Chapter 19
Morning felt different.
Too calm.
Too normal.
Jay walked down the stairs.
Her steps slow.
Her eyes searching.
For him.
Always him now.
And there he was.
Keifer stood in the hall.
Talking.
Not to a guard.
Not to staff.
To a woman.
Elegant.
Confident.
Standing a little too close.
Smiling.
Jay stopped.
Something twisted inside her.
Unfamiliar.
Sharp.
The woman laughed softly.
Touching his arm lightly.
Like she belonged there.
Like she had the right.
Jay's fingers curled instantly.
Her jaw tightened.
"What is this…"
She whispered under her breath.
Her feet moved before her mind could stop her.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Until she stood right in front of them.
The woman turned.
Looked Jay up and down.
A small, polite smile.
"And you are…?"
Jay didn't smile back.
Didn't even try.
Instead—
Her hand reached out.
And held his arm.
Firmly.
Possessively.
"I'm his."
Silence.
Thick.
Unexpected.
The woman's brows lifted slightly.
Then her gaze shifted to him.
Amused.
Keifer didn't speak.
Didn't move.
But his eyes…
They stayed on Jay.
Watching.
Carefully.
The woman chuckled softly.
"I didn't know you had someone like this."
Jay's grip tightened.
"Now you do."
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it was sharp.
Clear.
Unapologetic.
Another silence.
Then the woman stepped back.
Smiling faintly.
"Interesting."
She glanced at Keifer one last time.
"I'll see you later."
And just like that—
She walked away.
Leaving the air behind…
Charged.
Heavy.
Jay didn't let go immediately.
Her grip still firm.
Her breathing uneven.
Her eyes fixed ahead.
Not at him.
Not yet.
Then slowly—
She let go.
But turned to him instantly.
"What was that?"
Her voice—
Controlled.
But barely.
Keifer tilted his head slightly.
"What was what?"
Her eyes widened.
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Act like you don't understand."
A pause.
Dangerous.
"You let her touch you."
Silence.
"And you didn't stop her."
Her voice cracked slightly.
But not in weakness.
In frustration.
In something deeper.
"You smile at her?"
"I didn't."
"You didn't push her away either."
That hit.
Because it was true.
Keifer stepped closer.
Slow.
Interested now.
"You're angry."
Jay scoffed lightly.
"I'm not—"
"You are."
Another step.
Closer.
"You're jealous."
Her breath hitched.
"I'm not jealous."
"Then why are you shaking?"
Silence.
Because she was.
Her fingers.
Her breath.
Her heart.
Everything gave her away.
"I just…"
She stopped.
Frustrated.
Confused.
"I don't like it."
There it was.
Raw.
Honest.
Keifer watched her.
Long.
Carefully.
Then—
Something shifted in his expression.
Not anger.
Not control.
Something darker.
Something… pleased.
"You don't like anyone near me."
Her eyes flickered.
"No."
A pause.
"Not like that."
Another step.
Now he was right in front of her.
Close.
Too close.
"Why?"
Her voice dropped.
Soft.
"…because you're mine."
Silence exploded between them.
Because those words—
They weren't planned.
They weren't careful.
They were real.
And the moment they left her lips—
Jay realized what she just said.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Her breath caught.
But she didn't take it back.
She couldn't.
Because it was true.
And Keifer—
He didn't look surprised.
He didn't argue.
He didn't deny it.
Instead—
He stepped even closer.
His voice low.
Dangerous.
"Say it again."
Her heart raced.
"I—"
"You heard me."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then slowly—
"…you're mine."
A whisper.
But enough.
Because this time—
It wasn't him claiming her.
It was her claiming him.
And that…
Changed everything.
End of Chapter 19