The peace lasted exactly three days.
Three days of laughter. Three days of chaos. Three days of Jayfer being so disgustingly in love that Percy started keeping a "cringe diary" just to document it.
Day 1: Keifer made her coffee. She looked at him like he'd invented the sun. I threw up a little.
Day 2: They were on the couch. She was reading. He was watching her read. For TWO HOURS. I timed it.
Day 3: Caught them kissing in the kitchen. They didn't even stop when I walked in. Zero shame. Respect, honestly.
Keigan had started teasing them relentlessly.
"You guys are so gross," he said, walking in on them cuddled on the couch. "Can you not?"
Keifer didn't even move. "No."
Keigan groaned. "I'm telling Keiren you're being disgusting."
Keiren and full of chaotic energy, appeared behind him. "I ALREADY KNOW. I SAW THEM KISSING THIS MORNING."
Jay buried her face in Keifer's chest. "Why do you two see EVERYTHING?"
Keiren: "We have EYES."
Keigan: "Unfortunately."
Percy, writing in his diary: "Day 3, addendum: the children are suffering. Good."
But on the fourth day—
The storm arrived.
It started with a phone call.
Angelo's phone, specifically, at 6:47 AM.
He answered immediately—he always did—and his face went from sleepy to stone-cold in seconds.
"I understand. Keep me updated."
He hung up.
Everyone at the breakfast table froze.
Jay's grip on her coffee cup tightened. "Angelo?"
He looked at her. Then at Keifer. Then at Serina.
"Keizer's men were seen entering the city an hour ago. Three vehicles. Armed."
The air left the room.
Keifer's jaw clenched. "Where are they now?"
"Heading this direction. Slowly. Deliberately." Angelo's voice was calm, controlled—the voice of someone who'd trained for this. "They want us to know they're coming."
Jasfer stood abruptly. "Then we prepare."
Serina's face had gone pale, but her spine was straight. "The boys—"
"Already here," Keigan said, stepping into the room with Keiren beside him. "We heard."
Keifer moved toward them instinctively. "Go upstairs."
"No." Keigan's voice was firm—too firm for a fourteen-year-old. "We're not hiding."
Keiren nodded, small face set in determination. "We wanna stay with you."
Keifer's heart clenched. "Keigan—"
"He's our father too," Keigan said quietly. "We have a right to know what's happening."
Serina knelt before them, gentle but firm. "Anak, I understand. But your safety comes first. Please."
Keigan's eyes searched hers. After a moment, he nodded slowly. "Fine. But we're watching from the window."
Keiren: "With binoculars. I have binoculars."
Tita Gema appeared. "I'll keep them upstairs. They'll see everything through the monitors anyway—Angelo's security feed goes to the TV up there."
Keigan perked up slightly. "Wait, really?"
"Yes. Now GO."
The boys ran upstairs.
Tita Gema turned to the adults. "They're safer up there. I'll stay with them."
Jay's grandma rose, cane in hand, eyes fierce. "If that monster thinks he can walk into MY house—"
"Lola, please sit down," Jay said softly. "We'll handle this."
"LIKE HELL YOU WILL. I'VE HANDLED WORSE THAN KEIZER."
"Lola."
"FINE. But I'm keeping my cane ready."
Percy, for once, wasn't joking. "What's the plan?"
Angelo was already on his phone. "I'm calling Section E. All of them. They need to know."
Jay blinked. "Why Section E?"
"Because they're your family. And because if Keizer's making a move, everyone you love needs to be protected." He paused. "Including them."
Keifer nodded slowly. "He's right. Keizer won't just come for us. He'll come for anyone we care about."
Jay's heart clenched.
Mica. Rakki. Ci-n. All of them.
"Call them," she said. "Tell them to stay put. Tell them—"
"They won't stay put," Keifer said quietly. "You know they won't."
Jay closed her eyes.
He was right.
Within an hour, the Fernandez house became a fortress.
Angelo's men patrolled the perimeter. Windows were checked. Doors were locked. Security systems were boosted to maximum.
And Section E started arriving.
Calix and Mica were first. Mica ran straight to Jay, grabbing her in a tight hug.
