Keifer stood there for a moment, his face unreadable.
The mansion felt silent, like it was waiting for his next words.
Jay watched him carefully, sensing that whatever he was about to say was important.
He finally spoke, his voice quiet and steady.
"I didn't always know how to love," Keifer said.
Jay blinked, confused.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Keifer's eyes looked far away, as if he was remembering something he had tried to forget.
"When I was younger," he began, "I believed love was something that only existed in stories. Something people used to make others feel safe. But in my world, love was just a weakness."
Jay's heart tightened.
Keifer continued, his voice still calm but with a hint of pain.
"I grew up in a place where everyone wanted something from you," he said. "People didn't care about who you were. They cared about what you could give them."
Jay nodded slowly, understanding.
"I learned early that if you showed emotions, people would use them against you," Keifer said. "So I stopped showing them."
Jay swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on him.
"So you built walls," she said softly.
Keifer nodded.
"Not just walls," he replied. "A whole fortress."
Jay's voice became gentle.
"Then what changed?" she asked.
Keifer's eyes met hers, and for the first time, his expression looked vulnerable.
"Then I met someone," he said.
Jay's breath caught.
Keifer paused, as if the memory was painful.
"I trusted him," Keifer continued. "I trusted him more than anyone. I believed he was the one person who wouldn't leave."
Jay's eyes widened.
"And?" she whispered.
Keifer's jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened.
"He left," he said simply.
Jay's heart hurt.
Keifer took a deep breath, and his voice became quieter.
"He didn't just leave," he said. "He abandoned me in the worst way."
Jay's eyes filled with tears, but she didn't speak. She waited.
Keifer continued.
"I was young," he said. "I didn't understand. I thought maybe I did something wrong. Maybe I wasn't good enough."
Jay's throat tightened.
"I promised myself that if anyone ever left me again, I wouldn't let it hurt me," Keifer said. "So I stopped letting people get close."
Jay felt her heart break for him.
She could see now why he was distant. Not because he didn't care, but because he was scared.
Keifer looked at her, his voice becoming more intense.
"And then I met you," he said.
Jay's eyes widened.
Keifer continued, his tone softening.
"You're the first person who made me feel like I could let my guard down," he said. "The first person who made me feel like I could actually trust someone."
Jay's eyes filled with tears.
Keifer stepped closer, his gaze locked on hers.
"But I was scared," he admitted. "Scared that if I let myself care… you would leave too."
Jay's voice shook.
"I would never leave you," she whispered.
Keifer's expression softened, but the pain was still there.
"I know," he said quietly. "But I couldn't risk it. Not again."
Jay took a step forward.
She reached out and placed her hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat.
"Keifer," she whispered, "I'm not like them."
Keifer's eyes softened.
"I know," he said.
Jay's voice became firm.
"I'm not the kind of person who leaves," she said. "I've been stuck in a life where I had no choice. But I'm not the kind of person who will abandon someone I love."
Keifer's eyes widened slightly, and for the first time, he looked like he was truly listening.
Jay continued, her voice trembling but strong.
"You may think I'm married," she said. "But I'm not trapped in my heart. I'm not trapped in my feelings."
Keifer stared at her, his eyes searching hers.
Jay took a deep breath.
"And I fell for you," she said. "Because you made me feel seen."
Keifer's expression softened, and he nodded slowly.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I should've trusted you."
Jay shook her head.
"You didn't know," she said gently. "You were just protecting yourself."
Keifer looked down for a moment, then back at her.
"I don't want to protect myself anymore," he said quietly. "Not if it means losing you."
Jay's eyes filled with tears.
She smiled through them.
"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered.
Keifer nodded, his eyes filled with emotion.
And in that moment, Jay understood why he had been distant.
Not because he didn't care.
But because he was scared.
Scared of being hurt again.