Chapter 261 - Key

Keifer's POV

"She's in the way..." Keigan said.

The glass I was holding slipped from my grip, shattering in my palm and spilling wine across the counter.

"Don't fucking tell me what to do. You're just my brother."

I heard him chuckle. I didn't want to listen to him. I didn't like people telling me what to do—especially when it came to Jay-Jay.

I watched the blood drip from my palm, mixing with the spilled wine.

"Honey! Don't just sit there! Talk to him!" Keigan shouted at Honey.

"What's the point? He won't listen anyway," she replied.

Frustrated, he marched toward me and forced me to face him. I met his gaze with a blank stare as he gripped my shirt tightly.

"You're blinded by your love. You can't even focus on our problem anymore."

I shoved his hand away and walked past him, ignoring Honey as she reached out to me.

"You're drunk," she said, but I chose to ignore her.

I didn't want to talk to anyone. The only person I wanted to see was Jay-Jay. But every time I thought of her, I remembered what she and David did.

I wanted to rip his throat out.

He kissed Jay-Jay. He kissed my Jay-Jay. No one is allowed to kiss her except me. I wanted to hurt them—all the men who had claimed her lips.

A sharp pain shot through my chest. It hurt every time I remembered how Yuri and David had kissed her. It felt like she just let it happen. I knew she wasn't that kind of woman, but I couldn't help how I felt.

After coming back from London, I had gone straight to her. I needed strength after everything I had endured at the hands of our greedy relatives. But I hadn't expected to be shattered that day.

I kept trying to convince myself that she hadn't done it on purpose.

But it still hurt like hell.

I didn't realize I had reached the door opposite my room until I stopped. I glanced at it—the room where I had let Jay-Jay sleep.

Without thinking, my hands moved on their own. I stepped inside. The lights were off, but my eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. I walked toward the bed and lay down.

I still remembered the first night I let her sleep here. I had watched her like a predator watching its prey. She had slept with her mouth slightly open, and I had found it amusing.

"Jay..." I whispered before my eyes closed, pulling me into sleep.

I didn't know I would regret it so soon.

"You are no different from your father. You're a bastard—useless and nothing but dirt on our family name." One of the elders spat the words through clenched teeth.

I just hoped he wouldn't have a heart attack. He seemed that furious with me. I ignored him, continuing to read the documents in front of me while they all stared. The rest of my relatives stood at the far end of the very long table.

I set the papers down and looked at them—The Watson Family.

There were more of them than I had expected, and I knew some of my cousins from overseas weren't even here yet. The younger ones carrying the family surname hadn't appeared either.

"What exactly is the reason you're here?" I asked, feigning confusion.

I already knew the answer—I just liked messing with them. Especially the elders.

They were my grandfather's brothers, yet they never summoned him. And as for me? They didn't even acknowledge me as his grandchild.

"His Filipino brain doesn't understand us," one of my cousins said, and they all laughed.

"Keifer..." Honey whispered from behind me. "...let's go. You got what you needed."

I didn't pay attention to what Honey said. Instead, I smiled at my cousin, whose body was bigger than a drum.

"And your penny-sized brain doesn't understand me," I replied, and their laughter stopped. "You will never have my money. It's all mine—only mine."

They all reacted at the same time, their anger evident. They were furious because they had nothing to gain from the fortune piling up in Watson's Bank. My mother's inheritance wasn't even included—that was my grandfather's money, which he saved and recklessly gambled away on the eldest son of my monster of a father.

Because of how much money was at stake, my relatives became desperate. They tried to claim it before I turned eighteen, but the bank was too strict. Even though they shared the Watson surname, they didn't get a single cent.

I stood up, ready to leave, when I suddenly heard the distinct sound of wood tapping against the shiny floor—the cane of the eldest sibling.

Since I arrived at the Watsons' house, I had never seen or heard him react to me. But now, for the first time, I heard his cane. The room fell silent, and I waited for what he had to say.

"That money is not yours," he said, standing up. "It belongs to Kaizer's firstborn child."

"I am his first—"

He cut me off. "You are not!"

I glanced at Honey. Her nervousness was obvious. I didn't expect things to escalate this quickly. My heart pounded, and sweat began to form on my forehead.

"What makes you think I'm not?" I asked, trying to hide my anxiety.

"Kaizer had many women before marrying your mother. It's not impossible that he had a child before you," one of the elders answered, mocking me.

I chuckled, full of pride. "Think whatever you want, but the money is still mine."

