Chapter 55 — The Last Paper
Jay's POV
The last paper.
Finally.
I stared at the question paper in front of me for a few seconds before letting out a small sigh.
One more exam.
One more paper.
And then—
Summer vacation.
I picked up my pen and started writing.
The classroom was unusually quiet. Everyone in Section E was focused on their papers, though some people looked like they had already mentally left the classroom.
CN was staring at his paper like it had personally betrayed him.
I almost laughed.
Almost.
After everything we'd been through, this felt strangely peaceful.
No emergencies.
No missions.
No chaos.
Just an ordinary exam.
When the teacher finally announced that time was up, everyone immediately started packing.
The moment we stepped outside the classroom, CN stretched his arms dramatically.
"WE SURVIVED!"
Felix looked at him.
"You survived an exam, not a war."
"Same thing."
David laughed.
"I can't believe we're finally done."
"Don't say that too loudly," Edrix said. "Someone might give us another exam."
Everyone groaned.
I laughed.
Even Keifer smiled.
He walked beside me and glanced at my face.
"Happy?"
"Very."
"No more studying?"
"No more studying."
"No more complaining about studying?"
I looked at him.
"I never complained."
He laughed.
"Jay, you complained every day."
"I was expressing my feelings."
"That's a fancy way of saying complaining."
I lightly hit his arm.
"Shut up."
He laughed.
"Okay, okay."
We were about to leave when someone suddenly called my name.
"Jay!"
I turned around.
Percy was walking toward us.
I blinked.
"Percy?"
He smiled.
"Hey."
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you guys."
CN immediately walked over.
"On the last paper day?"
Percy shrugged.
"Perfect timing, right?"
Felix laughed.
"You couldn't have come earlier?"
"I was busy."
David shook his head.
"Of course you were."
Percy looked around at everyone.
"So, what's the plan?"
CN immediately answered.
"Food."
Percy laughed.
"Obviously."
I smiled.
"Actually, we're going to Eman's restaurant."
Percy nodded.
"Then I'm coming."
CN pointed at him.
"Good. More people means more food."
---
Eman's Restaurant
Since it was our last paper, the entire Section E decided to celebrate together.
Everyone from Section E came.
And since Eman was part of Section E, his family's restaurant was the obvious choice.
His father was handling the restaurant now, so Eman could actually sit with us instead of constantly running around.
The restaurant quickly filled with the familiar voices of Section E.
Eman looked around and sighed.
"My dad is going to regret letting all of you come here."
CN immediately grinned.
"Don't worry. We'll behave."
Eman stared at him.
"That's exactly what I'm worried about."
Everyone laughed.
We found our tables and started settling down.
A little later, Aries, Ella, Freya, and Mica arrived too.
Freya walked in with her usual confident expression.
She looked around at everyone.
"So this is where all the noise is coming from."
CN looked at her.
"We're celebrating."
Freya raised an eyebrow.
"Try celebrating quietly."
Edrix laughed from beside her.
"She really never changes."
Freya looked at him.
"And you like me anyway."
Edrix smiled.
"Unfortunately."
Freya gave him a small smirk.
"Good answer."
I laughed.
Food was ordered almost immediately.
And naturally, CN ordered more than anyone needed.
"CN," Eman said, looking at the order.
"What?"
"Why did you order enough food for thirty people?"
CN looked around.
"There are a lot of people."
"Still."
"We're hungry."
Freya rolled her eyes.
"He's impossible."
Edrix smiled.
"You've known him long enough to know that."
Freya looked at him.
"And yet somehow I still get surprised."
I laughed.
Keifer was sitting beside me, watching the chaos with an amused expression.
"You enjoying this?"
He looked at me.
"Honestly?"
"Yes."
"Very."
I smiled.
"You're weird."
"You already knew that."
"Unfortunately."
He laughed.
---
The evening continued with jokes, food, and everyone talking over each other.
Aries and Ella were talking.
Mica was laughing with some of the others.
Freya was teasing Edrix, while Edrix was patiently taking it.
Yuri was enjoying the chaos.
And then I noticed Percy.
His phone kept buzzing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
He would look at the screen, type something, and then quickly put the phone away.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Percy."
He looked at me.
"Yeah?"
"Who are you texting?"
"No one."
I stared at him.
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"No, it's suspicious."
Keifer leaned closer.
"She's right."
Percy looked at him.
"Don't encourage her."
Keifer smiled.
"I'm just saying."
Another notification appeared on Percy's phone.
I pointed at it.
"See?"
Percy immediately turned the phone over.
CN leaned forward.
"Wait a minute..."
Felix grinned.
"Is Percy hiding a girlfriend?"
Percy sighed.
"No."
Freya raised an eyebrow.
"Then why are you nervous?"
"I'm not nervous."
"You're definitely nervous," Yuri said.
Percy looked around the table.
Everyone was staring at him.
He finally gave up.
"Fine."
Everyone became quiet.
Percy sighed.
"I'm dating Honey."
There was complete silence.
Then CN practically shouted.
"WHAT?!"
