Author POV
The heavy oak doors of the ballroom felt like a gateway back into a battlefield as Jay and Jane re-entered the hall. They walked side by side, their silhouettes a striking contrast of dark elegance and shimmering light.
For a moment, they shared a small, triumphant smile—a silent acknowledgement of the chaos they'd already survived. But the smiles vanished the moment they spotted the scene near the center of the room.
The two girls from earlier had returned. One was practically leaning into Keifer's personal space, her hand fluttering near his arm as she let out a high-pitched, melodic giggle.
The other was hovering over Yuri, her phone held out as if she were documenting a sighting of a rare animal.
Jane's eyes narrowed, the "daylight" warmth in her expression replaced by a cold, focused fire. Jay's jaw set into a hard line, her fingers curling into fists at her sides.
Without a word, they moved. They didn't just walk; they marched, their heels clicking against the marble floor like a countdown.
------------------------------
Jane's POV
I didn't think about the consequences. I didn't care about the cameras or the noble families watching us. Seeing that girl hovering over Yuri—the man who had just told me he wanted to be the only one I see—felt like a physical weight on my chest. It wasn't just annoyance. It was a fierce, burning possessiveness.
I stepped into the circle, cutting right through the girl's space. I didn't wait for her to finish whatever vapid story she was telling. I reached out and firmly grasped Yuri's hand, interlacing our fingers in a grip that felt like an anchor.
"I'm sorry, were you in the middle of something?" I asked. My voice was sweet, but it was the kind of sweetness that hides a blade. I looked her up and down, noting the way she flinched under my gaze. "Because you're standing so close I thought you were trying to merge into his DNA. Maybe take a step back before you suffocate him—or me."
The girl's mouth fell open. She looked at Yuri, then back at me, her face turning a blotchy, humiliated red. She tried to say something, a stammered excuse, but I just tilted my head and waited.
She couldn't handle the silence. She turned and scurried away into the crowd like a bird being chased by a hawk.
I didn't let go of Yuri's hand. I felt his pulse against my palm, steady and fast, and it only fueled the fire in my gut.
-------------------------------
Jay's POV
While Jane handled the paparazzi, I moved behind Keifer. He was looking at the girl in front of him with a bored, half-lidded expression, but the fact that he was even letting her stand there was enough to make my blood boil.
I stepped into the light, my shadow falling over her perfectly styled hair. My voice was a cold, low rasp that cut through her laughter like a knife.
"It's impressive, really," I said, my tone dripping with disdain. "The way you're giggling at everything he says like it's a stand-up routine. Too bad for you, he's not looking for a fan club tonight."
The girl blinked, her fake smile faltering as she looked at me. I didn't give her a chance to recover. I stepped closer, forcing her to take a step back.
"He's already taken for tonight," I continued, my voice dropping an octave. "And if you don't leave right now, I'm going to make sure you have a very long, very public walk of shame out of this building. Don't test my patience."
She looked like I'd just slapped her across the face. She glanced at Keifer, hoping for him to defend her, but he just leaned back and watched me with a smirk that made me want to kick him.
She realized she was alone. Without a word, she spun on her heel and vanished into the sea of guests.
Keifer turned to me, his eyes dancing with that maddening, smug intelligence. "Why did you do that, Jay? Were you jealous?"
"No," I snapped, my heart doing a traitorous somersault in my chest. "No. I was just letting them know that today, I'm your partner. If you want a fan club, you can find her tomorrow. Tonight, you're my responsibility."
Keifer leaned down, his face inches from mine. "Is that so?"
"Yes," I challenged, refusing to look away. "Or what?"
------------------------------
Yuri's POV
I watched Jane with a mixture of shock and pure, unadulterated admiration. This was the fire beneath the daylight. The way she had claimed me in front of the room sent a thrill through me that was far more potent than any drink.
"Great, Mr. Hanamitchi," Jane said, turning her focus back to me. Her eyes were still flashing. "You were just right now asking to pursue me, and now you're talking with other girls?"
"It wasn't anything like that, Jane," I said softly, unable to hide the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "She was just having a casual talk. I was barely listening."
"Casual talk or not, don't you dare talk to other girls," she commanded. It wasn't a request; it was a decree.
I squeezed her hand, pulling her slightly closer. "And what about the thing I asked you earlier, Jane? About pursuing you
properly?"
She looked away, a faint, beautiful blush creeping up her neck. "I... I will think about it," she muttered.
"I'll take that as a win for now," I whispered.
------------------------------
Author POV
The tension of the moment was shattered by a loud, high-energy shout from the entrance. "Jay! Jane!"
Cin came charging through the crowd, looking like a whirlwind in a suit that probably cost as much as a luxury car.
He was followed by his sister, who looked regal but wore the expression of someone who had spent the last hour trying to keep a puppy in a straight line.
From the other side of the room, Raaki appeared, looking effortlessly beautiful. Shre headed straight for Jane while Cin practically tackled Jay into a hug.