"We came as soon as Angelo called. What do you need?"
Jay hugged her back fiercely. "You being here is enough."
"NOT ENOUGH. I need a weapon. Give me something to throw."
Calix pulled her back gently. "Babe, violence isn't the answer."
"It's ONE answer."
"A bad answer."
"Not the POINT."
Rakki and Ci-n arrived next, Ci-n bouncing with nervous energy.
"SISTER JAY! WE'RE HERE! WE BROUGHT—" He held up a bag. "—snacks. And also my fists. My fists are snacks. For punching."
Rakki: "He's been practicing on a pillow."
Ci-n: "THE PILLOW LOST."
Rakki: "The pillow is fine."
Ci-n: "IT SURRENDERED."
Rory and Edrix came in already on their phones, hacking into something.
Rory: "I'm tracking their vehicle movement."
Edrix: "I'm cross-referencing with known Keizer associates."
Rory: "Beat you."
Edrix: "You started first."
Rory: "Still a win."
Mayo and Kit arrived looking like they'd stepped out of a magazine, despite the circumstances.
Mayo: "We brought moral support and good bone structure."
Kit: "The moral support is questionable, but the bone structure is solid."
Eren wandered in looking confused. "Wait, are we fighting someone? I didn't bring my good fighting shirt."
Drew: "I brought money. Anyone want to bet on how this ends?"
David, half-asleep: "Keifer wins. 500."
Drew: "No one's taking that bet."
David: "Then I win by default."
Baster had brought a small recording device. "For documentary purposes. Future music video inspiration."
Josh sat quietly in the corner, saying nothing, somehow radiating calm.
Felix walked in, eyes scanning—finding Percy immediately.
Percy met his gaze. "Little brother."
Felix crossed to him. "I'm not leaving."
"I wasn't going to ask you to."
"Good. Because I'd refuse."
They stood together, solid.
Aries appeared with Ella, both looking serious.
Ella: "I may be a devil in disguise, but I fight for my people. What do we do?"
Aries: "She's genuinely scary when she wants to be."
Ella: "Thank you."
Aries: "It wasn't a compliment."
Ella: "I'm taking it as one."
Then—
The door opened again.
Denzel walked in, calm and steady as always. Behind him—
Grace. Warm, fierce, beautiful.
And in her arms—
Grazel Jay.
The two-year-old's eyes lit up the moment she saw Jay.
"TITA JAY! TITA JAY!"
Jay's entire demeanor shifted. The tension in her shoulders melted. Her face broke into the softest smile.
She crossed the room in seconds, arms outstretched.
"Baby girl!"
Grazel Jay launched herself from her mother's arms into Jay's, giggling uncontrollably.
Jay held her tight, pressing kisses to her chubby cheeks. "What are you doing here, huh? You're supposed to be safe at home."
Grazel Jay grabbed Jay's face with tiny hands. "Wanna see Tita Jay! Miss you!"
Jay's heart exploded.
Behind her, Keifer watched—and something shifted in his chest.
Jay holding a child. Jay's face soft and glowing. Jay laughing as Grazel Jay babbled about her day.
Our future.
The thought hit him like a wave.
Her, holding our child. Our family. Our home.
He couldn't breathe for a second.
Grace approached, kissing Jay's cheek. "We couldn't stay away. When Denzel told us what was happening—" She shook her head. "We're family. We're here."
Denzel nodded. "Grazel Jay refused to stay home. She packed her own bag."
Grazel Jay nodded proudly. "I bring my bunny. And my shoes. And my Tita Jay picture."
Jay's eyes welled up. "You brought my picture?"
"Uh huh. For luck."
Jay hugged her tighter.
The room, despite everything, felt warmer.
Percy whispered to Felix: "I want what they have."
Felix: "You want a two-year-old?"
Percy: "I want THAT. The love. The family. The—" he gestured vaguely "—everything."
Felix: "You'll find it."
Percy: "I KNOW. I'm fabulous. It's inevitable."
Ci-n appeared beside them. "I also want love. But first, snacks."
Rakki pulled him away. "Stop bothering people."
