Kiefer (POV)
Kiefer's dream.
Blood everywhere.Jay—my Jay—lying in the middle of it.Not moving.Calling my name like she could pull me back just by saying it.
"Kiefer…"
Her voice was shaking.
"Kiefer… I'm scared…"
And I wasn't there.No matter how much I ran in that dream, I couldn't reach her.The sound of gunfire swallowed everything.Her face blurred through the red on the ground.
"Kiefer… where are you…?"And then— silence.
I woke up suddenly.
Air stuck in my throat.
The hospital room was too bright, too clean… too real.
But the fear didn't leave.
It stayed inside my chest like something alive.
I tried to move.
Pain shot through my side instantly.
My wound—
still open.
Warmth spreading under the bandages.
Blood.
But I didn't care.
Not even a little.
Because my heart was still trapped in that dream.
Jay was still there in my head.
Lying on the ground.
Calling me.
I forced myself upright despite the pain ripping through my body.
"Jay…"
My voice came out rough.
No answer.
My breathing got heavier.
I pulled the IV line off my hand roughly, ignoring the sting.
I had to see her.
I had to.
If I didn't see her face right now—
I couldn't breathe properly.
I stood up from the bed, unsteady for a second.
The room tilted.
But I kept moving.
Step by step.
Out of the room.
Down the hallway.
Straight toward the ICU.
Blood was still seeping slightly through my bandage, but I didn't stop.
Didn't slow down.
Didn't think.
Because all I could hear—
was her voice from the dream.
"Kiefer…"
"I'm scared…"
And I needed to see her.
To know she was real.
To know I didn't lose her while I was sleeping.
The ICU doors were right ahead now.
And my chest—
felt like it was about to break open.
When I reached the ICU hallway, I saw Demon(Angelo).
Angelo was leaning against the wall near the ICU doors, arms crossed, exhaustion written all over his face.
The second he noticed me—
his eyes immediately dropped to the blood slowly dripping down my side from the reopened wound.
His expression darkened instantly.
But honestly?
I didn't care about myself right now.
"Is Jay okay?" I asked immediately.
My voice came out rougher than expected.
Angelo straightened from the wall slowly.
"The doctors are still inside," he said quietly.
That answer alone made my chest tighten painfully.
Still inside.
Why were they still inside?
Before I could ask another question—
the ICU doors suddenly opened.
Both of us looked up instantly.
A doctor stepped outside while removing her gloves tiredly.
"Who's her guardian?" she asked quickly.
I walked toward her immediately without hesitation.
"Me,I'm her husband."
The doctor looked at me from head to toe—
the blood on my clothes,
the pale look on my face,
the wound reopening through my bandages.
Her expression changed instantly.
"You're injured," she said sharply.
"I'm fine."
"You're bleeding again."
"I said I'm fine."
My voice came out harsher this time.
I stepped closer instead.
"Is my wife okay?" I asked quickly, barely breathing properly anymore. "Is she hurt badly?"
For one terrifying second—
the doctor didn't answer immediately.
And I swear my heart stopped.
Then finally—
"She's stable."
The words hit me so hard my knees almost gave out from relief alone.
But the doctor's expression still looked serious.
"She collapsed from extreme stress and blood loss," she continued carefully. "And because of the condition she's in right now…"
Her eyes lowered briefly.
"…the pregnancy became unstable for a while."
Everything inside me went cold instantly.
"She was bleeding," the doctor explained softly. "We managed to stop it in time, and right now the fetus is safe."
I closed my eyes immediately.
Thank God.
Thank fucking God.
But before relief could settle completely—
the doctor spoke again.
"You need to be more careful with her from now on."
I looked up instantly.
"She's under too much emotional and physical stress," the doctor said firmly. "If something like tonight happens again…"
She hesitated briefly.
"…she could miscarry."
My chest tightened instantly.
The doctor lowered her voice slightly before continuing.
"Her body is extremely weak right now because of the blood loss, stress, and exhaustion," she explained carefully. "If she keeps pushing herself like this…"
Her eyes met mine directly.
"…she may not be able to protect the pregnancy next time."
The hallway went completely silent around me.
For a second—
I couldn't hear anything except my own heartbeat.
Miscarry.
