Chapter 28
The Proposal I Dreamed… But Not For Me
(Jay's POV)
Papa came back.
The house felt… heavy again.
Like something had returned.
Something strict.
Something I couldn't breathe around.
I stayed normal.
Acted normal.
But inside…
I was careful again.
Very careful.
Because now…
Everything mattered.
"Jay."
Mama called me.
"Yes?"
"We have guests coming."
"Who?"
She hesitated.
"Serina."
My heart skipped.
"What?"
"She's coming here."
Why?
My mind started racing.
Did she find out?
Did something happen?
Did Keifer say something?
"Mama… why?"
She looked at me.
Calm.
But her eyes…
held something I couldn't read.
"We'll talk."
That didn't help.
Not at all.
I got ready.
But my hands…
were shaking.
Serina.
His mother.
Coming here.
To my house.
To meet my father.
There was only one reason for that.
Right?
My heart started beating faster.
Too fast.
What if…
What if she knows?
What if she came for…
Him?
For us?
The doorbell rang.
My heart stopped.
Papa opened the door.
"Serina!"
Warm greeting.
Respect.
Familiarity.
Of course.
They knew each other.
Business.
Connections.
I stood at a distance.
Watching.
Waiting.
She walked in.
Elegant.
Calm.
Powerful.
Her eyes scanned the room.
And then—
They stopped on me.
A small smile.
Recognizing.
And in that moment…
My heart filled with hope.
She knows me.
She likes me.
She came here.
Maybe…
Maybe it's for him.
Maybe…
This is it.
"Jay," Mama called softly.
I walked forward.
"Namaste."
"Namaste," she replied.
Her eyes were gentle.
Warm.
And that gave me courage.
We all sat down.
Papa.
Mama.
Serina.
And me…
sitting quietly.
Trying to control my heartbeat.
Some formal talks first.
Business.
Family.
Normal things.
But I couldn't focus.
Because I was waiting.
For that one moment.
That one sentence.
Then—
Serina looked at Papa.
"I came here with a proposal."
My heart stopped.
This was it.
I looked at her.
Breath held.
Hope rising.
Everything inside me…
waiting.
"For my son."
My eyes widened slightly.
Keifer.
It has to be him.
It has to be.
Because…
Because why else would she smile at me like that?
Why else would she come here?
Why else would everything feel like this?
Papa smiled.
"That's wonderful."
Mama stayed silent.
Watching me.
But I didn't notice.
I was too lost.
In that hope.
In that dream.
Serina continued.
"My elder son."
Everything broke.
Silently.
Completely.
Kasper.
Not him.
Not Keifer.
Kasper.
My ears started ringing.
My body felt numb.
I couldn't hear anything properly.
Just that one word.
Elder.
"She is perfect for him."
Perfect.
For him.
Not for me.
Not for us.
I looked at Mama.
Her eyes were already on me.
Soft.
Sad.
Like she knew this would happen.
I tried to breathe.
But it felt heavy.
Too heavy.
Because just a moment ago…
I thought this was my future.
With him.
But now…
It was being decided.
With someone else.
His brother.
"I would like Jay to marry Kasper."
That sentence.
It didn't just hurt.
It destroyed something.
Inside me.
I sat there.
Silent.
Still.
Like nothing happened.
Like I was okay.
But inside…
Everything was collapsing.
Because how do you react…
When the life you wanted…
Is given to someone else?
And the worst part?
I couldn't say a word.
Not in front of Papa.
Not in front of her.
Not in front of anyone.
Because no one knew.
No one knew…
That I already belonged to someone else.
Someone sitting in that same house…
As their son.
As their brother.
And as the one I couldn't even look at right now.
Because if I do…
I might break completely.
And this time…
There was no hiding.
No escaping.
No pretending.
Because this wasn't just love anymore.
This was family.
Decision.
Promise.
And a future…
I didn't choose.
To be continued…