Jay's POV
Marriage.
Such a small word.
Yet somehow it turned my entire life upside down.
The Valentino mansion looked less like a house and more like a war zone.
Flowers everywhere.
Workers running around.
Designers screaming.
Lia crying over invitation cards.
And Angelo?
Angelo became the self-appointed "Head of Bride Protection."
Which honestly made everyone's life harder.
"Why are there security guards near the cake?" I asked in disbelief.
Angelo crossed his arms proudly. "Safety."
"It's dessert."
"Danger can come in many forms."
Aries looked dead inside already. "He hasn't slept for two days."
"Because SOME people," Angelo glared toward Kiefer, "cannot be trusted."
Kiefer looked offended. "I'm literally marrying her tomorrow."
"Exactly. Suspicious."
I laughed so hard I almost dropped my coffee.
Meanwhile Lia and Jas were running around the living room holding fabric samples dramatically.
"White roses or pink roses?"
"White!"
"No pink!"
"Gold ribbons?"
"No silver!"
"WHY IS MARRIAGE SO STRESSFUL?"
Percy calmly walked past them holding wedding documents.
"Because none of you know organization."
Honey smiled softly beside him. "You color-coded the guest list."
"Obviously."
Honestly Percy planned weddings like military operations.
It was terrifyingly impressive.
Evening
My room looked like a fashion store exploded inside it.
Wedding dresses.
Shoes.
Jewelry.
Makeup kits.
Lia was laying dramatically across the floor.
"I'm more stressed than the bride."
"You cried because the napkins arrived late."
"THEY WERE IVORY NOT PEARL WHITE."
"That sounds identical."
"IT IS NOT."
Jas burst out laughing while helping arrange accessories.
Then suddenly—
Knock knock.
Lia narrowed her eyes immediately.
"Suspicious."
Before anyone answered the door opened slightly.
And Kiefer entered quietly.
Every girl in the room gasped dramatically.
"SCANDAL!" Lia shouted.
"You're not supposed to see the bride before the wedding!" Jas added.
Kiefer looked completely unbothered. "Move."
"No," Lia replied proudly while blocking him with a pillow.
He stared at her blankly.
She stared back confidently.
Five seconds later—
He bribed her with cheesecake.
Traitor.
Lia immediately moved away. "Love wins."
Jas looked disappointed. "Your loyalty is worth cheesecake?"
"Absolutely."
Soon both traitors disappeared from the room intentionally.
Leaving me alone with Kiefer.
The room became quieter instantly.
He walked closer slowly.
"You okay?"
I sighed softly while sitting near the mirror. "Everyone keeps asking me that."
"Because you look nervous."
I looked down at my hands.
Maybe I was.
Not because I doubted him.
Never that.
But because everything was changing so fast.
School.
Section E.
All our chaos.
And now marriage.
Kiefer crouched in front of me carefully.
"You know you can still run away."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Excuse me?"
"I'll probably chase you," he admitted honestly.
I laughed softly.
Then quieter—
"But if you're scared…"
His expression softened completely.
"We'll take everything slowly."
God.
How did the coldest person become this gentle with me?
"You're being suspiciously sweet," I muttered.
"Don't ruin the moment."
I smiled slightly before leaning my forehead against his shoulder.
For a few minutes silence stayed between us peacefully.
Then suddenly—
"GET AWAY FROM MY SISTER!"
The door burst open dramatically.
Angelo.
Of course.
Kiefer didn't even look surprised anymore.
"She's my fiancée."
"And tomorrow she becomes your wife. TODAY she's under protection."
Kiefer sighed deeply. "You need therapy."
"You need distance."
Lia appeared behind Angelo eating chips. "I told him you were here."
"Traitor," I gasped.
"She paid me."
"WITH WHAT?"
"Another cheesecake."
Unbelievable.
Later That Night
The entire Section E gathered downstairs for final wedding preparations.
Which was honestly a terrible idea.
Because chaos immediately exploded.
"WHY ARE THERE FIREWORKS?" Percy asked.
Angelo looked innocent. "Decoration."
"That's illegal indoors."
"Only if we get caught."
Aries slowly rubbed his forehead. "I'm surrounded by idiots."
Ella laughed softly beside him. "You love them."
"No."
"Yes."
Meanwhile Dane and Lia argued over dance rehearsals.
"You stepped on my foot!"
"That's because you spin like a helicopter!"
"THIS IS ART."
Yuri sat beside Jas helping fold gift boxes while she continuously annoyed him.
"You're smiling."
"I'm not."
"You love me."
"Unfortunately."
Honestly everyone looked happy.
Peacefully happy.
Something we hadn't felt in a long time.
Then suddenly Dad stood up holding a glass.
The room slowly quieted.
He looked around at all of us carefully.
At the chaos.
The laughter.
The people who once entered our lives as strangers.
"When you all first met," he began softly, "I never imagined this."
Everyone listened quietly now.
"You fought."
"You broke rules."
"You nearly destroyed my house multiple times."
Lia whispered proudly, "Legacy."
Mom smacked her arm gently.
Dad laughed slightly before continuing.
"But somewhere along the way…"
"You became family."
Silence filled the room emotionally.
Even Percy looked softer.
Dad looked toward me and Kiefer finally.
"You two survived things most people couldn't."
"Pain."
"Danger."
"Fear."
"But you stayed beside each other."
Kiefer's hand slowly found mine under the table.
Dad smiled warmly.
"That's real love."
My eyes burned slightly.
Beside me Lia was already crying loudly into Dane's shoulder.
"I'm emotional."
"You cry every day," Dane sighed.
"Because life is beautiful."
Angelo secretly wiped his eyes too.
Aries noticed immediately.
"Are you crying?"
"No."
"Your eyes are literally red."
"It's dust."
"There is no dust."
"Mind your business."
Everyone started laughing again instantly.
And suddenly—
Looking around the room—
At the people who stayed through every chaos and heartbreak—
I realized something.
This place…
These people…
They were home.
Tomorrow everything would change.
But somehow…
I wasn't scared anymore.