That word alone felt like someone shoved a knife straight through my chest.
Because tonight—
she almost lost both her brother and our child at the same time.
And I wasn't there to protect her from either.
"She needs complete bed rest," the doctor said firmly. "No stress. No emotional shock. No exhaustion."
Then her eyes met mine directly.
"And most importantly…"
Her expression sharpened slightly.
"Don't let her carry everything alone anymore."
That line hit harder than anything else tonight.
Because she already had.
For too long.
I lowered my head slightly and rubbed my face with one hand.
Blood was still drying against my fingers.
And suddenly—
I couldn't breathe properly anymore.
"…I understand," I whispered quietly.
The doctor nodded once.
"She's sleeping right now. Let her rest."
Then she finally walked away.
I stood there silently for a few seconds after that.
Unable to move.
Unable to think.
Until finally—
I covered my face with one trembling hand and lowered my head completely.
"…Thank God," I whispered shakily. "Thank God nothing happened to her…"
The moment the words left my mouth, my knees suddenly gave out beneath me.
Relief hit me so hard it almost felt painful.
I collapsed onto the floor, breathing unevenly while my hands shook violently against my face.
She was safe.
The baby was safe.
That was all that mattered.
For the first time since those ICU doors closed, I finally felt like I could breathe again.
I pressed both hands against my forehead, eyes burning badly.
But almost losing Jay?
That thought always destroyed me completely.
I looked up at the doctor immediately the second I managed to stand again.
"Can I see her now?" I asked quickly, my voice still unsteady from panic.
The doctor gave me a calmer look this time.
"She's stable for now," he said carefully. "But we're moving her to a VIP recovery room first. Until then, just wait."
I nodded immediately.
"Okay… okay…"
The doctor gave one last small nod before walking away down the hallway.
And suddenly the silence around me felt unbearable again.
But this time—
it wasn't fear anymore.
It was the overwhelming relief of knowing she was safe.
I wiped my face roughly before exhaling slowly—
then my eyes suddenly caught someone standing near the glass doors.
Cassian.
He was staring inside the room silently.
Staring at Jay.
My entire expression hardened instantly.
I walked toward him slowly, every step colder than the last.
"Why are you still here?" I asked flatly.
Cassian didn't even look away from the glass immediately.
"Because the person I want is still inside," he answered calmly.
Something inside me snapped at those words.
My jaw tightened dangerously.
"What?" I asked coldly. "Who exactly are you referring to?"
This time he looked directly at me.
"Jay."
The way he said her name made anger crawl violently through my chest.
I stepped closer immediately.
"Why are you calling my wife 'Jay'?" I said sharply. "I think I made myself very clear earlier."
His expression didn't change.
I moved even closer until we were nearly face to face.
"You will refer to her as Mrs. Watson," I continued coldly. "She is my wife."
The hallway suddenly felt suffocatingly tense.
"And now leave," I finished. "I don't want you anywhere near her."
Cassian finally smirked slightly.
"Who are you to decide that?"
The audacity in his voice made my fists clench instantly.
I took one slow step toward him now.
The air between us turned dangerous immediately.
"Me?" I answered darkly. "Her husband."
I took another step closer toward him.
"Kiefer Watson."
The moment my name left my mouth, the silence between us became heavy.
Deadly.
My eyes locked onto his coldly.
"The man she loves."
Because both of us understood now—
this was no longer simple interest.
This was becoming a war over her.
Cassian looked completely unfazed despite the tension in the hallway.
Then he smirked slightly.
"I'm also a Watson," he said calmly. "So it's not wrong to call her Mrs. Watson."
His eyes locked onto mine.
"After all… one day she'll become mine."
For one second—
everything inside me went black.
"What the fuck did you just say?" I snarled.
And before anyone could stop me—
I punched him.
Hard.
Cassian staggered slightly from the hit before slowly rubbing the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb.
Then he laughed quietly.
That laugh alone made me want to break his jaw again.
Instead of backing away—
he walked closer toward me.
"Kiefer," he said calmly, like we weren't seconds away from killing each other. "Don't you want Watson?"
My grip tightened instantly.
Cassian tilted his head slightly.
"I'll help you claim everything," he continued smoothly. "Power. Influence. Control. I'll clear every obstacle in your way."
