THIRD PERSON POV:
The waves crashed softly against the shore.
The sky had turned orange and gold as the sun slowly dipped toward the horizon.
Jay sat on the sand with her knees pulled to her chest.
Her eyes were swollen.
Her face pale.
The wind pushed strands of her hair across her cheeks but she didn't move.
She didn't even seem to notice.
Percy sat beside her quietly, watching the ocean.
For several minutes neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't peaceful.
It was heavy.
Finally Percy exhaled slowly.
"I guess… it's time I told you everything."
Jay looked at him weakly.
Her voice was hoarse.
"Everything… about what?"
Percy kept his gaze on the horizon.
"About your family."
Jay's chest tightened.
Her fingers dug into the sand.
Because something inside her already knew—
This conversation would change everything.
"Start talking," she whispered.
Percy nodded slowly.
"Your full name is Jasper Jean Fernandez Mariano."
Jay frowned.
"I know that."
"No," Percy said quietly.
"You know half of it."
He turned toward her.
"You know the Fernandez part."
"But you were never told about the Mariano part."
Jay blinked slowly.
"My father…?"
Percy nodded.
"Your biological father is Jashfer Mariano."
Jashfer Mariano.
The CEO of Mariano Industries.
One of the most powerful businessmen in the Philippines.
"That's impossible," she whispered.
Percy shook his head.
"It isn't."
Jay's breathing became uneven.
"My mother—"
"Your mother, Jeana Fernandez, had an affair or in other words was the other woman.."
The words landed brutally.
"With Jashfer Mariano."
Jay stared at him.
"But… Aries' father is Ares Diaz."
"Yes."
"Then how—"
Percy sighed.
"Because your mother was still married to him when she met Jashfer."
Jay felt her stomach twist violently.
"Your mother had Aries with Ares Diaz," Percy continued gently.
"Then she had you with Jashfer Mariano."
Jay shook her head slowly.
"No… no that can't be right…"
Percy reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small envelope.
Inside were printed documents.
DNA reports.
Birth records.
Legal files.
He placed them in front of her.
Jay's hands trembled as she looked through them.
Every single page confirmed it.
Her entire life.
A lie.
"The reason you were raised as Aries' cousin," Percy continued quietly, "is because when your grandfather found out about the affair… he refused to acknowledge you."
Jay's chest tightened painfully.
"He said you would never carry the Mariano name."
Her voice trembled.
"So the Fernandez family… hid me from my father?"
"Yes."
Jay closed her eyes.
Memories flooded her mind.
Aries always protecting her.
Always standing between her and their elders.
Always arguing with Angelo for her.
He did all this before the incident with his father she didn't know what changed after....
"Aries knew…but he hates me...it's in his eyes and just why?" she whispered.
Percy nodded.
"He always knew you were his little sister."
Tears slid silently down Jay's face again.
"But he kept the secret because of what happened betwee you and his.... real dad..."
Her heart shattered all over again.
"And my father?" she asked weakly.
Percy looked at her carefully.
"Jashfer Mariano tried to take you away when you were born."
Jay's eyes widened.
"But the Fernandez family refused."
"Your grandfather especially."
"Why?"
"Because if you were acknowledged," Percy explained, "the scandal would have destroyed both families."
Jay let out a hollow laugh.
"So they erased me instead."
Percy didn't argue.
Because it was true.
A long silence followed.
Then Jay asked quietly—
"Why are you telling me now?"
Percy looked at her.
"Because our grandfather has changed."
Jay frowned.
"Grandfather?"
"Jared Jace Mariano that stupid old man," Percy explained.
"He was the one who refused to acknowledge you back then."
"And now?"
"Now he wants to meet you."
Jay stared at him.
"You're serious?"
Percy nodded.
"He regrets what happened."
Her laugh was bitter this time.
"That's convenient."
Percy didn't respond.
Instead he said softly—
"You deserve to know the truth Jay,people around you haven't been honest enough especially Angelo and your mother Jeana..."
Jay looked at the ocean again.
Her mind racing.
Her entire identity had just shattered.
Then something inside her slowly hardened.
She wiped her tears.
And turned toward Percy.
"Can I meet him...my dad?"
Percy hesitated.
Then shook his head.
"Not yet."
Jay frowned.
"Why?"
"Because legally… your guardian is still Michael Angelo Fernandez untill you know you turn 18 then you'll have your freedom..."
Her cousin.
The one who raised her.
Jay clenched her jaw.
"Of course it is."
She looked down at the sand.
Then suddenly asked—
"Percy."
"Yeah?"
"Do you know a good lawyer?"
Percy blinked.
"A lawyer?"
"Yes."
"Well…"
He shrugged lightly.
"The Mariano Legal Team is ranked number one in the Philippines why you asking? "
Jay slowly turned toward him.
Her eyes were no longer soft.
They were cold.
Sharp.
"Call them.Right now."
Percy studied her carefully.
"Jay… why?"
She looked at him sideways.
A dangerous calm settling over her face.
"You'll see."
Percy stared at her for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Alright."
He stood up and held out his hand.
"Let's go."
---
Jay's POV
The car was quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that presses against your chest until breathing feels heavy.
I stared out the window, watching the city lights blur past in streaks of gold and white. Cars. Buildings. People walking on sidewalks.
