Keifer's POV
"He's a nuisance..." Keigan said.
I couldn't stop myself from gripping the glass tighter in my hand. It shattered right there in my palm, spilling alcohol all over the counter table.
"Don't fvcking tell me what to do. You're just my brother."
I heard him chuckle. I didn't want to listen to him. I don't like people telling me what to do—especially when it comes to Jay-jay.
I watched the blood drip from my palm. It mixed with the alcohol that had spilled when I broke the glass.
"Honey! Don't just sit there! Talk to him!" Keigan shouted at Honey.
"What's the point? He won't listen anyway," she answered.
Out of frustration, he walked toward me and forced me to face him. I gave him a blank stare. He gripped my shirt tightly.
"You're blinded with your love. You can't even focus on our problems anymore."
I slapped his hand away and walked off. I also passed by Honey, who tried to come up to me.
"You're drunk," she said, but I chose to ignore her.
I didn't want to talk to anyone. The only person I wanted to see right now was Jay-jay. But how? How could I, when every time I thought of her, I remembered what happened between her and David?
I want to rip his throat out.
He kissed Jay-jay. He kissed my Jay-jay. No one is allowed to kiss her except me. I wanted to hurt them. Every single guy who ever dared to claim her lips.
I suddenly felt a pain in my chest. It stabs every time I remember how Yuri and David claimed her lips. It felt like she just let it happen. I know she's not that kind of girl, but I can't help it.
I came to see her right after returning from London. I needed strength after everything I went through there at the hands of our relatives who only wanted our money.
But I didn't expect I'd be shattered that day. I'm trying my best to convince myself that she didn't do it on purpose.
But it still hurt me as fvck.
I didn't even realize I was already in front of my bedroom door. I was about to open it when I stopped. I glanced at the door behind me—the room right across mine where I let Jay-jay sleep before.
My body moved on its own. I walked straight inside. The lights were off, but my eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. I walked toward the bed and lay down.
I still remember the first night I let her sleep here. I stared at her like prey. She was sleeping with her mouth open and I found it funny.
"Jay..." I whispered before my eyes closed and I fell asleep.
I didn't know I would regret sleeping so soon.
Flashback-
"You are no different from your father. You're a bastard. Useless and nothing but a dirt in our name," one of the elders said through gritted teeth.
Hope you don't have a heart attack from all that anger. The man hated me with intensity.
I ignored him. I kept reading the papers in front of me while they all stared at me. My other relatives stood at the far end of the long table.
A very long one, to be exact.
I placed the papers down on the table and looked at them all. The Watson Family. There were more of them than I expected. And I knew this wasn't even all of them—some of my cousins abroad weren't here. Not to mention the illegitimate children who still carried the Watson name.
"What exactly is the reason you're here?" I asked, pretending to be confused.
I already knew the answer. I just liked messing with them. Especially the elders. They were my grandfather's siblings, but they refused to be called Grandfather—especially to someone like me, who they didn't even acknowledge as a real grandson.
"His Filipino brain doesn't understand us," one of my cousins said, and they all laughed.
"Keifer..." Honey whispered from behind me. "...let's go. You already got what you came for."
I ignored Honey's words. I simply smiled at my cousin who looked like he was the size of a barrel.
"And your penny-sized brain doesn't understand me," I answered him, and the laughter stopped. "You will never have my money. It's all mine, only mine."
They all reacted at once to what I said. Furious that they wouldn't get a share of the massive fortune just sitting in Watson's Bank.
And that's not even including Mom's inheritance. That was just my grandfather's money—what he had saved and gambled on the eldest child of my monster father.
Because of how huge the amount was, my relatives got greedy. They tried to take it before I even turned eighteen. But the bank was too strict—even if they had the Watson surname, they couldn't get even a single cent.
I stood up and was about to leave when I heard the sound of wood tapping on the polished floor. It came from the cane of the eldest sibling.
Since arriving at the Watson mansion, I hadn't seen or heard him react to me. It was the first time I'd heard his cane.
The room went silent. Even I waited for what he was about to say.
"That money is not yours," he said while standing. "It belongs to Kaizer's firstborn child."
"I am his first—"
He cut me off. "You are not!"
I looked at Honey. Worry was all over her face. I didn't know it would reach them. My heart beat so fast I broke into a sweat.
"What makes you think that I am not?" I asked, trying not to show my nerves.
"Kaizer had a lot of women before marrying your mother. It's not impossible for him to have a child before you," one of the elders answered, clearly mocking me.
I chuckled, full of pride. "Think whatever possibility you want to think, but the money is still mine."
