JayJay POV
Finally.
Sunday.
I was still in my pajamas — oversized, mismatched, and aggressively comfortable.
I shuffled downstairs like a gremlin emerging from hibernation.
The moment my foot hit the last step, chaos greeted me.
"JayJay!" Kuya Percy shouted, arms wide like I'd just returned from war. "The queen descends!"
Kuya Jare looked up from his coffee. "You look like a sock drawer exploded."
"Thanks," I muttered, grabbing a banana. "It's called fashion. Look it up."
I was halfway through a mango smoothie when the doorbell rang.
Kuya Percy peeked through the window, then turned to me with a grin that screamed violence.
"Jay," he said. "Your ex-rooster has arrived."
I blinked. "Yuri?"
"Yup. Red feathers and all."
Kuya Jare stood up so fast the couch squeaked. "I'll handle it."
"No," I said, sipping calmly. "Let me."
I opened the door.
And there he was.
Yuri Hanamichi.
Holding flowers like they were a peace treaty.
"Jay," he said, voice cracking. "Please. I need to talk."
I stared at him.
He looked wrecked — hair messy, shirt wrinkled, desperation leaking from every pore.
"I'm not interested in your apology tour," I said.
"Please," he begged. "I didn't mean for things to go this way. I still love you."
Kuya Percy leaned against the wall. "You loved her so much you lied, cheated, and tried to trap her in a contract. Romantic."
Yuri ignored him. "Jay, I swear, I didn't know about the documents. My mom—she went behind my back."
I raised an eyebrow. "So you're blaming your mom now?"
"No! I mean—yes? I don't know!" He was spiraling.
Kuya Jare stepped forward. "You should leave."
"I just want to fix things," Yuri said, voice breaking. "I miss you. I miss us."
I tilted my head. "There was no us, Yuri. There was you, your ego, and a fantasy you tried to sell me."
He flinched.
Kuya Percy clapped once. "Oof. That line deserves a standing ovation."
Yuri looked at me, eyes glassy. "Jay, please. I'll do anything."
I stepped closer, calm and cold.
"Then disappear," I said. "Because if you stay, I'll make sure every headline screams about Freya. About Ella. About the heir who couldn't keep his scandals buried."
He froze.
Kuya Jare cracked his knuckles.
Kuya Percy pulled out his phone. "Should I start the press release?"
Yuri turned and walked away.
No words.
No fight.
Just silence.
I closed the door.
Kuya Percy handed me my smoothie.
"You handled that like a queen," he said.
Kuya Jare nodded. "Next time he shows up, I'm throwing him off the balcony."
I smiled.
Because the red rooster was gone.
And the throne?
Still mine.