The silence of the Watson Manor was officially a thing of the past.
Within an hour of the boys arriving at the estate, the pristine, marble-floored hallways were filled with the scent of garlic rice, the sound of loud laughter, and the sight of Ci-N trying to see if he could slide down the grand mahogany banister without breaking a vase.
"Boss! This place is bigger than our entire school!" Josh shouted, bouncing on a sofa that cost more than a mid-sized car. "Can we keep the butler? He looks like he's never seen a Filipino eat with their hands before."
Keifer stood by the fireplace, a glass of water in his hand, watching the chaos with a look of pure, unadulterated peace. The "Cold King" had officially thawed. Beside him, Jay-jay leaned her head on his shoulder, her hand tucked into his.
"I think your staff is terrified," Jay-jay whispered, smiling as Felix and David debated which London landmark they should 'conquer' first
"Let them be terrified," Keifer replied, kissing her temple. "This house has been a tomb for too long. It needed some life. It needed Section E."
The kitchen doors swung open, and Seraphina walked out, looking as sharp as ever in a black cocktail dress. However, she was carrying a large tray of Lumpia that she had clearly ordered from a secret catering contact.
"If any of you get grease on the Persian rugs, I'm sending the cleaning bill to the Philippines," she said, her voice icy, but there was a unmistakable glint of amusement in her eyes.
"Sera! You're the best!" Ci-N cheered, lunging for the tray.
Seraphina deftly dodged him. "It's 'Ms. Watson' to you, brat. And sit down properly. We have a lot to discuss regarding the 'Revenge Phase 2.'"
The boys crowded around the dining table, the atmosphere shifting from celebration to strategy in a heartbeat. They were back in their element—the misfits who knew how to take down a giant.
While the boys were busy arguing over the Lumpia, Felix walked over to Keifer and Jay-jay. He looked older, the stress of the last few days having left a permanent mark of maturity on his face.
"So," Felix said, looking at their joined hands. "Is it official now? No more 'Consultant' and 'Boss' act?"
Keifer looked at Jay-jay, his gaze softening in a way that made even Felix look away for a second. "No more acts, Felix. From now on, she's the only person who calls the shots in this family."
"Good," Felix nodded, his voice thick with emotion. "Because if you ever let her walk into a lighthouse alone again, I won't just punch your hitman. I'll punch you."
"Fair enough," Keifer smirked, extending a hand.
Felix didn't shake it. Instead, he pulled Keifer into a brief, rough hug—a silent acknowledgement of the brotherhood they had regained.
Later that night, after the boys had finally crashed in the guest wing (mostly in one room, because they refused to sleep apart), Jay-jay stood on the balcony overlooking the London skyline
Keifer stepped out behind her, wrapping a cashmere throw around her shoulders. "You're thinking about the Grandfather."
I'm thinking about how close we came to losing everything," she admitted, leaning back against his chest. "If it weren't for the boys... if it weren't for you finding that tie..."
"We were never going to lose, Jay," Keifer said, his arms tightening around her. "Section E doesn't know how to lose. We just know how to wait for the right moment to strike."
He turned her around, his expression suddenly serious. "Tomorrow, we start the legal process to dismantle the rest of his shadow companies. But tonight... tonight we just breathe."
Jay-jay looked up at the moon, feeling the steady beat of Keifer's heart against her back. The war wasn't completely over—the legal battles would be long—but for the first time in a year, the Mutya wasn't afraid of the dark.