I didn't wait for what they had to say. I walked out of that room, with Honey following behind me, wiping her sweat.
"You're quite obvious, Honey. They don't know about it yet, and if anyone does, I'm sure they don't know who it is."
"You can't blame me. One mistake, and everything we worked for will be gone."
I loosened the necktie around my neck. It felt like I was choking from all the pressure I was under. I really thought they already knew about that thing—but maybe not. Maybe they know something I don't.
"Keifer..." Mr. Ryder called as he walked toward us. "Did you get it?"
I nodded and handed over the papers and the key to Honey. She read the small piece of paper tied to the large key. We continued walking.
"Watson's Bank?" she said. "How rich is your family? You even own a bank."
"Honey, they are more than rich," Mr. Ryder answered. "They're elite."
We reached the grand staircase of the mansion. Just as we were heading down, my cousin—whom I never once wished to be related to—was coming up. He stopped directly in front of me.
"So, I guess I'm too late," he said, glancing at the key in Honey's hand.
I gave him a smug smile. I won. The Watson fortune was mine. I was now the new CEO of Watson Enterprise.
"Better luck next time—oh wait! You don't have a next time," I answered, mocking him.
I tapped his arm and kept walking. We were already on the ground floor when he spoke again, making me stop.
"You may have won, you have the money and the company. But how about your girl?" he said, laughing. "We all know you're going crazy over a girl named Jasper Jean Mariano."
I clenched my fist. I wanted to break his bones right then and there. I didn't want Jay-jay's name being dragged into this.
"Make sure to keep her safe, Keifer," he added before finally walking away.
"It's a threat. You have to be careful," Mr. Ryder said and stepped out the door.
Honey and I followed him. We got into one of the three Mercedes-Benz cars parked outside. The other two belonged to my bodyguards.
While the car was moving, I couldn't sit still. That stupid-acting-CEO cousin of mine is definitely up to something. He's so predictable—and he knows I know that.
I have to make sure Jay-jay will be alright. I immediately pulled out my phone. I was about to dial her number, but I stopped. If I hear her voice, I'll definitely go home against my plans.
It's only been a day since I last saw her, but I'm already dying to see her. But I can't go back yet. There's still so much I need to do here.
I was about to return my phone to my pocket when a message came in. It was from Keigan.
From: Keigan
Message: Your girlfriend was here.
What?!
I dialed Keigan's number. I waited for him to answer. It rang several times before he finally picked up.
"What took you so long to answer your phone?!" I asked, irritated.
I didn't hear a response from him. I don't know if there's a problem with the signal.
"Keigan?"
Out of nowhere, I heard a small laugh. I suddenly felt uneasy. I knew there was something wrong with my brother—but I wasn't sure what it was.
["Relax, bro..."] he said in a different tone.
His voice was definitely Keigan's, but the way he spoke—it was like he was a completely different person. It's been happening often lately.
But this wasn't the time for me to worry about how he was acting. I tried to push the thought aside. I had things to prioritize—and he was the one who told me to stop making him and Keiren my priority.
"I want to know what Jay-jay did there."
["Nothing important. She was looking for you, but since you weren't here, she immediately left on her bicycle,"] he explained.
I know she's worried. The last time we were together, I punched a tree. I was so pissed because I saw Yuri kissing her. Maybe she thinks I'm still mad at her.
"Don't say anything that will make her worried."
["Sure,"] he answered, then ended the call.
I'm sorry, Jay. You have to wait a little longer.
I texted C-in and the rest of our classmates, even Yuri. I'm more than pissed at that guy, but I didn't have anyone else to rely on aside from our friends—and that included him.
He could protect Jay-jay the same way I do.
Our car suddenly stopped. I looked outside the car window.
"This is the Watson Bank?" Honey asked.
That was exactly what I wanted to ask, too. This wasn't the kind of bank I was expecting. It was a brick castle, its walls now overgrown with plants. The gate looked new, though, with its fresh black paint.
Someone opened the car door, so I got out. Honey and Mr. Ryder followed right after.
"Mr. Mark Keifer Watson." A guy wearing a business suit called out to me and walked toward me. "We've been expecting you."
I looked him over from head to toe. "You are?"
"Oh, where are my manners?" He offered his hand. "I'm your mother's brother. Call me Sin."
I accepted his hand and shook it. I smiled while looking at him. Mom used to talk about him and his mischievous adventures before he graduated from college. I didn't know he worked at our bank.
He let go and fixed his suit. He glanced briefly at my companions, then turned back to me.
"Do you have the key?"
I held out my hand. Honey handed me the papers and the old key. I showed them to him.
