Keifer POV
I thought I understood pain.
I grew up with it. Slept beside it. Memorized its rhythm like a second heartbeat.
But I wasn't prepared for the look on JayJay's face when she walked into the Fernandez house.
Section E tried to reach her. Tried to talk. But she didn't respond. Not to them. Not to me.
And then the truth hit.
She'd been abused.
By her stepfather.
The moment I heard, I swear—I wanted to tear him apart. No hesitation. No second thoughts. Just pure, blinding rage.
She couldn't hold it in anymore. She broke. Right there in front of everyone. Tears she'd been swallowing for years finally spilled over.
And I wanted to go to her.
To hold her. To whisper, I'm here. You're safe.
But I couldn't.
Because I was part of the pain too.
I hurt her. Even if I thought it was to protect her. Even if I believed pushing her away would shield her from my world, my family, my past.
Then Percy showed up.
My best friend. The one we all thought was dead. He walked in like he hadn't missed a beat, like he'd been waiting for this moment.
And beside him — someone unfamiliar.
A man who looked like JayJay.
Same eyes. Same posture. Same quiet fury.
Jare.
Her twin.
The second I realized who he was, everything shifted. Even Angelo and Aries looked stunned. They had no idea. No one did.
Jare didn't speak. He didn't need to. He walked past Percy, past the guards, past the lies — straight to JayJay.
She looked at him like she'd been holding her breath for years and finally exhaled.
And that's when I saw it.
The bruises.
Not just on her skin — but in her silence. In the way she moved. In the way she avoided everyone's eyes.
I didn't know.
I swear I didn't know.
I thought she was playing along. I thought she was trying to fix things. I thought she was meddling.
But she was surviving.
And I let her do it alone.
Percy was shouting now — about contracts, about Yuri, about how Jenna let it happen. Jare didn't say a word. He just wrapped his arm around JayJay and walked her out like she was sacred.
And I stood there.
Frozen.
Watching the girl I broke walk away from the people who shattered her.
And I wanted to scream.
Because I should've protected her.
Because I should've known.
Because I should've told her the truth — that the plan changed, that I cared, that I was scared she'd get hurt if she got too close to me.
But she got hurt anyway.
And not because of me.
Because of them.
Percy loaded her bag into the car. Jare opened the door. And JayJay turned — just once — and looked across the street.
Right at me.
And I didn't know what to do with that.
So I looked back.
And I stayed silent.
Because I didn't deserve to speak.
Not yet.