Normal life.
Everything looked normal.
But inside my head—
Nothing was normal anymore.
The classroom kept replaying.
Over.
And over.
And over again.
Keifer's voice.
Cold.
Cruel.
Mocking.
"I used you."
My fingers tightened slowly in my lap.
I could still hear the laughter.
Felix.
Rory.
Blaster.
All of them.
Laughing.
Like my feelings were some kind of joke.
Like my love was entertainment.
My chest tightened.
For a moment my throat burned again—
But I swallowed it down.
No.
I wasn't crying again.
Not for him.
Not anymore.
I forced my breathing to slow down.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
Beside me, Percy glanced at me.
I could feel it without even looking at him.
He looked like he wanted to say something.
Ask something.
But he didn't.
And honestly?
I was grateful.
Because if he asked me how I felt right now—
I didn't think I'd have an answer.
Or maybe I had too many.
Pain.
Humiliation.
Anger.
And something darker slowly forming underneath all of it.
Thirty minutes later the car slowed down.
I blinked and looked up.
A tall glass building stood in front of us.
Mariano Legal Tower.
For a moment I just stared at it.
So this was part of my father's world.
My father.
The thought still felt strange in my head.
Percy parked the car and stepped out.
I followed him silently.
The moment we stepped inside, the glass doors opened automatically.
And someone was already waiting.
A man in a dark suit.
Sharp eyes.
Calm posture.
"Sir."
Percy nodded slightly.
"Kalix."
The man turned his gaze toward me.
Studying me.
Carefully.
"You must be Miss Jasper Jean.I'm Attorney Kalix Jace at you service.."
I stepped forward before Percy could answer.
"I'm Jay Jay," I said calmly.
"My eighteenth birthday is on May twenty-ninth."
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
Like he didn't expect that answer.
But he nodded.
"And how may I assist you?"
Straight to business.
Good.
That was exactly what I needed.
"I need legal papers drafted."
Percy shifted slightly beside me but didn't interrupt.
Kalix pulled out a tablet.
"What kind of documents?"
I took a slow breath.
The words tasted bitter in my mouth.
"First."
"I want a document stating that Michael Angelo Fernandez and Jeana Fernandez willingly give up their guardianship rights over me."
Percy turned toward me quickly.
Surprised.
But I continued speaking before he could interrupt.
"The guardianship will temporarily transfer to Jashfer Mariano until I turn eighteen."
Kalix studied me for a moment.
Then nodded.
"That can be arranged."
Good.
One step.
Just one step closer to cutting ties.
I pulled out my phone and quickly opened the calculator.
Numbers filled the screen.
Food.
School.
Clothes.
Medical bills.
Everything.
Rough estimates.
After a moment I turned the phone toward Kalix.
"Five million pesos."
Percy frowned immediately.
"What's that for?"
I answered calmly.
"That's the approximate amount the Fernandez family spent raising me."
The room went quiet.
I kept my voice steady.
"I'll repay every cent."
Percy sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Jay… you don't need to do that."
"Yes I do."
"The Mariano family can compensate them."
"No."
My voice came out firmer than I expected.
"I will repay them myself."
He looked at me like he wanted to argue.
And he did.
"You're being stubborn."
"And you're interfering."
Kalix quietly watched the conversation like he was observing a courtroom debate.
Finally Percy exhaled.
"Fine."
I nodded once.
"Second paper."
Kalix looked ready.
"I want a legal nullification of my engagement."
He paused slightly.
"With whom?"
"Yuri Hanamitchi."
Percy leaned back against the desk slightly.
"That family won't like that."
"I don't care."
Kalix started writing notes again.
Percy spoke again after a moment.
"Add something else."
I turned to him.
"The Mariano Group will initiate a collaboration project with the Fernandez Group."
I frowned.
"Why?"
"So Angelo doesn't object."
His voice was calm but logical.
"And it repays them for raising you."
I considered it for a moment.
Angelo would definitely try to stop this.
But if money and business were involved…
He might accept it.
"Fine."
Kalix looked up again.
"Anything else?"
For a moment I thought about it.
Then something crossed my mind.
"Yes."
"Prepare multiple copies."
Percy frowned.
"Why?"
I gave a small smile.
But it wasn't a happy one.
"Because they'll probably tear the first one."
The room went quiet again.
Kalix slowly nodded.
"I'll prepare several copies."
Twenty minutes later he returned with a thick folder.
Inside were the documents.
My future.
Or maybe—
My freedom.
I took the folder.
The paper felt heavier than it should have.
Percy stood up.
"Well."
He looked at me carefully.
"Ready?"
I stood too.
My chest felt tight.
But my mind was strangely clear.
Cold.
Focused.
"Yes."
We walked toward the exit together.
Outside the night air hit my face.
Cool.
Sharp.
Percy opened the car door.
"Next stop?"
I looked straight ahead.
And for a moment—
I thought about Aries.
About Angelo.
About the house I grew up in.
The house where everything started.
My voice came out steady.
"The Fernandez Mansion."
Percy nodded.
The engine started.
And the car moved.
Driving into the night.
Toward the house where my entire life had been built on lies.
And tonight—
I was finally going to tear those lies apart.