"Follow me," he said.
Honey and Mr. Ryder were about to follow, too, but the guards standing on either side of the gate stopped them.
"They're with me," I said, but they still blocked their way.
"Sorry, but we can't allow them," my uncle said.
I looked at Mr. Ryder. He nodded, as if giving me permission to continue. I walked with my uncle.
The place was so dark. At first I thought we were in a hallway, but then I realized we weren't—thanks to the light at the end of the path. We were inside a tunnel.
"How are your brothers?" he suddenly asked.
I glanced at him briefly, but he was just staring straight ahead as we walked.
"They're fine... I guess," I answered uncertainly.
"Sorry if I didn't make it to your Mom's funeral. I'm not allowed to leave the bank at that time."
I sighed deeply. Not a single member of Mom's family came to the funeral. Maybe some distant relatives, but I didn't know any of them. But that was a long time ago. It doesn't really matter to me now.
"I understand. You had a duty to fulfill."
He stopped walking. I noticed we were already at the end of the tunnel. A large door stood before us.
"Your mom is still my sister. It's my duty to protect her." He looked at me seriously. "And I failed to fulfill my duty."
He didn't wait for me to respond. He opened the door in front of us.
A huge fountain was the first thing I saw. The ceiling was made of glass. The floor was covered in pebbles. And the surroundings looked like a garden, though the plants were all withered.
Is this really a bank?
There were three doors behind the fountain. Uncle Sin walked toward the first one and opened it.
"We have to move faster. Clock is ticking," he said and stepped inside.
He was right, so I quickened my pace.
Upon entering the first door, a marble counter table greeted me. Uncle Sin stood behind it.
He was typing on what I assumed was a keyboard. While I waited, I noticed what was behind him—safety deposit boxes. They covered nearly the entire wall.
After typing something, one of the safety deposit boxes opened—the one in the far corner of the wall.
I didn't really understand the process of what he was doing. All I knew was I was here for the money that was left to me.
Uncle Sin walked toward it. He picked up something inside.
"What exactly is this?" I asked as he started walking toward me.
He gave a short smile. "Everything your mom wanted you to see."
I arched a brow. What she wanted me to see?
He handed me a wooden box. It was locked, and the keyhole was clearly old. I could literally peek through it.
I stared at it for a moment until I remembered the key I got from the old mansion. I took it from my pocket.
honestly thought this key was for the vault door itself. I tried inserting it into the box, and I was amazed that it actually fit.
Slowly, I turned the key, and I heard a small snap sound from the box. I looked at Uncle, who was apparently just watching me. He was obviously waiting for me to find out what's inside the box.
Why do I suddenly feel pressured?
I slowly opened the box. As I opened it, I stared at what was inside. Seeing it made me want to throw it away.
Seriously? Who would put a small remote control and a piece of card inside a box? Then keep it in a safety deposit bank?
This is definitely a joke. Mom would never do something like this. I almost laughed in disbelief, but when I saw Uncle's serious face, I stayed calm.
I took the small piece of card first and tried to read it. There was a letter printed in gold that was hard to see under bright light. I tried to read it, but failed, so I just grabbed the remote and examined it instead.
There were only a few buttons on the remote: Play, Pause, Stop, and End—each in a different color.
"If you're done, please follow me," Uncle Sin said.
I took the remote and the piece of card, then left the box. We exited through the door and walked to the one at the far end. He opened it, and all I could see was darkness.
"From here, you have to do everything on your own," he said, forcing a smile.
I hesitated to enter. There wasn't a single trace of light. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and used it as a flashlight.
Step by step, I walked inside. After a few more steps, the door suddenly closed. Just as I turned back, the last thing I saw was my uncle's sad face.
I tried to run back to stop the door, but I was too late. I even tried to open it again, but it was no use.
Damn it! Is this a setup?
Did he plan something bad? Is that why he didn't let Honey come in with me? Please, don't tell me he's after the money too.
Out of nowhere, a light from a box lit up. I went closer to check it out. It was a projector box.
Is this what the remote control is for? I removed the cover that was blocking the circular lens of the projector.
The light spread across the wall, which now looked like a screen. There were three options on the display: Play, Pause, and Stop. Almost the same as the buttons on the remote.
Even though I wasn't sure, I pressed the Play button on the remote. Something appeared on the screen. A video was about to play… and there was a woman in it.
It's Mom...
I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. It was Mom. My own mother, whom I haven't seen for so long.
I didn't understand why she was in the video.
"Keifer..." she started. "...if you're watching this, it means I didn't make it to your 18th birthday," she said, and my tears started to fall.