"I'm NOT bothering. I'm SHARING MY PRESENCE."
The morning stretched into afternoon.
Waiting.
The worst part.
Jay paced the living room, Grazel Jay still in her arms, Keifer's eyes following her every move.
Finally, he stood, caught her wrist gently, pulled her to a stop.
"Jay."
She looked at him—frustrated, scared, fierce.
"Talk to me."
She shook her head. "I can't stand just WAITING."
"I know."
"I need to DO something."
"I know."
"I need—"
He pulled her into his arms—carefully, so he didn't squish Grazel Jay between them.
Grazel Jay giggled. "Kuya Keifer hug!"
Keifer smiled softly at her, then met Jay's eyes.
"I've got you," he whispered. "Whatever happens, I've got you."
Her voice was muffled against his chest. "I'm supposed to be strong."
"You ARE strong. Strong people also need to be held."
She looked up at him.
He kissed her forehead. "We face this together. Remember?"
"Together," she whispered.
Grazel Jay: "TOGETHER!" She pumped her tiny fist.
The room collectively melted.
Percy fake-cried. "THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL. THE BABY IS BEAUTIFUL. EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL."
Jasfer: "I'm commissioning a painting of this exact moment."
Serina: "I'll frame it in gold."
Jay's grandma: "I'll hang it in my room so I can see it every morning AND every night."
Tita Gema: "I'll make sure it's dusted twice daily."
Angelo: "I'll make sure no one steals it."
Jay laughed despite everything.
Leave it to her family to turn even a terrifying moment into chaos.
Then—
The gates buzzed.
Everyone froze.
Grazel Jay, sensing the shift, clung tighter to Jay. "Tita Jay?"
Jay kissed her head. "It's okay, baby. Stay with Mommy for a bit, okay?"
Grace took her gently. "Come here, my love. Let's watch from the couch."
Grazel Jay nodded solemnly. "Okay. But Tita Jay is brave."
Jay smiled. "I'm brave because you're my lucky charm."
Grazel Jay beamed.
Angelo checked his monitors. "One vehicle. Black. Tinted windows."
Keifer's arms tightened around Jay.
"It's him," Serina whispered.
Jasfer stepped in front of her protectively. "Not alone, you're not."
The gates opened.
The car pulled in.
And Keizer stepped out.
He looked exactly as Jay remembered—tall, cold, impeccably dressed, with eyes that held no warmth.
Behind him, four men in suits. Armed. Silent.
Keizer smiled—a thin, cruel curve.
"Quite the welcoming party. I'm touched."
Keifer moved slightly, positioning himself between Keizer and Jay.
Keizer's eyes flicked to him. "Ah. My son. Still alive, I see. Disappointing."
Keifer's voice was ice. "What do you want?"
"Straight to business. Good." Keizer's smile didn't reach his eyes. "I want what's mine. Watson Enterprises."
The room went still.
Serina's voice was sharp. "Excuse me?"
Keizer's gaze found her. "You heard me, wife. The company you built with Jasfer—it should have been mine. You used my capital, my connections, my NAME to build it, and then you hid it from me."
Jasfer stepped forward. "We built it with NOTHING from you. Every penny, every partnership, every deal—that was US. You don't get credit for something you tried to destroy."
Keizer ignored him, eyes locked on Serina. "I want Watson Enterprises. All of it. Transfer ownership to me, and I'll consider letting you live."
Serina's voice didn't waver. "No."
Keizer's eyes narrowed. "No?"
"No. You don't get to waltz in here and demand what you never earned. Watson Enterprises is mine. Jay's. Jasfer's. Everyone who actually WORKED for it. You get nothing."
Keizer laughed—cold, cruel. "You think you have a choice?"
Then—
Jay stepped forward.
Not behind Keifer. Not protected.
Forward.
Right in front of everyone.
The room held its breath.
Jay faced Keizer directly, spine straight, eyes blazing.
"You want to talk about choices? Let's talk."
Keifer moved to stand beside her—not in front, not behind. Beside. Equal.
Keizer raised an eyebrow. "The girlfriend speaks."
