Chapter 152 - Gun

Jay-Jay's POV

Everyone froze. Literally stopped. The man in the black suit standing in front of me gave me a murderous glare, his gun still aimed at me.

"Pull the trigger!" I repeated, my voice unwavering.

The man glanced between Keifer's father and me.

"Jay! Shut up!" Aries yelled.

I ignored him. My eyes remained locked on the bastard in front of me.

"Go ahead, do it," I taunted.

"What the hell are you doing, Jay?!" Yuri asked angrily.

I didn't answer him either. The man in front of me didn't blink. Just try it—I dare you—I'll be the one to close his eyelids.

"Come on! Pull the trigger!" I screamed. "...You can't, can you?" I smirked when he didn't respond. "...What will people say when they find out a student was killed because of the Watsons? That would be a disgrace to you."

Silence. Everyone seemed to understand exactly what I meant.

"...Can you really kill a student without a fight?" I pressed.

Even the other man in a black suit, holding a gun, seemed to hesitate.

"...What will your business partners think? What will the public say? And most importantly, what will my father say to you?"

Dead silence.

I glanced around. Some of them were looking at Keifer's father, waiting for his reaction. But the one in front of me? His glare remained steady.

Suddenly, Keifer's father began clapping slowly as he walked toward me.

"Lower your guns," he ordered, then turned to face me. "...You're a brave woman, you know that?"

If only he knew—the courage I had been saving up to finally stand up to my older brother... I think I used it all just now.

I didn't respond. He stepped toward Keifer and took the document from his hand.

"I thought I had you cornered this time... but it seems I was wrong," he said, then turned his gaze back to me. "...You and your friends can leave now. We'll talk again next time."

He walked away, his men following him. But as he passed me, I shot him a glare before turning away.

Look Again!

The moment they disappeared from sight, my knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the floor. Ci-N and David immediately rushed to support me.

The fear I had been suppressing earlier finally crashed over me. My body was shaking. My heart was pounding so fast it felt like it would jump out of my chest.

"Jay, are you okay?" David asked.

I clutched his arm. "Jusme! I thought I was going to die!"

I glanced at Yuri, who was trying to help Keifer up. That stubborn idiot kept refusing assistance, of course.

"That was brave of you... I'm proud," Ci-N said.

Nak!

I managed a weak smile. While the others fussed over me, I didn't even notice Keifer approaching.

"Are you out of your mind?!" he snapped, furious.

Everyone turned to look at us.

"...Do you even realize who you just challenged?!"

I shook my head. I had no idea who that was—just some staff member of Keifer's father, I assumed.

"That was Dylan! He's a professional hitman!"

H-h-h-hitman?!

I challenged a professional hitman? I challenged? I CHALLENGED?!

My legs gave out again, and I sank back onto the floor.

"Jay!" They rushed to support me again, but this time, I had no strength left to stand.

I just stared blankly. I faced Death!

I really thought I was brave—but if that guy had pulled the trigger, damn it! I would've gone home as a cold corpse!

"I-I almost died," I stammered, still trembling.

"Yeah, but you didn't. So it's fine," Ci-N said casually.

If I had the energy, I would've smacked him. But I was too drained to even be annoyed.

"Where's Keiren?" Keigan suddenly asked.

My hands were still shaking as I pointed toward the table where I had hidden him.

Keigan immediately ran over and lifted the tablecloth. Keiren crawled out and clung to him. Keifer rushed over as well, immediately pulling both of his brothers into a tight embrace.

Some might find the sight cheesy. But to me, it was powerful.

"Maybe we should get out of here," Drew suggested.

Everyone agreed. David kept supporting me as we walked. I glanced at Aries and Ella. They were watching me, as if silently discussing something.

Once outside, Keifer helped Keigan and Keiren into the car. Then he turned to face me, his expression dark.

"Don't ever do that again!" he snapped.

"Keifer! He only did that to help you!" Felix defended me.

"What if Dylan had done what he said?!" Keifer snapped.

We all fell silent. He was right. What if Dylan had actually pulled the trigger? But if I hadn't done what I did, Keifer might have signed the paper, and all of his mother's hard work would have been for nothing.

"...You just gave them a new idea of what to do next!"

His words stung. I felt a sharp pain in my chest as I listened. Was I just a burden to him?

"...Next time, think before acting recklessly!" He added before getting into his car.

"Come on, Keifer... He was just trying to help you," David said, turning to me.

I simply nodded in response. But it didn't feel that way…

It felt heavy. All I wanted was to help, but somehow, it seemed like I had only made things worse.

"Don't overthink it. Even I was mad at what you did," Yuri admitted. "...But still, thank you for doing it."

I smiled at him. At least someone appreciated what I did. But… he wasn't the person I had hoped would.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Third Person's POV

1... 2... 3...

Dylan counted silently in his mind, recalling the number of bullets in the gun he had held earlier.

The same gun he had aimed at Jay-Jay.

His fingers twitched. He didn't care about money like most hitmen. His palm only itched when he was about to pull the trigger.

Killing was his life. It wasn't about the payment—he could kill for free.

It was the feeling he got when he killed. That was what he craved.

"How many times are you going to count those bullets?" His boss asked Keifer's father.

Kaiser Watson.

Dylan turned his gaze toward the window, watching Keifer's classmates as they left.

"I'm sorry…" Dylan muttered, tucking his gun away. "...May I ask why you didn't let us finish them off?"

Kaiser let out a small chuckle.

Dylan couldn't understand why his boss had suddenly decided against killing Keifer's classmates, even though he had the power to do so.

"Because of that girl… She made a good point," Kaiser said. "...She impressed me."

Dylan thought about it. That woman—she had real courage. But even so, he had seen her fear.

And fear was something he loved to see in his victims.

"You know Jeana, don't you?" Kaiser asked. "...Somehow, I see her in that girl. They really are mother and daughter."

Dylan had only met Jeana once. It had been a long time ago. He didn't understand what Kaiser meant.

"What are your plans for Keifer?" he asked, changing the subject.

Kaiser poured himself a glass of wine from a nearby table.

"I need to get Keiren. That woman's financial holder is a pain. I can't access their money unless they're under my control," he explained. "...And as for Keifer, I need him dead. I can't take him by force, and I can't break him physically."

"What about Keigan?" Dylan asked.

If there was any humanity left in Dylan, it was his concern for the child he had once cared for.

"Keigan is useless to me. I already took his share of the money. What I need now is Keifer and Keiren's inheritance."

Dylan lowered his head. They were talking about big money. Since the children were minors, all of their mother's wealth was under the control of a financial guardian. The only money they had access to was a small allowance.

Kaiser had already drained Keigan's funds when the boy fell into his trap. And once he had taken everything he needed, he had discarded Keigan like trash.

Kaiser had no love for his children. Not even for his late wife.

"Call my lawyer. I need to speak with them." Kaiser ordered.

Dylan nodded and left the room. He did as he was told, pulling out his phone to make the call.

But before he could dial, another call came in.

"Hello…" Dylan answered.

["Next time, inform us of his plans in advance."] A voice on the other end snapped.

"Sorry… I didn't have time to send a message."

["We're not idiots! You should've found a way!"] The person shouted angrily.

"I'm really sorry…"

["We'll deal with that later. But what you did to Jay-Jay? That's unforgivable. We'll talk about it when we meet."]

The call ended abruptly.

Dylan clenched his jaw.

Maybe this was the right thing to do.

For once, he wanted to atone for his sins. And helping those kids… That was the only way he saw to do it.