Jay POV — Two Days Later
Two days.
That's all it took for the entire game to shift.
Not visibly. Not in ways the world could point at and say something changed.
But beneath it all—
I was there.
Every move Keifer's relatives tried to make? Blocked.
Every deal they tried to twist? Reversed.
Every silent attack? Neutralized before it even reached him.
They didn't see me.
But they felt me.
A presence.
A force.
A name whispered behind closed doors—
The Secret Mariano Princess.
And the irony?
They had no idea…
It was the same girl they dismissed.
I stood by the window, scanning through updates on my tablet, when a secure alert flashed.
Priority: High.
My expression sharpened instantly.
"Talk," I said, connecting the line.
"Keifer is in Spain," the voice informed. "Final phase of inheritance consolidation."
I stilled.
"And?"
A pause.
Then—
"Kaizer Waston is making a move."
My grip tightened.
"What kind of move?"
"…Kidnapping."
Everything inside me went cold.
"Targets?"
"His brothers. Keigan. Fifteen. Keiren. Eight."
For a second—
I couldn't breathe.
"They're being moved to Kaizer's private estate," the voice continued. "Leverage against Keifer. If he doesn't surrender control—"
The call ended.
I didn't need the rest.
I already knew.
I moved.
Fast.
No hesitation.
No second thought.
I grabbed my keys and walked out.
"Jay."
Grandpa's voice stopped me.
I turned.
He was already watching me—
Carefully.
Too carefully.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Nothing."
A lie.
A weak one.
His eyes hardened.
"Don't."
A pause.
Then I exhaled sharply.
"Keifer's brothers are being kidnapped."
That was enough.
His entire demeanor changed.
"Where?"
I didn't answer.
I didn't have time.
I turned—
And ran.
He followed.
Of course he did.
Basement
The elevator doors opened—
And I walked straight to my car.
Black.
Sleek.
Power resting quietly under control.
I slid in, hands gripping the steering wheel.
The engine roared to life.
Alive.
Hungry.
"Move," I muttered.
And I drove.
The Drive
Speed climbed.
The world blurred into streaks of light and motion.
Nothing existed beyond the road.
Beyond the destination.
I have to reach before him.
If Keifer arrived first—
He would lose everything.
If I didn't—
He would lose his brothers.
"No," I whispered.
My grip tightened.
"I won't let that happen."
Kaizer Waston Estate
The gates stood tall.
Guarded.
Locked.
Not for me.
I didn't slow down.
The car crashed through with a deafening sound—
Metal twisting, alarms screaming.
I drove straight in.
Brakes slammed.
Silence followed.
Then chaos.
Men rushing.
Voices shouting.
Weapons raised.
But I stepped out calmly.
Unbothered.
Unstoppable.
Inside—
Kaizer Waston sat on the sofa.
Relaxed.
Like he was watching a show.
Dylan stood beside him—
Until he saw me.
Shock flickered across his face.
Then—
Respect.
Immediate.
And then—
I saw them.
Keiren.
Tears streaming down his face.
Clinging to Keigan.
Keigan standing strong—
Trying.
"Don't worry," he whispered to his brother. "Kuya will come."
My chest tightened.
Guards moved to stop me.
"Let her in," Kaizer said lazily.
They stepped back.
He smirked.
"She can't do anything anyway."
I walked forward.
Each step deliberate.
Controlled.
And stopped in front of him.
"I can do things you can't even imagine," I said coldly.
"Let them go."
A pause.
Then—
"This is your warning."
Kaizer laughed.
Loud.
Mocking.
"You?" he leaned forward. "A powerless girl threatening me?"
Before I could respond—
"Ate!"
Keiren broke free and ran to me, hugging me tightly.
"Please save us…"
My hand instinctively held him.
"It's okay," I murmured.
But Keigan pulled him back.
Hard.
"Why are you here?" he snapped.
My gaze met his.
"You're just making things worse," he continued. "You're nothing in front of him."
The words didn't hurt.
They revealed.
"Why come here?" he pressed. "To gain sympathy? Or to impress my brother?"
I opened my mouth—
But—
"Enough."
The voice cut through everything.
Grandpa.
He entered.
With his men.
And just like that—
The entire room changed.
Power shifted.
Kaizer stood up instantly.
"N-no… sir?" his voice shook. "Why are you here? You could have called—I would have come to you—"
Grandpa didn't even look at him.
"Take the kids home," he ordered.
His men moved immediately.
Keiren and Keigan were taken out.
Safe.
Only then—
Grandpa turned.
"You disrespected my granddaughter," he said calmly.
Kaizer froze.
"I—what?"
"And ignored her warning."
Silence.
"What granddaughter?" Kaizer stammered. "Where is Mariano Princess? I didn't know—this girl is just after my son's money—she's just—"
"SHUT UP!"
Grandpa's voice thundered.
The room fell into absolute silence.
"Don't you dare speak about her," he said coldly.
"She is Mariano."
"You are nothing."
Kaizer's face went pale.
"What…?"
I stepped forward.
Slow.
Certain.
"Yes," I said.
"I am."
His breath hitched.
"I am the Mariano Princess."
Shock.
Fear.
Realization.
Kaizer turned to Dylan.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Dylan lowered his head.
"I couldn't. It would cost me my life."
Kaizer looked back at me—
And dropped.
Both knees.
"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "Please forgive me… I didn't know…"
A soft laugh escaped me.
Amused.
Cold.
"So now you beg?"
"Yes—anything—please—"
"Good."
My voice sharpened.
"Then listen carefully."
He nodded rapidly.
"First—you and your brothers will stop interfering in Keifer's inheritance."
"Yes!"