Everyone burst out laughing.
I stared at Percy.
"Honey Ryder?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"The Honey who works as Keifer's secretary?"
"Yes."
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
"Wait. My secretary?"
Percy nodded.
Keifer leaned back.
"Wow."
I looked at him.
"You didn't know?"
"No."
Percy groaned.
"Please don't make this a big deal."
CN immediately pointed at him.
"Too late."
Felix laughed.
"You were hiding this from all of us?"
Percy shook his head.
"I just didn't think it was everyone's business."
Freya smirked.
"Now it is."
Percy looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because you told us."
Edrix laughed.
"She's got you there."
Percy looked completely defeated.
Keifer laughed.
"Don't worry. I won't tell Honey you were this nervous."
Percy immediately looked at him.
"Keifer."
"What?"
"Please."
Keifer held up his hands.
"Fine. Your secret is safe."
I smiled.
"Until CN tells everyone."
CN gasped.
"I would never!"
Everyone looked at him.
He paused.
"...Okay, maybe."
The entire table burst into laughter again.
---
Eventually, the cake arrived.
Everyone started cheering.
Someone shouted, "To the last paper!"
Another voice yelled, "To summer vacation!"
CN stood up.
"To surviving Section E!"
"Sit down, CN," Freya said.
He slowly sat down.
Keifer looked at me and smiled.
"Ready for summer?"
I nodded.
"Definitely."
He smiled.
"Good. Because you deserve a break."
For some reason, his words stayed in my mind.
I smiled back.
"Maybe."
For tonight, I didn't want to think about anything else.
I just wanted to enjoy the moment.
And I did.
---
Fernandez Mansion
By the time I returned to the mansion, the happiness from the restaurant was still there.
I dropped onto the sofa.
"Finally..."
I looked around.
"No school."
"No exams."
"No studying."
I smiled.
"My soft life has officially started."
My phone suddenly buzzed.
I looked at the message.
Queen, we need you at the base.
My smile disappeared.
I stared at the screen.
Then sighed.
"Never mind."
I stood up.
"My soft life lasted five minutes."
I headed toward Yuri's room.
When I entered, Yuri and Aries were both sitting there, casually scrolling through their phones.
They looked at me.
Aries raised an eyebrow.
"What happened?"
"I have work."
Yuri looked up.
"Now?"
I nodded.
"We're going."
Aries immediately stood.
"We?"
I shook my head.
"No. You two stay here."
"Jay—"
"Aries."
He stopped.
I looked at both of them.
"I'll handle it."
Yuri nodded slowly.
"Be careful."
"I will."
I left the room.
---
Shadow League
The moment I entered the base, everything felt different.
The peaceful girl who had been laughing at the restaurant was gone.
Damien, Liam, Adrian, and the others were standing there.
Their expressions were serious.
I stopped in front of them.
"What happened?"
Damien stepped forward.
"We found two traitors."
My eyes narrowed.
"Traitors?"
"Yes, Queen."
"What did they do?"
"They helped Clyde escape."
The moment I heard his name, my expression hardened.
Clyde.
He had escaped.
And now I knew someone from inside my organization had helped him.
"Bring them to me."
The two men were brought forward.
They looked terrified.
I walked toward them.
"Where is Clyde?"
Neither answered.
I stared at them.
"I asked you a question."
One of them swallowed.
"We don't know, Queen."
My eyes narrowed.
"Don't lie to me."
"We're not lying."
The second man quickly spoke.
"We only helped him escape. We don't know where he went after that."
I looked at Damien.
"Is that true?"
Damien nodded.
"We checked everything. They were involved in the escape, but there's no evidence that they know Clyde's current location."
I looked back at the two men.
"So you helped him escape."
They lowered their heads.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Neither answered.
I took a breath.
The anger inside me was growing.
They had betrayed the organization.
They had helped my enemy.
And now Clyde was somewhere out there.
Free.
I reached for Adrian's gun.
He immediately handed it to me.
The room went silent.
One of the traitors looked terrified.
"Queen, please—"
I looked directly at him.
"Our organization has no place for traitors."
I raised the gun.
The room fell completely silent.
Then the sound of a gunshot echoed through the base.
I lowered the weapon.
The second traitor stood frozen.
I looked at him.
"You chose your side."
Another shot echoed.
Silence returned.
I handed the gunn back to Adrian.
"Clean this up."
Damien nodded.
"Yes, Queen."
I turned away.
My last exam was over.
My celebration was over.
My peaceful day was over.
And now, I had one more problem to deal with.
I walked out of the room.
The Mafia Queen had returned.
---
Author's Note 🖤
And that's a wrap on Chapter 55!
This chapter was meant to be the last peaceful chapter before everything changes. 😭
We got the last paper, the entire Section E celebration, Percy getting exposed for dating Honey, and one final normal evening together.
But now...
Clyde is still out there.
And Jay is back in her Mafia Queen world.
Enjoy this peaceful chapter while you can...
Because Chapter 56 is going to hurt. 🥲🖤
See you in the next chapter, my loves! ❤️