"The CEO speaks," Jay corrected. "The co-founder of J&S Enterprises. The woman who's been running circles around your operations for two years without you even knowing."
Keizer's expression flickered.
Jay continued, voice steady and sharp as a blade.
"You want Watson Enterprises? You want what Serina built? What WE built? Then you need to go through me. Through Keifer. Through every single person in this room. And let me tell you something—"
She stepped closer.
"We're not afraid of you."
Keizer's jaw tightened.
Jay's voice dropped—lower, harder.
"You think you have power because you have money and men with guns. But you don't have what we have." She gestured around the room. "Loyalty. Family. Love. Things you destroyed in yourself a long time ago."
Keizer's eyes flashed.
"You're just a bully who never learned that real power isn't about taking—it's about protecting."
Silence.
Absolute, dead silence.
Everyone in the room stared at Jay like she'd descended from Mount Olympus.
Ci-n whispered: "Sister Jay is a GODDESS."
Rakki: "Shut UP, she's in the zone."
Mica: "I'm crying. She's so BEAUTIFUL."
Calix: "I'm literally terrified and aroused at the same time."
Mica: "SAME."
Percy: "Someone write this down. THIS IS HISTORY."
Even Angelo looked impressed.
But it was Keifer's reaction that mattered most.
He looked at Jay like she'd hung every star in the sky.
Like she was the most incredible thing he'd ever seen.
Like he'd fight a thousand Keizers just to stand beside her.
And then—
He spoke.
"You heard her."
Keizer's gaze snapped to his son.
Keifer stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of Jay—not to hide her, but to stand with her.
"My father. The man who tried to kill my mother. Who threatened my brothers. Who's spent years chasing power he doesn't deserve." Keifer's voice was calm—deadly calm. "You want Watson Enterprises? You want to take something else from this family?"
He shook his head slowly.
"Not anymore."
Keizer's eyes narrowed. "You think you can stop me?"
"I know I can." Keifer's voice hardened. "Because I'm not alone. I have her—" he glanced at Jay, "—I have them—" he gestured at the room, "—and I have something you lost a long time ago."
He stepped closer to his father.
"A conscience."
Keizer's face twisted.
For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—anger, yes, but something else. Something almost like… hurt.
Then it was gone.
"Enough of this." Keizer straightened. "You have no idea what I'm capable of. I built empires while you were playing house with your little girlfriend. I—"
Rory's voice cut through: "His accounts are frozen. Just did it."
Edrix: "His offshore holdings too. And I sent his location data to every news outlet in the city."
Keizer's face changed. "What?"
Rory shrugged. "You threatened our family. We don't like that."
Edrix: "Also, your security system is embarrassingly easy to hack. You should fire your IT guy."
Keizer's men shifted, uncertain.
Jay smiled—cold, satisfied. "You came here thinking you had power. But you're in MY house. Surrounded by MY family. And you have nothing."
Keizer stared at her.
For the first time—
He looked unsure.
Then—
A tiny voice cut through the tension.
"Tita Jay?"
Everyone turned.
Grazel Jay had slipped from Grace's arms and was walking toward Jay, tiny feet padding across the floor, bunny clutched in one hand.
Grace moved to grab her—but Jay held up a hand.
"It's okay."
Jay knelt down, meeting Grazel Jay at eye level.
"What is it, baby?"
Grazel Jay looked at Keizer—really looked at him—then back at Jay.
"Is that the bad man?"
Jay's heart clenched. "Yes, baby. But don't worry. Tita Jay's got this."
Grazel Jay nodded solemnly. Then she turned to Keizer.
"You leave my Tita Jay alone."
The room gasped.
Keizer stared at the tiny child glaring up at him.
Grazel Jay continued, tiny fists on her tiny hips. "She's BRAVE. And STRONG. And she has LOTS of friends. So you GO AWAY."
Silence.
Then—
Ci-n: "THAT'S MY NIECE NOW. I CLAIM HER."
Rakki: "Ci-n, NO."
Ci-n: "Ci-n YES."
Mica: "She's literally PERFECT."
Percy: "I'm adopting her emotionally."
