Clyden (POV)
I was leaning against the wall, half-smiling to myself, replaying the moment Jay snatched plates and disappeared like a criminal on a mission.
Honestly… chaotic.
But funny.
I took a slow sip of wine, letting the noise of the party blur into the background.
Then I felt it.
A shift in the air.
Not loud. Not obvious.
Just… annoying.
My second cousin stepped into view.
"Clyden," he said.
I barely glanced at him.
I already knew this conversation was going to ruin my mood.
I tried to move past him immediately.
"Don't ignore me," he said sharply.
That made me stop.
Slowly, I turned back.
"What are you doing here?" I asked flatly.
A small smile curled on his face like he had been waiting for that question.
"Of course I'm here," he said. "I'm a Watson too."
I sighed internally.
Here we go.
He stepped closer.
"Just because I wasn't part of the direct line doesn't mean I don't belong," he continued, voice sharpening. "I wasn't even considered for the CEO position. But look at you."
His smirk widened slightly.
I didn't react immediately.
Just looked at him.
Quietly.
Letting him keep talking.
Letting him dig.
Because people like him always expose themselves eventually.
"You built this empire and worked so hard for it," he said, voice sharpening, "and now your cousin is sitting at the top while you're… just working under him."
I exhaled slowly.
Still calm.
Still watching.
Then I set my glass down carefully.
"Are you done?" I asked again.
His smirk twitched—just slightly.
Not enough for him to notice.
Enough for me.
"You're avoiding the question," he added. "How does it feel?"
I didn't answer.
I started to walk away.
That should've ended it.
It never does.
"Running from me?" he called after me. Then, casually—like he was flipping through gossip—he added, "What was her name again… Jay-Jay? Isn't she the reason you left your seat?"
My steps slowed.
Not stopped.
Just… slowed.
I haven't turned yet.
He kept going.
"I saw her earlier," he said lightly. "Pretty girl. Soft face. The kind people mistake for innocent."
Now I turned.
Slowly.
My expression had already changed before I even faced him.
Cold.
Flat.
"Don't touch her," I said.
My voice wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
A beat.
"You'll regret it."
He chuckled.
It felt as if I had just confirmed something entertaining.
"Clyden," he said, stepping closer, lowering his voice. "Be honest."
I didn't move.
"Is it really about protection…" he continued, "or are you just scared she's using you?"
Silence.
The air shifted.
Even the people nearby felt it and subtly moved away.
He tilted his head slightly, watching me now.
"You know how Watson relationships work," he added. "No attachments. No weaknesses. That's how the family survives."
Then, softer—
"Or are you really going to ruin yourself over her?"
That line landed differently.
Not because it was clever.
Because it was aimed at.
Personal.
Carefully chosen.
He wasn't guessing anymore.
He was testing where it hurt.
I let the silence stretch.
Long enough for him to feel comfortable.
Long enough for him to think he had won something.
Then I stepped closer.
Just one step.
He didn't step back.
That was his second mistake.
"You talk a lot," I said quietly.
He smirked. "And you avoid answering."
I nodded slightly.
Almost like I agreed.
Then my voice dropped.
"You think I left my seat because of her?"
A pause.
My eyes stayed locked on his.
"No," I said calmly. "I left it because I didn't want it."
That wiped the smirk off his face for half a second.
Just half.
But I saw it.
I leaned in slightly, my voice even quieter now.
"And you made one more mistake."
His jaw tightened.
I continued.
"You assumed she's the reason I care about anything."
A beat.
My gaze sharpened.
"She isn't the reason I walked away from power."
Another pause.
"She's the reason I don't regret it."
Silence.
This time, it held.
He didn't speak.
Not immediately.
Because now the conversation wasn't fun anymore.
Now it had weight.
I straightened up again, adjusting my sleeves calmly as if nothing had happened.
Then I looked at him one last time.
"If you ever want to insult me again," I said flatly, "pick something that isn't imaginary."
I turned away.
Started walking.
Then stopped just once—not looking back.
"Oh," I added casually.
"Next time you mention her name… make sure I'm not in hearing distance ."
And this time—
I didn't wait for a reply.
"I feel pity seeing you, Clyden," he said before I could respond.
My expression didn't change, but something in my jaw tightened.
