Dinner that evening was warm and lively.
Jay was helping serve food, moving carefully between the table and the kitchen, while Keifer stood nearby, watching her.
In a quiet moment, his hand brushed against her waist as he leaned closer, pressing a small, playful kiss.
Jay smiled softly, used to his gestures, and continued with her work.
But from the corner of the dining hall, Kia's patience finally snapped.
Her hands trembled as she stood abruptly.
"ENOUGH!" she shouted.
The clatter of utensils fell silent.
Every head turned.
Kia's eyes were bright with frustration and jealousy, her voice shaking but loud.
"I've tried being polite, trying to help, trying to… just stay quiet! But I can't! Everyone… everyone just favors her! She's always first! She's always chosen! She gets everything! And I… I get nothing!"
Serina, Keizer, Sofia, Keifer, Jay—they all froze for a moment.
Kia's words spilled faster now.
"I've tried helping, I've tried being friendly, I've tried to—"
She choked on her own anger.
"I just wanted… I just wanted someone to notice me too! But nobody does! And she… she's always there! Always with him! Always smiling! Always—always—"
Tears streamed down her face.
Jay immediately stepped forward, concern and calm blending in her gaze.
"Kia…" she began softly, but Kia didn't pause.
"I'm tired of pretending I don't care! I'm tired of being ignored! I'm tired of standing behind her while she takes everything I want!"
Keifer's hand instinctively moved toward her, but he stopped when he saw the intensity in her eyes.
Keizer stepped closer, his voice firm but gentle.
"Kia… calm down."
Serina moved beside him, reaching out.
"Shh… it's okay. Let her speak."
Kia's voice cracked further.
"I'm not a child! I can't just sit back and watch! I—"
Sofia stepped forward, placing a hand lightly on Kia's shoulder.
"It's okay, Kia. Say everything you feel. No one will stop you."
And so she did.
She let all her feelings out—the jealousy, the anger, the frustration, the helplessness she had carried since arriving in the mansion.
Jay stood quietly beside Keifer, listening without judgment.
Keifer's expression softened, and he stepped closer to Jay, keeping her gently at his side, but made no move to stop Kia.
In that moment, the mansion held a tense, raw silence.
Every word Kia had bottled up for days now hung in the air, trembling yet undeniable.
It was a storm…
and everyone could finally see how deeply it ran.
The dining hall was silent after Kia's outburst.
Keifer's gaze was steady, calm, and unshaken.
"Kia," he said quietly, but firmly, "I… I cannot return your feelings. You're my cousin, and Jay… she's the one I love."
Kia froze, her jaw trembling. Then, fury replaced hurt.
"No! You… you love her so much! Always her! She's everywhere! She takes everything from me!"
Her voice rose, echoing against the walls.
Jay stepped forward, finally finding her own voice.
"Kia, stop! Stop shouting!" she said, her tone firm but not cruel. "You don't have to hate me for what I have with Keifer. I didn't take anything from you. I… I'm not your enemy!"
Kia turned sharply toward her.
"You don't understand! You don't get it! You're perfect! Everyone loves you! And I… I'm nothing!"
Jay sighed softly, her heart aching but steady.
"Kia… it's nothing like that. You have your place here too. I'm not trying to replace you, and Keifer isn't yours to take. That's not how love works."
Serina and Keizer stepped forward together, concern etched on their faces.
"Jay… we're sorry," Serina said gently.
"You've been hurt by her words."
Keizer nodded.
"Yes, we should have noticed sooner, protected you better. But you've been patient, kind, and nothing that happened is your fault."
Jay smiled softly, brushing the worry from their faces.
"It's okay, really… it's nothing. Don't worry about me."
Serina placed a hand on her shoulder, Keizer on the other side, and both spoke in unison, claiming her proudly.
"You're our daughter, Jay. And our daughter-in-law. No one can change that."
Meanwhile, Sofia, who had been standing nearby, looked at Kia coldly.
"This is exactly why you need guidance, Kia," she snapped.
"Acting out like this, behaving like a spoiled child—it's unacceptable. Keifer belongs to Jay. That's the way it is, and you will learn to accept it."
Kia's face flushed with frustration, but she fell silent, realizing Sofia wouldn't offer any support.
Jay, still kind and gentle, looked at Kia one last time.
"It's okay, Kia. You'll understand eventually. And… you'll find your own place here too. Just… be patient."
The air was tense, but boundaries were finally clear:
Keifer and Jay's bond was unshakable,
Serina and Keizer's love and protection of Jay undeniable,
and Kia—stubborn as she was—was learning that some places in hearts and families were simply untouchable.