Then his eyes darkened slightly.
"Give Jay to me."
Something violent snapped inside me.
I grabbed his collar immediately and slammed him hard against the wall.
"You fucking bastard," I growled.
The sound echoed through the hallway.
"She is my wife."
Cassian didn't even flinch.
If anything—
his expression became more interested.
"And why the fuck would I need your help?" I continued coldly. "Watson Group is already mine."
His eyes narrowed slightly for the first time.
"I already inherited everything," I said dangerously. "You're forgetting who you're messing with."
I leaned closer until we were almost face to face.
"I always get what I want."
The hallway became deathly silent after that.
And the worst part?
Cassian smiled.
Like my threat only made him more interested.
"We really do think alike," he said calmly. "Because I get everything I want too."
Something inside me snapped again.
I shoved him harder against the wall.
"Cassian," I said coldly, "do you really think Watson Group is more important than her?"
His eyes stayed locked on mine silently.
"You're wrong."
The tension in the hallway became suffocating.
"I Don't need the fucking Watson power to protect my wife," I continued dangerously. "As long as I'm breathing… as long as she keeps choosing me…"
My grip tightened harder around his collar.
"…I won't give a fuck about anything else."
My jaw clenched hard enough to hurt.
"So listen to me carefully."
I moved even closer.
"Never touch my wife."
My voice dropped lower.
"Never come near her again…"
I gripped his collar tighter.
"…or I'll bury you in the fucking ground myself."
For the first time—
the air between us genuinely felt deadly.
But Cassian still didn't back down.
Instead—
he spoke calmly again.
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
His eyes never left mine.
"Because I want her too and I get her."
Then his expression darkened slightly.
"Kiefer… do you even know why she's inside that ICU right now?"
My grip tightened instantly.
"Because you couldn't protect her."
The words hit like a bullet straight to the chest.
Cassian didn't stop.
"Let me do it instead," he continued calmly. "I have power. Watson can't touch me."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Unlike you… I don't belong to Watson."
That was it.
I punched him again.
Hard enough to split his lip completely this time.
"Don't fucking talk about my wife like she's some object you can take," I snarled.
Cassian staggered back a step—
then immediately punched me back.
Pain exploded across my jaw.
And within seconds—
both of us grabbed each other by the collars violently.
The hallway erupted into chaos again.
"Kiefer!" Cole shouted sharply.
But neither of us let go.
Cassian wiped the blood from his mouth again while glaring straight into my eyes.
"You're angry because you know I'm right," he said coldly.
I slammed him harder against the wall.
"And you're insane if you think my Jay-Jay would ever choose you," I shot back dangerously.
For one second—
it genuinely looked like we were about to kill each other right there in front of the ICU.
Before either of us could swing again—
Cole and Angelo rushed between us immediately and forcefully pulled us apart.
"Kiefer!" Cole snapped sharply. "Calm down!"
I struggled against Angelo's grip instantly, my eyes still locked on Cassian.
"How the fuck am I supposed to calm down?!" I shouted furiously. "He's standing here asking me to hand over my wife!"
My chest heaved violently with anger.
"Let me kill him, this asshole."
Angelo tightened his hold around my arm immediately before I could lunge forward again.
"Enough," he warned coldly.
But I couldn't stop.
Not when Cassian was still standing there looking completely calm after saying all that shit.
"You think this is funny?" I snarled at him. "You think you can just walk in and decide you want her?"
Cassian slowly adjusted his collar without taking his eyes off me.
"I'm not joking..I really liked her."
That answer alone nearly made me break free from Angelo again.
"Kiefer," Cole said sharply while stepping in front of me this time. "This is a hospital."
"I don't give a fuck where we are right now," I snapped instantly.
And honestly—
I meant it.
"If this was about anyone else, maybe I'd think twice," I said darkly while glaring at Cassian. "But when it comes to Jay…"
My jaw tightened violently.
"…I'll kill him without hesitation."
"Kiefer," Cole warned again.
"Let me go, Cole."
Angelo suddenly spoke from beside me.
"She doesn't belong to anyone."
"No," I shot back instantly. "She's mine."
My eyes never left Cassian.
"And I'm hers."
For the first time—
Cassian's expression darkened slightly.