Not because of him.
Because of how confidently he said it.
Like he was above everything here.
Like I was something to look down on.
Before I could answer, footsteps cut in sharply behind me.
Kiefer.
He appeared beside me instantly, one hand landing on my shoulder—steady, grounding.
"What's going on?" he asked lowly.
"Nothing," I said.
He nodded once.
But his eyes didn't leave the man.
Neither did mine.
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
Even the background noise felt distant now.
Then the man smiled again, like he enjoyed pressure more than peace.
"Ah," he said. "The main character finally arrived."
Kiefer's gaze sharpened.
The man tilted his head slightly.
"I heard something interesting," he added casually. "That your mother… isn't your real mother."
Silence snapped.
Instantly.
Kiefer's hand moved—
fast.
He grabbed the man by the collar and pulled him forward so violently that the words cut off into a choke.
"What did you just say?" Kiefer's voice dropped dangerously low.
Not loud.
Controlled.
Worse.
I immediately stepped in, gripping Kiefer's wrist.
"Kiefer—stop."
But his grip didn't loosen.
The man coughed hard, struggling against the hold, still smiling faintly like he wanted to push further to see what would break.
"That's what I heard," he managed. "They said… you're not even Watson blood."
That did it.
The air changed completely.
Rumors.
Not new.
But weaponized.
Always weaponized.
I tightened my hold on Kiefer's wrist.
"Kiefer," I said firmly.
His breathing was controlled—but uneven now.
That was the dangerous part.
Not anger.
Kiefer stood there for a moment, control still visibly strained at the edges.
"He's trying to provoke you," I said quietly.
He didn't look at me.
That was the problem.
His focus was locked on the man like the entire world had narrowed down to one point.
Then—
"WHAT the—"
A heel flew through the air.
Straight at him.
It hit hard enough to snap his head slightly to the side.
Everyone froze.
Kiefer turned sharply.
"What the fuck!" he barked.
And there she was.
"Jay."
The moment the name left my mouth, her eyes widened slightly in realization.
Then—
"Fuck you, asshole!" she shouted without hesitation.
Walking in like a storm, she had learned how to wear heels.
Angry.
Furious.
Already removing her other heel like she was deciding whether or not the universe deserved mercy.
Jare and Percy were right behind her, both looking like they had already accepted chaos as a lifestyle.
She didn't even hesitate.
She threw the second heel.
The man ducked just barely.
It clattered behind him.
"Now what?" Jay snapped, stepping forward. "Who is this asshole?"
Her eyes shifted to Kiefer and me for half a second—like she was confirming we were still intact.
Then back to him.
The man straightened slowly, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve again.
His expression changed.
Not fear.
Not concerned.
Just irritation at the interruption.
"So this is her," he said.
Jay tilted her head slightly.
"Oh? You can talk about me directly now?"
A faint smirk returned to his face.
"She doesn't even have manners," he said, glancing at me. "Clyden, be careful. If you trust her too much, she'll abandon you eventually."
That was it.
The air changed again.
But this time—
It wasn't Kiefer who moved first.
It was Jay.
She stepped forward.
Fast.
Clean.
And punched him straight in the face.
The impact snapped his head back hard enough that even the noise around us seemed to stop for a second.
He staggered.
Not fully down this time—but clearly caught off guard.
Jay shook her hand immediately, wincing slightly.
"You asshole," she muttered angrily, breathing hard from struggling against me.
Then she pointed at the bleeding man across the room.
"Who's going to abandon him?" she snapped. "Huh?"
A beat of silence followed.
The man slowly lifted his head.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Jay snapped, stepping forward. "My kuya? Pitiful? Did you lose your eyesight or your brain?"
Her voice was sharp enough to cut through the noise around them.
"I've been trying to control myself," she muttered, flexing her hand like she still wanted to hit something. "But you're seriously pushing it."
Her patience snapped completely.
In one sudden movement, she kicked his knees, forcing him down.
He hit the ground hard.
She grabbed his collar and yanked him closer.
"Listen carefully," she said, eyes cold now. "You don't get to talk about my family like that."
Her grip tightened slightly as she held him in place.
"The next time you open your mouth about them," she continued, voice steady and low, "make sure you're prepared for the consequences."
