Jay's POV
I slowly opened my eyes. My vision was blurry, and I started coughing. My hands were tied behind my back, and I was lying on the cold floor. Gradually, my vision began to clear.
I coughed again.
In front of me, I saw Keifer. He was also lying on the floor, his hands tied behind his back.
I tried to move, but my legs were tied too. Somehow, I started crawling towards him, struggling to move with my hands and legs tied.
"Keifer..." I called out when I finally reached him.
"Keifer, wake up... Keifer..."
"Urghh..."
He slowly started blinking.
"My head is paining. This sucks..."
"Drink more. It'll help," I replied sarcastically.
When Keifer finally woke up properly, we looked at each other and then glanced around at the place we were in.
It was a cold, dark room.
"Jay, don't worry. We'll get out of here. My father must have done this. He's still after my inheritance. Sit, I'll try to untie your hands."
"Keifer..."
"Yeah, Jay? Say something."
"It's not your father... It's done by my aunt."
"Your aunt? Jay, you have an aunt? I never knew that. But why would she do this?"
I looked around, my eyes slowly filling with tears.
"I don't even know if I'll make it out of here alive..."
"Shh! What are you saying, Jay? Everything else aside, right now, the most important thing is to get out of here."
"No, Keifer... Listen to me. I can't bear all this guilt anymore. It's killing me from the inside."
"What, Jay? What happened?"
"Keifer, the things I said to you that day... about my feelings... It was all a lie. I did that because I was forced to."
"W-what? Who forced you, Jay? Is it my father?"
"No, no... Listen to me. It's not your father. It's my aunt."
"Your aunt again? Who is she, Jay? And why would she do this?"
I took a deep breath before finally revealing the truth.
"I'm the SECRET MARIANO PRINCESS... I'm the Mariano heir."
"What?!"
"Yes, Keifer. I'm the secret heir of Mariano. And my aunt... she's behind my inheritance. She won't kill me until she gets my signature. Otherwise, all the assets will go to charity, and she'll be left with nothing.
"That's why she was targeting you. That's why I had to show everyone that you're not the one I love, but Jason is..."
"I'm sorry, Keifer."
"Jay, you... You were dealing with all of this alone? Why didn't you tell me, Jay?"
Tears welled up in his eyes.
I started crying.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Keifer. I-I hurt you a lot... A LOT. I'm... I'm so sorry. I'm really sorry.
"But believe me... after losing my parents, I couldn't bear to lose you too. I couldn't...
"That's why I had to do it. I'm sorry..."
"It's okay, Jayy... It's okay."
He turned towards me and started untying my hands. Within a few moments, he managed to free them.
I quickly untied his hands too.
My wrists had red rashes from the harsh ropes. Then Keifer untied my legs, and I did the same for him.
"Jay, listen to me..."
He gently cupped my face.
"I'm here. I'm with you," he said, looking straight into my eyes.
"Till now, you've been dealing with all of this alone, but not anymore. I'm here, and from now on, I'll be with you. You don't have to face any of this alone. Don't worry..."
"Keifer... I'm sorry. I'm really sorry..." I said, breaking down in tears again.
"Also, I-I didn't kiss Jason... My hand was between us. I'm sorry, Keifer. I know you hate me after what I did, but I'm really sorry—he kissed me gently pouring the weeks of longing and distance that is finally over"
"I could never hate you jay, NEVER you're the reason I live... without you I'm just a lifeless body...I will never hate you...all these weeks I was only thinking about you....but never hating you....he said and gently kissed my forehead"
"Wow...what an melodrama movie, but sadly it's over now.. okay keifer baby? A young voice came from side"
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Hope you'll like the chapter ❤️