"How am I looking?" Cin asked, pulling back to spin around in a dramatic circle. His hair was perfectly coiffed, but his eyes were as mischievous as ever.
"Like a brat," Jane teased, finally letting out a genuine, airy laugh.
Cin pouted instantly, turning to Jay for support. "Jay, see! Jane is bullying me! I've been here five seconds!"
Jay sighed, a small, rare smile touching her lips as she reached out to straighten his lapel. "She's just messing with you. You look charming, Cin. Very polished."
Cin beamed, his chest puffing out. "You know me well! I'm the star of this show, clearly."
We were all laughing, the heavy atmosphere of the gala briefly forgotten, until a shadow fell over our group. A middle-aged man, a businessman whose name was synonymous with "old money" and "even older prejudices," approached us.
He looked at Keifer and me with a practiced, oily smile.
"Welcome, Mr. Hanamitchi and Mr. Watson," he purred. Then he turned to Cin. "And you must be Mr. Perleta's younger son. A pleasure to see you in such... diverse company."
Then his gaze shifted to Jay. His smile didn't just fade; it turned into a sneer of pure condescension.
"It's fascinating, Jay," he said, his voice loud enough to carry to the nearby tables. "I didn't realize they started handing out invites to... charity cases this year. I suppose the guest list is getting a bit desperate."
The air around us froze. I felt Jane stiffen beside me, and Keifer's hand dropped to his side, his entire posture turning predatory. But Jay didn't need our protection.
--------------------------
Jay's POV
I felt the insult hit, but it didn't pierce the skin. Instead, it just made me feel a profound sense of boredom. I looked the man over—noting the slightly-too-tight fit of his jacket and the dull shine of his shoes.
"And I didn't realize they started inviting people whose net worth is lower than my shoe collection," I replied. My voice was calm, flat, and echoed in the sudden silence of the surrounding guests. "If you're going to try and insult me, at least do it in a suit that doesn't look like it was rented from a thrift store. You're boring me, and frankly, you're bad for the aesthetic of the room."
The man's face went from pale to a deep, ugly purple. His jaw worked, but no words came out.
Before he could recover, his daughter—the girl who had been hovering around Yuri earlier—stepped forward
She looked at Jane with pure venom. "You have a lot of nerve, talking about aesthetics. You're just a tag-along, Jane. You act like you belong here just because you're holding a Hanamitchi's hand. Status isn't something you can borrow."
Jane didn't even blink. She took a half-step forward, her gaze meeting the girl's with a terrifyingly calm clarity.
"You're talking to me like your opinion matters," Jane said, her voice light and almost melodic. "That's adorable. Truly. Is there a script you're following, or are you naturally this exhausting?"
The girl looked like she'd been struck. She opened her mouth to retort, but the sheer weight of Jane's indifference seemed to crush the words in her throat.
Her father, realizing they were becoming the laughingstocks of the ballroom, grabbed her arm and began a hasty, humiliated retreat.
Raaki whistled, a low sound of genuine appreciation. "Wow, girls. You roasted them brutally. I think I saw their souls leave their bodies."
Jane smoothed her gown, the fire in her eyes settling into a satisfied, quiet glow. "They started it," she said simply.
"And we finished it," I added.
I glanced at Keifer, expecting a joke, but he was just staring at me. His expression was unreadable—gone was the smugness, replaced by something intense and heavy. It made my stomach flip in a way that had nothing to do with the gala.
"I think I need a drink," I muttered, but as I turned toward the bar, I noticed that for the first time all night, I wasn't trying to run away from him.
------------------------------
Jane's POV
As the father and daughter vanished into the crowd, the adrenaline began to fade, leaving a warm, buzzing sensation in my chest. I looked at Yuri, who was still holding my hand, his thumb tracing small circles over my knuckles.
I realized then that the jealousy I'd felt wasn't just a reaction to a girl—it was a reaction to the idea of losing the peace I felt when I was with him.
"You okay?" Yuri asked, his voice low and concerned.
"I'm fine," I said, and for the first time that night, I meant it. "I'm more than fine."
"And about the pursuing earlier , I agree yuri.I am ready to give you a chance.But don't make me.regret it." I added with firm voice.
Yuri searched my eyes for any denial but when he saw there wasn't anything like that . "I won't, Jane. I promise",he said looking at me.
I looked over at Jay, who was currently engaged in a whispered, heated argument with Keifer about whether or not she was actually a 'kitten.' They were chaotic, sharp, and constantly at odds, but the way they looked at each other told a story they weren't ready to admit yet.
The gala was still loud, still fake, and still filled with people who judged us by our names. But standing here with Jay, Yuri, Keifer, Cin, and Raaki, I realized that the real power wasn't in the invites or the noble titles. It was in the fact that we were the only ones in the room who were actually real.
------------------------------
A/n
Guys a new chapter for you all. I am not setting any target but I hope you all won't forgot to comment. As I love to read your comments.
See you soon 💕
Bye 👋