Chapter 3
The house felt… different.
Too quiet.
Too heavy.
Jay walked in slowly.
"Mama?"
No answer.
"Papa?"
Her brows frowned slightly.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Jeena sat on the couch.
Eyes red.
Hands clenched.
Jay's heart dropped.
"Mama…"
She rushed to her.
"What happened?"
Jeena looked at her…
And broke.
She pulled Jay into a tight hug.
Too tight.
"Mama… you're scaring me…"
Tears soaked Jay's shoulder.
"Where's papa?"
"Here."
Jay turned.
Jasfer stood there.
But… not like always.
Not strong.
Not confident.
He looked… shattered.
Jay slowly stood up.
"What happened?"
Silence.
No one spoke.
"Papa…"
Her voice softened.
"Tell me."
Jasfer walked closer.
Each step heavy.
As if he was walking toward something he couldn't escape.
"Jay…"
He couldn't look into her eyes.
And that alone…
Terrified her.
"You trust papa?"
She didn't hesitate.
"Always."
That word…
Cut deeper than anything.
Jasfer's throat tightened.
"Even if… what I say hurts you?"
Jay's smile faded slowly.
"…yes."
A long pause.
Then—
"They're going to kill you."
The words fell.
Cold.
Jay blinked.
"What…?"
"There are people after me."
"I made mistakes…"
"And now…"
His voice cracked.
"They want you."
Jay stepped back slightly.
"Me?"
"Yes."
Silence filled the room.
Her mind couldn't process it.
"This… this is a joke right?"
No one smiled.
No one spoke.
Her breathing changed.
"Papa… stop…"
"I'm serious."
The fear…
Now real.
"What do they want?"
Jasfer closed his eyes.
"You."
Jay shook her head.
"No… no…"
"They gave me a choice."
Her hands trembled.
"What choice?"
Jasfer finally looked at her.
And that look…
It broke her.
"Your life…"
A pause.
"Or your marriage."
Everything stopped.
"Marriage…?"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"To who?"
Jasfer didn't say it immediately.
Because once he did…
There was no going back.
"…Keifer."
Jay froze.
Completely.
"No."
A step back.
"I won't."
"Jay—"
"I said no!"
Her voice broke.
"You're asking me to marry a monster!"
"He's the only one who can protect you!"
"I don't care!"
Tears streamed down.
"I'd rather die!"
Silence.
Dead silence.
That sentence…
Killed him.
Jasfer walked closer.
His voice…
Shaking.
"You won't say that… if you see what they showed me."
He took out his phone.
Showed her.
Photos.
Her.
From far.
From near.
Watched.
Tracked.
Jay's hands went cold.
"They're already close."
"They won't wait."
"They won't hesitate."
Jeena cried silently behind.
"I can't lose you…"
She whispered.
"I can't…"
Jay's world spun.
This wasn't a choice.
It was a trap.
A cage.
"Papa…"
Her voice broke.
"I'm scared…"
Jasfer pulled her into his arms instantly.
"I know…"
"I know…"
She clutched his shirt.
Like a child.
"What do I do…"
And that question…
Destroyed him completely.
Because he had the answer.
But it would break her.
"…marry him."
Jay stiffened.
Slowly pulled back.
Tears kept falling.
"You're asking me to give my life away…"
"I'm asking you to stay alive."
A pause.
A long… painful pause.
Jay looked at her mama.
Crying.
At her papa.
Broken.
At herself.
Trapped.
If she says no…
They die inside watching her die.
If she says yes…
She dies inside… herself.
Her lips trembled.
"Will… I be safe?"
Jasfer nodded instantly.
"Yes."
A tear fell from her chin.
"Will you be okay?"
He couldn't answer.
But he still nodded.
Because he had to.
Jay closed her eyes.
Took a shaky breath.
And then—
"…okay."
A whisper.
So soft.
But it echoed like a scream.
"I'll marry him."
Jeena broke down completely.
Jasfer froze.
Because he got what he wanted—
But lost something far more precious.
His daughter's happiness.
Jay wiped her tears slowly.
A fake strength building up.
"When is the wedding?"
"Tomorrow."
Her heart sank.
But she nodded.
"Okay."
No more arguments.
No more tears.
Just… acceptance.
And that night…
Jay didn't sleep.
Because tomorrow—
She wasn't becoming a bride.
She was becoming a sacrifice.