"Kiefer," Angelo said flatly, "you seriously think starting a fight inside a hospital over jealousy is normal?"
"Who the fuck said I'm jealous?" I snapped immediately.
I laughed once—
cold and dangerous.
"I'm murderous."
The hallway went silent after that.
"I think I just got front-row seats to a free boxing match."
All of us turned instantly.
"...What?" I snapped.
Percy was slowly rolling toward us in a wheelchair with a completely unimpressed expression on his face.
Still bruised.
Still pale.
Still wearing a hospital gown.
And somehow—
still annoying.
He looked between me and Cassian casually.
"Can someone get me popcorn first?" he asked tiredly. "Watching rich psychopaths fight without snacks feels disrespectful."
For one second—
nobody spoke.
Then Cole blinked in disbelief.
"Percy…" he said slowly. "Why the hell are you here?"
Percy shrugged weakly while rolling closer.
"I kept hearing yelling," he muttered. "You idiots were fighting like wild animals, so I came to watch the show."
Then he looked around dramatically.
"But apparently the popcorn service here not avalible"
Despite everything—
Angelo snorted.
"You okay?" he asked finally, stepping away from me and walking toward Percy instead.
Percy leaned his head back against the wheelchair tiredly.
"I'm alive," Percy answered casually.
Then he smirked faintly.
"And somehow still the most handsome one here."
"That concussion really damaged your brain," Cole muttered immediately.
Percy looked offended.
"Wow," he said dramatically. "You really can't survive without insulting me for five minutes."
Then his eyes shifted toward Cassian.
The smirk slowly disappeared.
"…What's he doing here?"
The hallway instantly became tense again.
Cassian answered before anyone else could.
"I'm here for Jay."
The second he said her name—
my expression darkened again.
"Didn't I tell you to refer to her as my wife?" I snapped coldly.
Cassian glanced at me calmly.
"Alright," he said smoothly.
Then the bastard smirked.
"I'm here for my Mrs. Watson."
"You asshole—"
I moved instantly to hit him again—
but Angelo grabbed my arm before I could reach him.
"You really have a death wish," I snarled.
Meanwhile—
Percy looked way too entertained watching this.
"This is getting interesting," he muttered.
"Shut up," I snapped immediately.
Percy ignored me completely and looked toward Cassian instead.
Then his expression became serious for the first time since arriving.
"Cassian," he said calmly, "I think it's better if you leave the hospital now."
The playful atmosphere vanished instantly.
"I don't want my sister getting disturbed in her sleep," he added quietly.
Cassian crossed his arms.
"I'm not doing anything," he replied calmly before pointing toward me. "He's the one shouting."
"You have the audacity to say that after asking for my wife?!" I snapped furiously.
"Kiefer!" Angelo shouted sharply this time.
His eyes narrowed dangerously at me.
"You want to create more stress for Jay right after the doctor warned us?"
I clenched my jaw hard.
Then finally took one step back.
"…Fine," I said coldly without taking my eyes off Cassian. "I won't kill him here."
My voice dropped lower.
"But I don't want to see him."
Cassian smirked immediately.
"Then close your eyes," he said calmly. "Because I'm not leaving until I see her."
Something inside me nearly snapped again.
But before I could move—
Cole stepped between us.
"Kiefer," he said firmly, "your wound opened again."
I frowned slightly.
"And if Jay sees you like that," he continued, "she's going to cry even more. Go change the bandages before she wakes up and notices."
That instantly stopped me.
My eyes dropped toward my side.
The gauze was completely soaked red again.
Shit.
"…Okay," I muttered reluctantly.
But before walking away—
I glared at Cassian one last time.
A warning.
A promise.
A threat.
Cassian only looked back calmly like he didn't care.
"He literally only listens when the topic is Jay," Angelo muttered under his breath.
I immediately turned back toward him.
"What did you just say?"
Angelo raised both hands innocently.
"Nothing," he said casually. "Now go."
Then his expression softened slightly.
"Come back fast before Jay wakes up asking for you."
The anger inside me eased just a little at that.
Because she would.
And no matter how furious I was right now—
if Jay opened her eyes and called my name…
I'd go to her immediately.
So in the end—
I just nodded once and walked away.