stiff.
"Yeah, I heard—Jay's and Jare's half brother," she said, smiling like she was doing him a favor by remembering.
"Yes, ma'am," he said, voice respectful but clipped.
Then she tilted her head, eyes narrowing just a little.
"You're that Jenna's son, right?"
Aries' jaw tightened.
"No, ma'am," he said sharply. "My mother is Gemma."
The way he said it — firm, final, no room for argument — made my chest warm.
I smiled.
Eden blinked, thrown off for a second. She wasn't expecting pushback from him.
"Oh really?" she said, voice dripping with fake sweetness. "From what I heard, you're Jenna's son. Looks like Gemma adopted you."
The words hit the table like poison.
And then—
CRACK.
A glass shattered.
Everyone jumped.
It was Jare.
He'd crushed the glass in his hand.
When he looked at me, he immediately hid his hand behind his back — like he didn't want me to see the blood, like he didn't want me to worry, like he was still trying to protect me even now.
My chest tightened.
Before I could say anything, Eden tilted her head.
"Why are you getting angry now?" she asked, voice dripping with fake innocence.
Jare's jaw clenched. "Why the hell are we here?"
Eden shrugged lightly, like this was all some casual brunch conversation.
"Well, to be honest, I didn't call you. You were an unexpected visitor," she said. Then she smiled — that cold, poisonous smile she used when she wanted to hurt someone. "It's sad how you ran away from me."
The words hit harder.
"Well, I didn't want to be with a witch," Jare shot back.
I smiled.
Section E froze like someone hit pause on a movie.
Eden ignored it.
Of course she did.
She turned her attention to Percy like she was picking her next victim.
"Percy, how are you?" she asked, voice dripping with fake sweetness.
Percy didn't even blink.
"Without you? Better than ever."
Section E choked.
"Looks like nobody is happy to see me," she said, pretending to pout.
I didn't even hesitate.
"Who would be happy to see a witch's face early in the morning?"
The table went silent for half a second.
Keifer squeezed my hand again, proud and amused.
Aries looked like he wanted to high‑five me.
Jare smirked like he'd been waiting for me to say it.
Percy turned red from holding in laughter.
Eden blinked slowly, her smile cracking at the edges.
"You really think you're funny, don't you?" she asked.
I leaned back in my chair, unbothered.
"I don't think," I said. "I know."
Her jaw tightened.
"Anyways, I will let you go after I get what I want," Eden said, signaling her men.
Three folders were placed in front of us — one for Percy, one for Jare, one for me.
"Sign it," she said, smiling like a snake. "And I will let you live your life."
I took the folder and opened it.
Before I could even read the first line—
SLAM.
Jare threw his folder across the table so hard it slid to the floor.
"This is my parents' money! You're not getting anything!" he yelled.
Everyone flinched.
"Fuck your parents! They stole the money from me!" she yelled.
The room froze.
I stood up so fast my chair scraped the floor.
"They didn't steal anything," I snapped, stepping toward her. "Grandpa knew about your bitchy behavior and gave the money to my parents."
Before I could even register what was happening—
SLAP.
My head jerked to the side, the sting blooming across my cheek like fire.
The room exploded.
Chairs scraped.
Feet slammed the floor.
Everyone shot up from their seats at the same time.
Section E looked like they were about to jump her. Aries' fists clenched so tight his knuckles went white. Percy's face twisted with pure fury. Ella gasped from the shock. Jare looked like he was two seconds away from throwing the entire table.
And Keifer—
Keifer moved faster than anyone.
His arm wrapped around me before I could hit the ground, pulling me upright, steadying me against his chest. His grip was firm, protective, shaking with anger he wasn't even trying to hide.
He looked at Eden with eyes I'd never seen on him before.
Cold.
Sharp.
Furious.
The kind of look that said he didn't care who she was — she crossed a line.
"Don't touch her again," Keifer said, voice low, steady, and terrifyingly calm.
Eden's eyes flicked to him, then to the rest of Section E rising behind us like a wall.
She smirked.
"Wow, Jay. Looks like you've got some protectors."
I lifted my head from Keifer's shoulder, my cheek still burning, and stared straight at her.
"Yeah," I said. "Because unlike you, I don't treat people like trash."
Eden's eyes flashed.
"You little bitch," she hissed. "You think just because you're the so‑called heiress I'll let you go?"
I smirked.
"You think just because you're the only one who can open that door, after that—" she started.
Then she stopped.
Her mouth froze like the name physically burned her tongue.
I tilted my head, stepping just close enough for her to feel the challenge.
"What happened?" I asked softly. "Can't even say her name?"
The room went still.
Eden's jaw twitched.
Just once.
"You and your brothers are one bloody bitches stealing my money," she spat.
Before I could even open my mouth—
BAM.
Jare punched the nearest bodyguard.
No hesitation.
No hesitation.
No warning.
Just pure, explosive rage.
And with that, the room detonated.
Chairs scraped.
People yelled.
Bodyguards lunged.
Section E?
They didn't just react.
They activated.
Emma was holding a spoon like it was a sacred weapon passed down through generations.
