Chapter 300 - Gift

Keifer's POV

I dare not move. Angelo's gun is pointing directly at my head.

Is he planning to kill me?

"W-what's with the gun?" I tried my best to calm down, but my voice was shaking.

He smirked at me. "You look so funny, Keifer."

"Put that thing down, this ain't funny." I pointed his gun down.

He slowly lowered the gun but then raised it again. I stepped back, which made him laugh so hard.

"I can do this all day." He said.

"What the hell is this all about?!"

He smiled wickedly. "Testing you. Part of initiation."

He finally lowered the gun completely and put it back inside his tuxedo, tucking it into the holster on his side. He smirked as he turned away from me.

I was sweating bullets after what he did. Yes, I was familiar with guns, but this was Angelo in front of me. Besides having a grudge against me, he absolutely despises me.

"Congratulations, you passed my first initiation. You didn't surrender."

How will I surrender when all I want is to kick his balls?

"Seriously? That's how you do initiation?"

He raised a brow. "Do you want hazing? I am more than willing to paddle your face."

My forehead creased. "Is this what our discussion is all about?"

He turned serious before shaking his head. "The group is in a hurry to recruit you. Now that you're 18, they keep calling and asking me about your initiation."

He took something out of his coat pocket—a folded piece of paper. He handed it to me, but I just stared at it for a few minutes.

"Relax, this is just a paper."

I saw a glimpse of happiness on his face. I wanted to send my fist flying straight to his face. He was clearly enjoying teasing me.

I took the paper and opened it. It's an application form for the group. I stared at the symbol at the top of the paper.

I've seen this before.

This must be their group's symbol of identification. Strangely, the form was already filled out—with my name, personal details, and even the section where he said I should write Jay-jay's name.

"Signature please." He said, handing me a sign pen.

I took it without hesitation and signed the form. Then I returned both items to him.

He glanced at the paper before folding it again and putting it back in his pocket. Then I remembered we had another matter to discuss.

"Now, I believe you have something for me." He said.

"The last will of your Dad."

He pursed his lips before nodding. "I've been longing to have it."

"Tell me, why did you agree to what Mom wanted?"

He smirked. "So, you knew."

"I just found out."

"Agreeing to her request was a foolish decision, but I had my own personal reasons."

Maybe he doesn't know what my mom did to his dad. I'd rather he never find out about it.

"You'll get it after the party. I'll add my supporting documents so you can claim it without any issues. You're not named after him. You're not a Watson."

He paused for a while before touching his lips with his index finger.

"I'm just thinking… what would happen if I tell everyone here…" He smirked at me. "…that I'm a real Watson, and I'm your older brother."

I laughed at what he said. Angelo is really impossible sometimes.

"You could try. Trust me, they will definitely be glad to hear that."

He shook his head. "Nah… I won't take the risk. I'm not interested in your money. I have my own."

I simply nodded. He checked the time on his wristwatch.

"I only have limited time here. I need to get back home as soon as possible." He said before pulling out his phone. "I have a task for you. Part of your initiation."

"Bring it on."

"Find her. Find Janine Ion Borromeo." He said with soft features. "And tell her that I forgive her. She no longer needs to hide."

Why do I have this feeling that he's bidding goodbye?

I knew that he was aware Ion was with me. His task is not really a task but more like a favor.

"I will."

"Thank you." I saw pain in his eyes, but he turned around immediately before I could confirm it. "Now, help me find Schnee."

He opened the door and stepped out. I was left staring at him.

Ion is a very kind woman. She deserves to be happy, and I know she's going through with this engagement for a reason. I also knew that she wanted to see Angelo again. But I'm afraid she won't be able to handle it when she finds out that Angelo is ending everything between them.

This could be her last chance.

I quickly stepped out to follow Angelo. I tapped his shoulder and walked alongside him.

"Stay here for a while. I want to show you something." I said, but I didn't wait for his answer.

I immediately started searching for Ion. I went to the same place where I had left her earlier. I saw Hazel, but Ion was nowhere near her. I looked around, hoping to catch sight of her.

I saw Honey, who seemed to be staring at someone. I approached her right away.

"Have you seen Ion?"

She pointed her finger toward the kitchen door—the same place she had been looking at before.

I quickly walked in that direction. The kitchen had been busy the whole night. It seemed like no one had noticed if someone had come in. I scanned the area. The kitchen was too large, but I eventually reached the area near the fire exit. There weren't many people around that part.