"Because next time—"
I stepped closer.
"You won't be alive to try."
"I understand."
"Second," I continued, "you will not tell him about this."
He froze.
"But he knows I kidnapped them—"
"Then tell him," I smiled slightly, "that the Secret Mariano Princess helped."
His eyes flickered.
"That's not a lie."
Just not the whole truth.
"You will not mention me," I added. "Not my identity. Not this."
"…Yes, Ma'am."
I stepped back.
Satisfied.
After so long—
No hiding.
At least here.
At least once.
And it felt—
Powerful.
I turned.
Grandpa beside me.
We walked out.
Leaving behind silence.
Fear.
And a man who would never dare cross me again.
Because now—
The game had changed.
And this time—
I wasn't playing from the shadows anymore.
Keifer POV — Spain
"Mr. Waston, we need your signature on—"
"Later."
My voice came out sharper than intended.
The meeting room was full—voices overlapping, screens filled with numbers, decisions waiting to be made.
But I wasn't there.
Not really.
My mind had been elsewhere for two days.
Ever since things started… changing.
Deals fixing themselves.
Opposition disappearing.
Like someone was clearing the path for me.
And I didn't like not knowing who.
"Sir."
Mr. Ryder's voice cut through everything.
Urgent.
That made me look up.
"What?"
He stepped closer.
"It's your father."
My expression hardened instantly.
"What about him?"
A pause.
Then—
"He's taken your brothers."
Everything stopped.
"What?"
"Keigan and Keiren," he said quickly. "Taken to his estate. It's leverage."
The room blurred.
Noise disappeared.
Only one thing remained.
Them.
My chair pushed back harshly as I stood.
"Meeting's over."
No explanation.
No delay.
I walked out.
Fast.
"Sir, the final approvals—"
"Handle it," I snapped.
Nothing mattered more than this.
"Honey," I called, already moving.
My secretary turned instantly.
"Yes, sir?"
"Private jet."
She didn't hesitate.
"Destination?"
"London."
My voice dropped.
"Now."
Private Jet
The moment I sat down—
My fists clenched.
I knew this could happen.
I knew how far he could go.
And still—
I left.
"Damn it," I muttered.
If anything happened to them—
No.
I shut the thought down immediately.
The jet took off.
And every second felt like a delay I couldn't afford.
Keigan would try to stay strong.
He always did.
And Keiren…
My jaw tightened.
He'd be scared.
Crying.
Alone.
"Hold on," I whispered.
"I'm coming."
London — Landing
The moment I landed—
My phone rang.
I picked it up instantly.
"What?"
"Sir," the voice came quickly, "your brothers—they're safe."
I stilled.
"…What?"
"They've been brought back to your residence."
My grip tightened.
"They're okay?"
"Yes, sir."
The call ended.
And I was already moving.
Residence
The door opened—
"KUYA!"
Keiren ran straight into me.
I dropped everything and caught him, pulling him close.
"I'm here," I said immediately. "I'm here."
He clung tighter.
"I was scared…"
"I know," I murmured. "It's okay now."
Keigan stepped forward too.
Trying to stay composed.
But I saw it—
Relief.
I pulled him into the hug as well.
"You're okay?" I asked.
"Yes," he nodded.
"They didn't hurt you?"
"No."
Good.
Then anger hit.
Fast.
Sharp.
"SECURITY!" I shouted.
They rushed in.
"What were you doing?" I snapped. "How does this happen?"
No one answered.
"Useless," I muttered.
"Out."
They left immediately.
I turned back.
"How did you get out?"
Keigan glanced at Keiren.
Keiren looked at him.
Then—
"It was Ate Jay," Keiren said.
I froze.
"…Jay?"
"She came," he said quickly. "She saved us. She's really good, kuya. She saved us from that monster."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
Keigan sighed.
"Keiren—"
"It's true!"
Keigan looked at me.
"I'll explain."
I nodded once.
"Do it."
"She came alone first," Keigan said. "Drove straight into the estate. Broke the gate."
That alone didn't make sense.
"No fear," he added. "She walked in like she belonged there."
I listened.
Focused.
"Kaizer laughed at her," he continued. "Didn't take her seriously."
That sounded like him.
"But then…"
He paused.
"…someone arrived."
My expression sharpened.
"Who?"
Keigan hesitated for a second.
Then said clearly—
"Mr. Mariano."
Silence.
My heartbeat slowed.
"Go on."
"He ordered us to be taken out immediately," Keigan said. "We didn't see what happened after that."
I stilled.
"You didn't stay?"
"No," he shook his head. "His men took us out before anything else happened."
Silence settled.
"So you don't know… what she did?"
"No."
Only that she went in.
And we came out.
Jay.
Walking into Kaizer's estate.
Alone.
And walking out—
With my brothers safe.
My mind started connecting things.
Too many things.
Too fast.
"How did she even get inside…?" I murmured.
"And why was Mr. Mariano there…?"
That wasn't coincidence.
That couldn't be coincidence.
Jay.
And the Marianos.
Again.
Always somewhere in the background.
Too close.
Too connected.
"What are you hiding…?" I said under my breath.
Because this—
This wasn't normal.
Not even close.
I looked at my brothers again.
They were safe.
That's what mattered.
For now.
But this wasn't over.
Not for me.
My gaze hardened.
"I'll find out," I said quietly.
Soon.
Very soon.
And yet—
A softer thought followed.
Unspoken.
Unseen.
Thank you.
For stepping in.
For protecting them.
When I couldn't.
"…Thank you, Jay," I murmured.
Because whatever this was—
Whatever she was hiding—
One thing was clear.
She wasn't just involved anymore.
She was changing everything.