Edrix had a fork in one hand and Ci‑n in the other, dragging him behind like a shield while yelling,
Mayo was already on top of a chair for absolutely no reason.
Denzel was yelling instructions no one asked for.
Josh was hiding behind Denzel's jacket.
Blaster was humming dramatic battle music.
Kit was dodging people like he was in a runway show.
And Felix—
Let's not even talk about Felix.
Because he was throwing food at the bodyguards with terrifying accuracy.
And the worst part?
He actually hit one.
Right in the forehead.
With a bread roll.
The guard stumbled back like he'd been shot.
The whole room was chaos — pure, unfiltered, ridiculous chaos — and through all of it, Eden stood there, stunned, like she couldn't believe her perfectly planned intimidation scene had turned into a cafeteria riot.
And me?
I should've been scared.
But watching my friends — my people — fight like unhinged gremlins on my behalf?
I almost laughed.
Almost.
"Jay, go to Raffy and get out," Percy said, voice tight, eyes never leaving Eden.
I nodded and bolted for the stairs.
My heart was pounding.
The chaos downstairs was exploding behind me — yelling, footsteps, Section E acting like they were in an action movie — but all I could think about was Raffy.
I made it halfway up the stairs—
Then a hand grabbed my arm.
A bodyguard.
He yanked me back so hard I lost my balance.
"Let go!" I tried to pull free, tried to twist out of his grip, tried to fight him off, but he was too strong.
Before I could even think—
He shoved me.
My back hit the wall with a sickening thud, and my head snapped to the side. Pain shot across my forehead — sharp, hot — and I knew instantly I'd end up with a bruise, maybe even a small cut.
The world tilted for a second.
I blinked hard, trying to steady myself, trying not to fall.
My head was ringing, the world tilting for a second — but I forced myself upright. I swung at him, aiming for anything I could reach, but he caught my wrist mid‑air like it was nothing.
His grip tightened.
Before I could twist away, he dragged me down the stairs — my feet stumbling to keep up, my shoulder burning where he held me.
"Let me go!" I yelled, trying to pull free, trying to dig my heels into the floor, anything.
He didn't even budge.
Then Eden yelled, "Enough!"
Her voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
Everything stopped.
Section E froze mid‑swing, mid‑throw, mid‑scream.
The bodyguards paused.
Everyone turned.
And they saw me.
Dragged down the stairs.
A bruise already forming on my forehead.
My arm still trapped in the guard's grip.
"Jay!" everyone yelled at once.
Aries' face twisted with panic. Percy's eyes went wide with fury.
Jare looked like he was about to murder someone.
But Keifer?
Keifer moved first.
He was already halfway across the room, eyes locked on me, fury burning so bright it made Eden actually step back.
His voice was low, dangerous, and shaking with rage.
"Let. Her. Go."
The bodyguard only tightened his grip.
Pain shot up my arm, sharp and sudden.
"Aa—!"
The sound tore out of me before I could stop it. His hold was crushing, digging into my skin, forcing my shoulder back.
Keifer's entire expression changed.
Not anger.
Not annoyance.
Something colder.
Something in Keifer's voice made even the bodyguards hesitate.
"Let her go," he repeated, low enough to shake the room.
But before the guard could react, Eden lifted her hand.
"Okay, we got the princess," she said, smiling like she'd just won a game she didn't even understand. "Jare and Percy, hon's, please sign so your dear Jay can live."
The room went dead silent.
The bodyguard didn't loosen his grip.
Instead, he lifted a gun and pressed it to my forehead — a threat, a warning, a way to make everyone freeze.
Jare and Percy went pale.
Their hands shook as they picked up the pens, fear written all over their faces.
Not for themselves.
For me.
"Don't sign it!" I yelled, my voice cracking through the room. "Do you really think she'll hurt me? After all—"
I stared straight at Eden.
"—she needs more than this money."
The words hit like a slap.
Jare froze mid‑signature.
Percy's pen dropped from his fingers.
Both of them looked at me — wide‑eyed, terrified, but understanding exactly what I meant.
Because they knew.
They knew what Eden wanted wasn't just money.
They knew what she was really after.
Before anyone could move, I did the only thing I could think of—
I bit the bodyguard's arm.
Hard enough to make him jerk back with a sharp gasp of pain.
His grip snapped open.
And the second I was free—
Keifer was there.
He grabbed me and pulled me straight into him, arms wrapping around me like he was afraid I'd disappear if he let go.
My face hit his chest, and I didn't fight it.
I hugged him back, fingers gripping his shirt, burying my face into him as the chaos around us blurred into noise.
His hand came up to the back of my head, steady and protective, shielding me from everything — the guards, the yelling, Eden's glare, the fear still buzzing in my chest.
"You're okay," he murmured, voice low and furious at the same time. "I've got you."
Section E closed in around us like a wall.
Aries stepped in front of us. Percy moved to the side, blocking another guard. Jare stood between me and Eden, shaking with anger. Felix, Edrix, Ci‑n, Mayo — all of them formed a barrier without even speaking.