Ion was standing there, resting her back against the wall.

She was crying while trying her best to calm down.

"Ion." I called her.

She looked at me and shook her head. She signaled with her hand for me to hide behind the post.

My forehead creased, but I still followed her.

She also told me to stay silent.

A few minutes later, I heard running footsteps toward her. A man wearing a waiter's uniform immediately hugged her.

Rafael

"Are you okay? Calm down. He's here. Everything is according to plan. You just need to show up with Keifer." He said while helping her calm down.

"N-no. I can't do this anymore," she said while pushing Rafael. "Keifer is just a kid. Let's not involve him in this anymore."

He held her face. "He's our only hope to return to the Philippines. Your parents need you. I have nothing left, Ion, and someone is waiting for me. Please." He was begging.

"I'm so sorry. I can't. I can't face Angelo yet. Not after everything I've done to him."

Rafael let her go. I saw frustration in his eyes. He pulled his hair and rubbed his face.

"So this is it? We're just going to let your parents rot in jail? What about me? What about the woman waiting for me?" He said and punched the wall beside him.

"Keifer deserves better. Let's not use him for our personal problems. My parents made a mistake—if they deserve to be in jail, so be it. And you, you need to see your brother."

"What about our deal with his brother?"

Keigan?

Ion shook her head. "He is just a kid. I don't understand why you're letting him manipulate you."

"I'm desperate."

"So am I. But I don't want to do this. I never agreed to this. And Keifer has his own battles to fight. I'm sorry if I can't help you."

So this is what it's all about. Keigan wants to get rid of Jay-jay in my life, and he used Ion to fulfill his plan. Since Rafael and Ion needed help, my brother took advantage of that.

Why do I feel so messed up?

My brother is manipulating everything. I don't understand why he's doing this, but I feel a sharp pain in my chest.

I stepped out from behind the post. "I knew it, you guys were up to something."

Rafael immediately looked at me. Ion wiped her tears and looked away.

"K-Keifer…"

I stepped forward. "You've changed."

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I was just desperate—"

"I heard it all. We'll talk about it later. For now, I think Ion needs to come out."

She looked at me, confused. "W-why? Does he know?"

"I'm not sure. But he told me to tell you that you no longer need to hide. He forgives you."

There was pain in her eyes. She knew Angelo was saying goodbye to her. She immediately ran. Rafael was about to follow her, but I stopped him.

"Stay here. If he sees you, whatever's left between them will only get worse." I said, and he nodded.

I was the one who followed Ion. I ran as fast as I could. I caught up with her just as she bumped into a waiter upon exiting the door.

People were looking at her. She was a mess and weak. I grabbed her arm and helped her stand.

"Where have you been?" It was Hazel, walking toward us. "Your friend is about to leave."

I looked at the open doors of the hall. I grabbed Ion's wrist and pulled her. We ran as fast as we could, but her dress and heels were making it difficult for her. She almost tripped several times.

We had just stepped out of the mansion when I let go of her. She fell to her knees upon seeing Angelo's car leaving.

"I'm so sorry," she said and cried. "I shouldn't have run away from you."

I can't do anything but watch her in misery. As much as I want to help her, it's better if I don't. I've already meddled too much in their lives. Their fate and destiny are their own to decide.

My secret phone vibrated. I took it out of my pocket to see a text message from him.

From: Demon

Message: I forgive her, but I just realized that I'm not ready to face her.

I smirked before putting my phone back in my pocket. I took out a handkerchief from my other pocket. I kneeled halfway and handed it to Ion.

"I don't think he really can say goodbye to you."

She accepted the handkerchief. I removed my coat and wrapped it around her.

"You don't know him."

"But you don't know how his feelings work," I said and helped her stand.

She continued to stare in the direction Angelo's car had gone. Maybe not now, but in the future, they will have their chance. And it will be up to them whether they continue what they started before.

I put an arm around her shoulder as I helped her back inside. I took her to one of the guest rooms in the mansion.

"Rest. I will look for Rafael," I said and was about to leave when she called me just as I was closing the do or.

"I'm sorry… I'm really sorry." I heard her sobs again.

I closed the door and let her cry her heart out.

I went back to the hall to look for Rafael, but the Elders blocked my way.