Even Keizer looked momentarily thrown.
Jay scooped Grazel Jay up, holding her close. "Thank you, baby. You're my hero."
Grazel Jay beamed. "I know."
Jay's grandma cackled. "THAT'S MY GREAT-GRANDCHILD. PROUDEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE."
Tita Gema: "Ma, she's not technically—"
"I DON'T CARE. SHE'S MINE NOW."
Keizer's jaw tightened.
He looked at Serina—long, searching.
She met his gaze without flinching.
"You lost me a long time ago," she said quietly. "You just never accepted it. And you'll never touch Watson Enterprises. Not while any of us are breathing."
The sirens grew louder.
Keizer's men shifted nervously.
Finally, Keizer laughed—low, bitter.
"Fine. You win this round." He looked at Keifer. "But this isn't over. You're still my son. Those boys are still mine. And I don't lose."
He turned, walked to his car.
At the door, he paused.
"Enjoy your little family while it lasts."
The car drove away.
The gates closed.
And the house erupted.
Ci-n: "WE DID IT! WE DID IT! SISTER JAY IS A GODDESS! BABY GRAZEL IS A LEGEND!"
Rakki: "He's GONE!"
Mica: "Jay, that was INCREDIBLE. You faced him DOWN like a QUEEN."
Calix: "I've never been more attracted to anyone in my life, and I'm literally standing next to my girlfriend."
Mica: "Same honestly. Jay, marry me."
Keifer: "She's already marrying me."
Mica: "I'll be your second wife."
Keifer: "No."
Mica: "I'll be your emotional support wife."
Keifer: "Still no."
Percy: "RORY AND EDRIX, YOU LEGENDS."
Rory: "It was nothing."
Edrix: "It was actually pretty easy."
Freya (who'd arrived late): "Did I miss everything?"
Edrix: "You missed Keizer getting absolutely destroyed by Jay and a two-year-old."
Freya: "NOOOO. A TWO-YEAR-OLD?"
Edrix: "Grazel Jay told him to leave. It was iconic."
Freya: "I LOVE HER ALREADY."
But in the center of it all—
Jay turned to Keifer, Grazel Jay still in her arms.
He was looking at her like she'd hung the moon.
"What?" she asked.
He pulled her close—carefully, so Grazel Jay was nestled between them.
"You're incredible. You know that?"
She smiled—tired, relieved, happy. "I had help." She looked down at Grazel Jay. "Lots of help."
Grazel Jay nodded. "I HELPED."
Keifer laughed softly. "You really did, little one."
He kissed Jay—right there, in front of everyone.
Grazel Jay covered her eyes dramatically. "EWWWW."
The room erupted in laughter.
Percy: "DOCUMENTING."
Jasfer: "THAT'S MY DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW AND GRANDDAUGHTER-IN-LAW?"
Serina: "We're claiming her. She's ours now."
Grace: "Excuse me?"
Serina: "SHARED CUSTODY."
Grace laughed. "Fine. But weekends with us."
Denzel: "And holidays."
Jay's grandma: "AND EVERY DAY WITH ME."
Tita Gema: "EVERYONE EAT! I COOKED ENOUGH FOR AN ARMY AND APPARENTLY WE HAVE ONE!"
The house filled with noise again—laughter, relief, love.
Upstairs, Keigan and Keiren came running down.
"IS IT OVER? DID WE WIN?"
Keigan: "We saw everything on the monitor! Jay was AMAZING!"
Keiren: "AND THE BABY WAS SO COOL!"
Grazel Jay waved at them. "HI BOYS!"
Keigan: "Hi baby Grazel!"
Keiren: "You're our hero!"
Grazel Jay preened. "I know."
Jay laughed, holding her close.
Keifer's arm wrapped around them both.
For a moment, Jay let herself imagine—
This, but permanent. Their own child. Their own family.
Keifer caught her eye, and she knew—he was imagining it too.
"Later," he whispered. "We'll talk later."
She nodded.
For now—
They were alive. They were together. They had won.
And in the chaos of the Fernandez house, surrounded by the people they loved most—
That was everything.