She grabbed his collar and yanked him up toward her face, eyes burning.
"And don't forget," she added, pointing at him, "he's not alone. Remember, he has a sister called Jay-Jay."
Her eyes sharpened.
"And if you ever touch my family or speak about them again in front of me," she said slowly, "I will make sure you regret it."
A beat of silence.
Her breathing was controlled—but her anger wasn't gone.
"You think you can scare me?"
He said it while brushing his clothes with one hand, as none of this mattered to him.
That was it.
Jay moved instantly.
"Say that again," she said.
The way she walked toward him made the entire room tense instantly.
Not angry.
Not emotional.
Dangerous.
Like she had already decided how this would end.
"You really have a death wish…" Jay said quietly.
A slow smile touched her lips, but there was nothing warm in it.
"Let me do it."
Then she swung at him.
The man barely had time to react before her fist collided with his jaw hard enough to send him stumbling backward into the floor.
"Jay—" I tried to stop her.
Too late.
She grabbed him by the front of his shirt again before he could regain balance and punched him a second time.
Blood splattered from his lip again.
"You think I'm scared of you?" she hissed.
Then she moved again—
Fast enough that I immediately caught her from behind, wrapping an arm around her waist before she could launch herself at him.
"Kuya, let me go!" she snapped, struggling hard against my grip. "I need to teach him a lesson!"
"Jay, stop."
"No!" she shouted, still trying to get free. "He talked shit like nobody would touch him!"
The guy wiped blood from his mouth and laughed bitterly. "Crazy bitch—"
"YOU SEE?!" Jay yelled, almost breaking out of my hold again. "Hitting him clearly wasn't enough!"
Her feet kicked slightly off the ground as she tried to break free.
"Kiefer, stop her," I said sharply.
Instead, he just smiled.
Not concerned.
Not panicked.
Amused.
"Why would I??" Kiefer said calmly. "It's been a long time since I've seen my queen this furious."
That did not help.
"Kuya!" Jay twisted in my hold. "Let me go. I'm going to knock sense into him!"
"Kick him, Jay," Percy called casually from the side.
"I also want to hit him," Jare added.
"STOP—none of you are helping!" I snapped.
The man slowly straightened, clearly realizing the situation was no longer in his control.
Jay kept glaring at him over my arm, still trying to get free.
"Jay, calm down," I said firmly.
"How dare he talk like that?" she snapped back.
I sighed.
She wasn't calming down anytime soon.
So I finally gave up, lifted her onto my shoulder, and turned away.
"Kuya! Put me down!" she shouted, struggling. "I need to deal with that asshole!"
Despite everything, I was smiling.
Because she always looked the most dangerous when she cared this much.
"Next time," Jare said coldly from behind, "don't talk about our family like that."
"Clyden isn't alone," Percy added, arms crossed. "He has people who will stand with him."
Kiefer stepped forward last.
His expression was calm—but his eyes weren't.
"The girl you just saw," he said evenly, "is not someone you should underestimate."
A pause.
He glanced briefly toward Jay, still on my shoulder.
"You're lucky he took her," he continued. "And if you speak about us in front of her again, you'll regret it."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
And I just stood there for a moment longer, adjusting Jay on my shoulder as she kept complaining and struggling.
But I was smiling.
Because they weren't just people around me anymore.
They were mine.
my family.
I had earned over four years.
People who stood here now—not because they were asked—
But because they chose to stay.
Jay kept letting out frustrated grunts, still trying to hold back her anger, her fists curling and uncurling like she didn't know what to do with all that rage.
I led her to a quieter corner until the noise of the party faded into something distant.
Finally, I stopped.
"Why did you bring me here?" she asked immediately.
Her voice was still sharp. Still burning.
"Jay, you can't handle him like that," I said calmly.
"That asshole was talking like you're nothing," she snapped, throwing an angry punch into the air. "How am I supposed to just stand there and listen?"
She huffed again, pacing slightly, still visibly shaking with frustration.
Before she could spiral further—
Kiefer appeared from behind.
Completely calm.
Like none of the chaos mattered anymore.
He held out ice cream.
"Calm down, Jay," he said simply.
She paused.
Looked at him.
Still irritated.
Still breathing hard.
