JayJay POV
We pulled up to the Fernandez estate like we were starring in a hostile takeover.
Kuya Percy parked the car like he was auditioning for Fast & Furious: Corporate Edition — sunglasses on, one hand on the wheel, dramatic silence included.
Kuya Jare stepped out like he was ready to punch a chandelier.
I followed, boots clicking, blood-red sleeves slicing through the air like I was here to assassinate someone's ego
I followed, boots clicking, blood-red sleeves slicing through the air like I was here to assassinate someone's ego.
We didn't knock.
We just walked in like we owned the place — because honestly, we kind of did.
The first person I saw was Aries.
He looked like he'd seen a ghost.
Kuya Angelo tried to speak — mouth open, words forming — but I breezed past him like bad weather.
Then Tita Gemma saw me.
She rushed over and hugged me tight.
"How are you, sweetheart?" she asked, voice soft, eyes warm.
Honestly? She's the only one who had my back when I needed her. The only one who didn't flinch when things got ugly.
"I'm fine," I said, and for once, I meant it.
Kuya Percy cleared his throat. "We're here to talk to your boss," he said, pointing at Kuya Angelo like he was a customer service rep.
Angelo looked up, confused. "What do you want?"
I stepped forward, calm, collected, terrifying.
"I'm here to give compensation," I said. "For raising me for four years."
The room went quiet.
"Compensation?" Angelo repeated, voice cracking. "Seriously, Jay? Please don't say that."
He looked genuinely sad.
I didn't blink.
Because sadness doesn't erase silence.
And guilt doesn't pay back time.
"Anyways here are the partnerships between Mariano and Fernandez" Kuya Jare said
The room was still tense.
Kuya Angelo looked like someone had just kicked his soul.
I didn't flinch.
I wasn't here for guilt.
I was here for closure.
And business.
Kuya Jare stepped forward, pulled out a folder, and dropped it on the table like a mic.
"Anyways," he said, voice cool, "here are the partnership documents between Mariano and Fernandez."
The room blinked.
Aries looked like he'd swallowed a cactus.
Kuya Percy leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smirking like he was watching a soap opera unfold.
"Wait," Angelo said. "You're serious?"
Kuya Jare nodded. "Dead serious. We're done playing nice."
Kuya Percy chimed in. "And we're done pretending Jay's just some girl in the background. She's a Mariano. She's the storm."
I didn't say anything.
I didn't need to.
The folder said it all — clean terms, sharp clauses, and a future that didn't include the Hamamtiches.
Angelo opened it, scanned the pages, and sighed.
"This is real," he muttered.
"Of course it's real," Percy said. "I wrote it with my beautiful fingers."
I rolled my eyes. "Can we not?"
"Sorry," he whispered. "They're just so talented."
"Jay, can we talk please?" Aries asked, voice low, eyes searching.
"No, she—" Kuya Jare started, already stepping forward like he was about to body-block the entire conversation.
I raised a hand.
Cut him off mid-sentence.
"Let's go," I said.
Kuya Jare blinked. "Jay—"
"I said let's go," I repeated, already walking.
Aries followed, quiet, tense, like he knew he was walking into a storm.
Kuya Percy muttered behind me, "This better not turn into a soap opera. I didn't bring popcorn."
We stepped into the hallway — just me and Aries.
The air shifted.
He looked nervous.
I looked bored.
Because whatever he was about to say?
I already knew it wouldn't change anything.
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