Kiefer POV
The beach was ready.
Candles flickered in the sand, the waves rolling in slow and steady, the night air cool against my skin. The boys had already left—one by one—giving us space. This was supposed to be just us.
Just Jay-Jay and me.
I checked my phone.
Nothing.
I called her.
Not going through.
I frowned and tried again.
Still nothing.
"She should be here by now," I muttered.
Behind me, footsteps crunched softly on the sand.
I turned.
It was Sienna.
She stopped a few steps away. "You're still waiting?"
"Yes," I said, my eyes never leaving my phone. "She said she'd meet me here."
Sienna hesitated. "I thought she was already with you."
My chest tightened. "No."
That uneasy feeling crept in again—the one I couldn't explain.
"Maybe wait a bit," Sienna said gently. "She'll come."
So I waited.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
The candles burned lower. The beach grew quieter. I called again.
Nothing.
Then my phone buzzed.
Finally.
I opened it instantly.
It wasn't a call.
It was a video.
My fingers froze.
Jay-Jay.
Walking.
Laughing.
Beside her—a guy.
Not just walking. Not just talking.
Laughing like she had nothing weighing on her at all.
My throat went dry.
The video continued—her head tilted back slightly, her smile real. Too real.
My chest felt like it was caving in.
That was it.
No explanation.
No location.
The call ended.
I stared at the screen, my hands trembling.
Time for yourself?
With another guy?
After telling me tonight was just for us?
Sienna looked at my face and instantly knew something was wrong. "Kiefer… what happened?"
I didn't answer.
I turned and walked away from the beach.
Back at the villa, I went straight to my room and shut the door harder than I meant to. I changed out of the clothes I'd chosen for her, anger and confusion twisting together inside my chest.
"How could you do this to me?" I muttered. "How could you just leave me like that?"
I ran a hand through my hair, pacing.
Then—
The door opened.
I turned.
Jay-Jay stood there.
For a second, I just stared at her.
Then everything I'd been holding back spilled out.
"Where were you?" I demanded. "Do you know how long I waited?"
She blinked. "Kiefer—"
"I saw the video," I cut in. "You looked like you were having fun. Laughing. Walking around with another guy."
Her face fell. "What?"
"You left me," I said, my voice tight. "You told me tonight was just us, then you disappeared."
She took a step closer, clearly confused. "I never went to the beach."
"That's not what I saw," I snapped. "I was standing there waiting for you."
Her eyes widened. "What guy are you talking about?"
"What do you mean what guy?" I said bitterly. "You were with him. I saw it."
She shook her head slowly. "Kiefer… I don't know what you think you saw, but I didn't leave you."
Silence filled the room.
My anger faltered—just for a second.
Because the look on her face wasn't guilt.
It was shock.
And that's when it hit me—
Something didn't add up.
End of Chapter