And then—
H gently pressed the ice cream to her lips.
"Eat," he added.
She froze for a second… then took a bite.
Still glaring.
Still annoyed.
But eating anyway.
Kiefer stayed beside her, watching her quietly, like this was the only thing that mattered now.
And slowly—
"Kuya, next time, never let someone walk over you… I don't like it when someone looks down on you," she said quietly.
I hummed softly in response.
"Hm."
Before anything else could settle—
Angelo, Cole, Aries, Jare, and Percy walked over together.
Still laughing from earlier chaos.
And of course—
They immediately saw her.
"Jay," Angelo said, glancing at her ice cream. "You really don't stop eating, do you?"
That was enough.
Jay stopped mid-bite.
Slowly turned her head.
Stared at him.
The air shifted instantly.
A second of silence—
Then everyone around them broke.
Jare and Percy lost it first, laughing openly.
Cole turned away, trying not to laugh but failing.
Aries just shook his head like this was completely normal behavior at this point.
Even I couldn't help it.
A small smile slipped out.
Jay narrowed her eyes at all of them.
"...What? Why are you smiling?" she muttered, still holding her ice cream like she was debating whether to keep eating or go punch someone again.
"It's not me who brought it. It's Kiefer trying to cool me down," she complained before taking another bite. "And some asshole really pissed me off."
"Jay, behave. At least act like a girl," Aries said with a sigh.
"What?" Jay stared at him in disbelief. "What's wrong with me?"
"I heard everything," Angelo said, still glaring at her from across the room. "Did you really beat someone up?"
Jay looked offended by the question.
"Then didn't you hear the reason?" she shot back immediately. "I should've killed him if Clyden kuya didn't stop me."
And somehow—
She said it while calmly eating ice cream.
"But you can't just beat people like that anymore," Cole added. "You're not in high school."
Jay slowly looked at him.
Then at her ice cream.
Then back at him.
"So the problem is my age?" she asked seriously. "Not the disrespect?"
Cole opened his mouth—
"No, because let's discuss this properly," she continued, pointing her spoon at him. "If someone insults our family, I'm supposed to what? Sit quietly and crochet?"
Aries groaned loudly.
"Why are you like this?"
"Because violence is faster," Jay answered without hesitation.
Angelo nearly choked trying not to laugh.
"See?" Aries pointed at her dramatically. "This is exactly the problem!"
Jay narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You people are acting as if I stabbed him."
A pause.
"…You didn't stab him, right?" Cole asked carefully.
Jay took another bite of ice cream.
"No."
Everyone relaxed slightly.
Then she added casually—
"I considered it, though."
"She must've stopped because she didn't want to go to jail," Percy said confidently.
She nodded immediately.
That made everyone laugh even harder.
Jay glared at all of us in betrayal. "Wow. Nobody here supports me."
Jay and Percy immediately started teasing her again, and in a second she was off—half angry, half playful—running after them while they dodged her like it was some kind of sport.
Cole, Aries, and Kiefer stood beside me, all of them smiling without even realizing it.
I looked around for a moment.
The noise. The laughter. The chaos that somehow felt like home.
I never used to find myself when I walked away from everything I had.
When I asked myself back then, " Is it worth it?
I think I already know the answer now.
Yes.
Even if I have money. Even if I have a CEO position. Even if I have everything people assume makes life complete…
I wouldn't trade this.
Not this moment.
Not this noise.
Not this feeling of belonging I never thought I'd get.
I would never have known what it feels like to have a family like this until the day I die.
And somehow…
It all started with her.
Jay.
A chaos I didn't expect.
A warmth I didn't know I needed.
A reason I stopped feeling empty.
"Clyden Kuya!" Jay's voice snapped me back.
She ran toward me now, slightly out of breath, pointing angrily behind her.
"Beat them! I can't get my hands on them!" she complained, shaking her fingers dramatically while pointing at Jare and Percy.
I looked at her for a second.
Then, the idiots laughed in the distance.
And I just sighed.
Lightly tapped her head.
"Go on," I said.
Before she could react, I stepped forward and joined the chase myself.
And just like that—
It wasn't an empire.
It wasn't my responsibility.
It wasn't power.
It was just us.
Running. Laughing. Living.