"Where is he? Where is Angelo?" the eldest one asked.

"Gone. He needs to be somewhere." I answered.

He turned to his brothers. "Get in touch with him. I want to know him better."

You're just wasting your time.

I ignored them and continued searching. I checked the kitchen, but he wasn't there anymore. I returned to the hall only to see that the party had gotten even wilder.

Hazel was obviously drunk with our other cousins. Honey was ignoring the people around her and kept typing on her phone. I have this feeling that I know exactly who she's talking to.

I checked my watch. It's nearly midnight. My birthday is almost over, and my life as the heir is about to begin.

I sighed. My real battle is just about to start.

But am I strong enough?

I approached the bar and ordered a drink. I secretly glanced at my secret phone. Still no message from her. She's probably busy or still sleeping.

I put my phone back in my pocket before finishing my drink. After all of this, I will fight for the woman I love, even if the whole world is against me.

I continued looking for Rafael. I stepped out of the hall, and after a long search, I finally found him standing by the grand staircase of the mansion, talking on the phone.

Devastation was evident on his face. He lowered his phone while staring blankly into space. I walked closer to him.

"If you badly want to go back to the Philippines, I can help you with that," I said, stopping beside him.

He slightly turned his head. "It's pointless. Angelo will never let me see her. He's getting back at me for helping Ion."

"Let's talk about it with Ion."

I gestured for him to follow me. I took him to the room where I had left Ion. I knocked before opening the door.

"Rafael." Ion said with an apologetic look.

"I was wrong. Angelo still found out the truth," he said, looking down. "And my brother has already found me."

"So what's your plan?" I asked, leaning my back against the wall.

They looked at each other as if waiting for confirmation from one another before speaking.

"I need a break," Ion said before looking down at her hands. "Probably a few months of vacation."

"How about your residency?"

"I'll continue it when I get back."

I nodded slightly and turned my gaze to Rafael. He pursed his lips.

"No more running." He said. "I will talk to my brother now."

They both decided to stop the plan. Keigan will definitely not like it. I'll take care of these two. It's better if he doesn't interfere with them anymore.

"I will help you both. Let me do whatever you need—."

"No, Keifer." It was Ion who stopped me. "We've caused too much trouble."

"As long as it will not affect the woman I love the most, I will consider it nothing."

They both smiled while looking at me.

I raised an eyebrow at their reaction.

That's how I wanted to call my Jay-jay.

"I'm starting to see Angelo's second version here," Rafael said, and Ion laughed a little.

"Don't be surprised. Keifer is his apprentice anyway."

I rolled my eyes. They really had to point that out.

We continued our conversation about their plan. They insisted on doing it without my help, but I was more persistent. In the end, Ion would travel to Paris to visit her friends, while Rafael would wait for his brother to pick him up—who was none other than Mr. Moskovoski.

I wasn't even surprised. From the moment we met and he asked about Rafael and Angelo, my gut had been telling me something was off.

After our conversation, they decided to go home. They lived in the same place. The house where I met Ion again actually belonged to Rafael's grandmother.

I just stood there, watching their car drive away. I checked the time—it was now past 12.

And here comes the Watson's heir.

I went back to the hall, where the party was still very much alive. I walked straight to the mini stage, grabbed the mic, and spoke.

A sharp sound echoed through the speakers, catching everyone's attention. The music lowered.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to my birthday's final celebration. It's already past 12, and you know what that means?"

Most of them shook their heads. Hazel raised her fingers.

"It's the end of the party?" she asked.

Some of them laughed. I saw the Elders looking at me fiercely.

"It means that I'm no longer a kid. I am now truly the heir of the family. So to those who are about to get in my way, be ready to be crushed." I looked at everybody. "So if I were you, my dear cousins, uncles, and aunties," I looked at the Elders, "Grandfathers," I smirked, enjoying the sight of them getting pissed. "I'd choose wisely. Be my ally and help me out, or be my enemy and die unpeacefully."

I dropped the mic and stepped down from the mini stage. As I walked through the crowd, I felt Honey following behind me.

"Trying to act cool? It doesn't even suit you." She commented.

I ignored her and kept walking.

Once we stepped outside the mansion, I stopped for a moment, and for some reason, I finally breathed normally.

No more pressure. No more worries. I am free to move, and I can do everything now.

For my brothers and for my Jay-jay.