Kia sat on the edge of her bed that night, arms crossed over her knees, frowning.
She was thinking about Jay.
About how everyone in the house—Keifer, Serina, Keizer—treated her like she belonged.
Her jealousy didn't come from complex schemes.
She wasn't old enough to think of master plans or cunning strategies.
No.
Her plans were simple.
If she interfered just a little…
if she could distract Keifer,
or make Jay look careless,
or make someone notice her instead…
Maybe she could replace Jay's place with her own.
Maybe.
Her fingers tapped against the bed frame as she imagined tiny moments—
sitting closer to Keifer at the table,
answering Serina's questions before Jay did,
catching Keifer's attention while Jay was busy elsewhere.
Simple. Small. Almost childish.
But in her mind, effective.
If I just… do a little… she whispered to herself.
She didn't even notice her mother, Sofia, sitting quietly in the corner.
Watching.
Knowing.
Sometimes the simplest plans…
come from the youngest hearts.
And sometimes, those small, stubborn sparks can start fires in unexpected places.
That evening, the mansion felt unusually quiet.
Jay had returned from the office, exhausted from the long hours of paperwork and meetings with Keizer. She slumped into the living room sofa, letting out a tired sigh, her hair falling messily over her shoulders.
Keifer appeared beside her, his usual calm and confident self.
"Let's bath together," he said softly.
Jay looked up at him. Not surprised. Not hesitant.
After all, they had bathed together many times before. It was a comfort, a habit, a quiet intimacy they both trusted.
She simply stretched her hands toward him.
Keifer understood immediately. He scooped her up in his arms like a small girl, her head resting against his shoulder as he carried her toward the washroom.
The water ran warm, the steam curling around them as they laughed softly, Jay resting comfortably in his arms.
From the hallway, hidden in the shadows…
Kia watched.
Every movement. Every laugh. Every touch.
Her chest tightened.
No matter what she tried, no matter how many small plans she thought of,
Jay's place—beside Keifer, safe, chosen, loved—remained unshakable.
Her hands curled into fists.
But even as jealousy rose, she couldn't tear her eyes away.
She was learning, slowly,
that some bonds were not so easy to break.
Over the next few days, Kia tried to act on her small plans.
She lingered near Keifer when he was carrying files, hoping to draw his attention.
She tried to answer Serina's questions before Jay could.
She smiled a little too brightly at him during meals, hoping he would notice her instead.
Even during small household moments—setting the table, offering to pour drinks—she tried to make herself more "needed."
But nothing worked.
Keifer remained calm, steady, and completely unaware of any attempt to sway him.
Jay's place in the house, in his heart, in every shared moment… remained unshakable.
Kia tried subtlety. She whispered words, left little hints, even "accidentally" brushed past Keifer.
Nothing.
He treated her politely, but the warmth, the laughter, the small touches—all remained for Jay.
Kia realized something slowly, and it stung:
It wasn't cleverness.
It wasn't persistence.
It wasn't even charm.
Keifer's heart, and the bond he shared with Jay, couldn't be shifted by small tricks.
And in the quiet corner of the mansion, Kia frowned.
Her plans to imply, to hint, to interfere…
had failed.
But her stubbornness didn't fade.
She would try again.
She just didn't yet know how.