Jay's POV
They walked out behind me.
The massive wooden doors of the Fernandez mansion closed with a heavy thud behind us.
For a second, I just stood there.
The cold night air hit my face.
Sharp.Real.Final.
Inside that house—
Seventeen years of my life with the Fernandez family had just ended.Kalix stepped beside Percy and adjusted the folder under his arm.
His expression was calm, almost impressed.
"I'll process everything tonight," he said professionally. "By morning the documents will be filed and the legal transition will be underway."
He glanced at me briefly.
Then gave a small respectful nod.
"Congratulations, Miss Jasper Jean Mariano."
Miss Jasper Jean Mariano.
The name still felt strange in my ears because they always heard Jasper Jean Fernandez Mariano, cousin of Angelo and Aries, daughter of Jeana but now I am only the daughter of Jashfer Mariano and have only one big brother Percy Mariano nothing more nothing less.
Kalix turned and walked toward his car, already dialing someone on his phone.
Business never stopped.
Percy watched him go before looking back at me.For a moment he didn't say anything.
His eyes scanned my face carefully.Like he was checking if I was still holding myself together.
Then suddenly—
His usual lazy grin appeared.
"Well," he sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck.
"That was one hell of a family reunion."
Despite everything—
A small breath of air left my chest.Not quite a laugh.But close.
Percy tilted his head toward the car.
"So…"
He opened the passenger door.
"Shall we get you home, baby sistah?"
The nickname almost broke me.Because for the first time tonight—
It sounded real.Not forced.Not fake.
Just… warm.
I nodded slowly.
"Of course, big bro."
My voice was softer now.
Tired.
"Let's go."
The drive was quiet.
Not the suffocating silence from earlier.
Just… quiet.
The city lights passed outside the window again.
But this time they felt different.
Like the world had shifted slightly.
Like I had stepped into someone else's life.
After about thirty minutes the car slowed down.
Tall iron gates appeared in front of us.They opened immediately.The driveway stretched forward through perfectly manicured gardens.
Fountains.Tall palm trees.Soft golden lights lining the path.
The Mariano estate.
I stared out the window.
This place looked like something out of a movie.The car stopped in front of the main entrance.The doors opened before we even got out.
Several housemaids stood lined up near the entrance.
Perfect posture.Polite smiles.Waiting.
The moment I stepped out of the car—
They bowed slightly.
"Good evening, Miss Jay."
The words made my chest feel strange.
Just… unfamiliar.
Percy walked beside me casually.
"Relax," he murmured under his breath.
"They've been preparing since grandfather heard you were coming,he has been calling them non stop to make everything spotless and that not even one mistake would be tolerated by him since he couldn't come.."
Of course they had, as told by percy he is ruthless in terms of perfection..
We stepped inside.
The mansion was huge.
High ceilings.
Crystal chandeliers.
Polished marble floors that reflected the light.
Everything felt quiet.
Ordered.
Controlled.
Nothing like the chaos I had just left behind.
Percy gestured for one of the maids to take my small bag.
Then he started walking toward the staircase.
"Come on."
I followed him upstairs.
The hallway stretched long with tall windows overlooking the gardens.
He stopped in front of a large white door.
"This one is your room."
He opened it.
And stepped aside.
I walked inside.
My breath caught.
The room was enormous.
Soft warm lighting.
A king-sized bed with white sheets.
A sitting area near the window.
A desk.
And across the room—
A massive walk-in closet.
Everything looked new.
Prepared.
Like they had been waiting for me.
Percy leaned against the doorframe.
"Too much?" he asked casually.
I shook my head slowly.
"No.... It's way too much...."
He chuckled..
My voice was quiet.
"it just… different."
He nodded.
"Well you are a Mariano everything is apparently really big in the family...."
He pushed himself off the wall.
"Anyways today has been....hectic and tiring so you should get some rest.."
I didn't answer.Because that would have been an understatement.He gave me one last look.
"Goodnight, baby sistah.Rest well. "
Then he left.
The door clicked shut.
And suddenly—The room felt very quiet.Very empty.I walked slowly toward the bathroom.
Turned on the shower.Hot water filled the room with steam.I stepped under it.
And for the first few minutes—I just stood there.The water running over my hair.
Over my face.Over my shoulders.Washing away the day.The mansion.The voices.The humiliation.The anger.
Then suddenly—
My chest tightened.
My breathing hitched.
And the tears came.
Uncontrollable.
I pressed my hand against the shower wall and bent forward as the sobs ripped out of my chest.
Everything hurt.
My family.
My brother.
My mother.
Keifer.
The memories crashed through my mind like broken glass.
The laughter in the classroom.
His voice saying—
"I used you."
My knees almost gave out.
Seventeen years.
All gone.
And no matter how strong I looked in that house tonight—
I was still just a girl who had lost everything in one day.
The crying didn't stop for a long time.
But eventually—
The tears ran out.The pain dulled.And the exhaustion finally took over.I turned off the water.Dried off slowly.
Changed into the soft clothes left on the bed.
Then climbed under the blankets.The mattress sank slightly under my weight.
The room was dark now.
Silent.
My eyes stared at the ceiling.
My chest still aching.
But somewhere deep inside—
Something new had started forming.
Not weakness.
Not fear.
Something colder.
Stronger.
Because tonight—
Jasper Jean Fernandez Mariano had died.
And tomorrow—
The world would meet the one and the only Jasper Jean Mariano.
And this time no one would be able to break her again....
No one would ever break her again.