The engagement party glittered with warm lights and polite applause, but Keifer felt none of it. His chest tightened the moment Yuri Hanamitchi lifted Jay's hand and announced, with a proud, almost smug smile:
"Everyone, meet my wife-to-be."
The room erupted in cheers. Keifer's world collapsed in silence.
Jay didn't look at him. Not once. Her expression stayed calm, unreadable — the same mask she'd worn since the New Year.
Aries nudged Keifer gently. "Bro… breathe."
But Keifer couldn't. Not when the girl he loved stood beside another man. Not when Yuri's arm wrapped around her like he'd already won.
Then—
The doors slammed open.
Every head turned.
A woman stepped in — elegant, alive, breathtakingly familiar.
Keifer's heart stopped.
"M–Mom…?"
Gasps rippled across the hall. Aries stood up so fast his chair screeched. Yuri froze mid‑smile. Jay's eyes widened — not in shock, but in something closer to fear.
Behind the woman came two men:
Jasfer, Jay's father — grinning like he owned the place.
Percy, Jay's stepbrother — sunglasses indoors, striking a pose like a celebrity.
Percy spread his arms dramatically. "Miss my handsome face? Of course you do."
Aries choked. "Bro, you're alive?!"
Percy winked. "Alive, gorgeous, and still better-looking than all of you combined."
Jasfer slapped Percy's shoulder. "Stop flirting with your own friends, anak. Save it for the mirror."
Jay groaned softly. "Dad… please."
But the room wasn't looking at Percy or Jasfer.
They were staring at Serina.
Keifer's mother. Alive. Standing in the middle of his engagement party.
Keifer stumbled forward, voice cracking. "Mom… you're alive? How—why—"
Serina smiled gently, but her eyes flicked toward Jay — a silent warning.
Jay lowered her gaze.
Yuri's jaw tightened. "Jay… you knew?"
Jay didn't answer.
Jasfer stepped forward, clapping his hands loudly. "Alright! Before anyone faints — yes, Serina is alive. No, she didn't come to ruin the engagement. And yes, I'm still the most handsome dad in this room."
Percy scoffed. "Debatable."
"Shut up, Percy."
Serina finally spoke, her voice calm but firm. "I didn't know there was an engagement tonight. I came because… there's something important the company needs to hear."
She reached into her bag and handed a thick file to Anglo, the CEO standing near the stage.
"This," Serina said, "proves your company is not crashing. J&S Enterprises wants to partner with you."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Yuri blinked. "J&S…? As in the mysterious firm saving half the industry?"
Serina nodded.
Keifer frowned. "Who owns J&S?"
Jay stiffened.
Jasfer grinned like a kid caught stealing cookies. "Well… that would be Jay and Serina."
The room exploded.
Keifer's eyes snapped to Jay — betrayal, confusion, heartbreak all mixing at once.
Jay didn't flinch. But her expression said everything:
She never wanted Serina to appear tonight. She never wanted this secret revealed. And she definitely didn't want Keifer to look at her like that.
Yuri stepped closer to Jay, protective. "Why did you hide this from everyone?"
Jay swallowed. "Because her life is still in danger. Keizer thinks she's dead. Only Dad, Percy, and I knew."
Keifer's voice cracked. "And you didn't tell me? I'm your—"
He stopped. He wasn't hers anymore.
Serina stepped between them gently. "Keifer… anak… I wanted to tell you. But Jay protected me when no one else could. She saved my life."
Jay looked away, uncomfortable.
Jasfer threw an arm around Serina dramatically. "And for the record, we've been friends since childhood. We always planned for Jay and Keifer to marry someday."
Percy snorted. "Well… that aged beautifully."
Jay glared. "Percy, shut up."
Percy raised his hands. "Just saying."
Keifer stared at Jay — hurt, betrayed, longing.
Jay stared at the floor — guilty, guarded, unreadable.
Yuri tightened his hold on her hand.
And Serina… Serina watched them all with a mother's eyes.
The engagement party was no longer about rings or promises.
It had become a battlefield of secrets, loyalties, and a love that refused to die.