I didn't wait for their response. I walked out of the room, following Honey, who was wiping the sweat from her face.

"You were too obvious, Honey. They don't know the truth yet, and even if they suspect something, they don't know everything."

"You can't blame me," she muttered. "One mistake, and we lose everything we worked for."

I loosened my tie, feeling suffocated by the pressure. I had assumed they already knew, but their reactions suggested otherwise. Maybe they knew something I didn't.

"Keifer..." Mr. Ryder called out as he approached us. "Did you get it?"

I nodded and handed the papers and key to Honey. He read the tag attached to the large key. We continued walking.

"Watson's Bank?" Honey muttered. "How rich is your family? You even own a bank?"

"Honey, they're more than rich," Mr. Ryder answered. "They're elite."

We reached the grand staircase. As we descended, my cousin ascended, and not once had I acknowledged him as family. He stopped right in front of me.

"So, I guess I'm too late," he said, eyeing the key in Honey's hand.

I smirked at him, full of pride. I had won. I had Watson's fortune, and I was the new CEO of Watson Enterprise.

"Better luck next time—oh, wait! You don't have a next time," I mocked.

I patted his arm and walked past him. We were on the ground floor when he spoke again, making me freeze.

"You may have the money and the company, but what about your girl?" he said, laughing. "We all know you're going crazy over a girl named Jasper Jean Mariano."

I clenched my fists. I wanted to break his bones right then and there. I didn't want my Jay-Jay's name dragged into this.

"Make sure to keep her safe, Keifer," he added before finally walking away.

"That's a threat. You need to be careful," Mr. Ryder warned as he stepped outside.

Honey and I followed him. We got into one of the three Mercedes-Benzes parked outside. The other two belonged to my bodyguards. As the car moved, I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling. My idiot cousin was up to something. He was predictable, and he knew how to use that to his advantage.

I had to make sure Jay-Jay was safe. I immediately took my phone out of my pocket, about to dial her number—but I stopped. If I heard her voice, I knew I'd go home without a plan.

It had only been a day since I last saw her, but I was already dying to be with her. Still, I couldn't go back yet. There was too much to do. I was about to put my phone away when a message popped up. It was from Keigan.

📩

From: Keigan

Message: Your girlfriend is here.

What?!

I quickly dialed Keigan's number. It rang a few times before he finally answered.

"What took you so long to pick up?!" I snapped, irritated.

There was silence. I wasn't sure if the signal was bad or if something was wrong.

"Keigan?"

Out of nowhere, I heard a small laugh. A chill ran down my spine. Something felt off.

I knew this was my brother's voice, but the way he spoke—it was as if he were a different person. Lately, this had been happening more often.

But now wasn't the time to deal with his issues. I had more urgent matters to focus on. After all, he was the one who told me to stop prioritizing him and Keiren.

"I want to know what Jay-Jay was doing there."

"Nothing important," he replied nonchalantly. "She was looking for you, but since you weren't here, she left on her bicycle."

I knew she was worried. The last time we were together, I punched a tree out of frustration after seeing Yuri kiss her. Maybe she thought I was still mad.

"Don't say anything that'll make her worry,"

"Sure," he answered and hung up.

I'm sorry, Jay. You have to wait for a while.

I texted Ci-N, the rest of our classmates, and Yuri. I'm beyond pissed at that guy, but I have no one else to count on besides our friends—and him.

He can protect Jay-Jay just as I do.

Our car suddenly stopped. I looked out the window.

"Is this the Watson Bank?" Honey asked.

That's exactly what I wanted to ask. It wasn't the kind of bank I had expected. It looked like a brick castle, its walls covered in vines. The gate, however, looked new with its fresh black paint.

Someone opened the car door, so I got out. Honey and Mr. Ryder followed me.

"Mr. Mark Keifer Watson," a man in a business suit called out, walking toward me. "We've been expecting you."

I looked him over from head to toe. "Have you?"

"Oh, where are my manners?" He extended his hand. "I'm your mother's brother. Call me Sin."

I accepted his handshake and smiled at him. Mom used to talk about him and his mischievous adventures before he graduated from college. I never knew he worked at our bank. He let go and adjusted his suit. After briefly glancing at my companions, he turned back to me.

"Do you have the key?"

I extended my hand, and Honey quickly handed me the papers and an old key. I showed them to him.

"Follow me," he said.

Honey and Mr. Ryder attempted to follow, but the guards standing at both sides of the gate blocked them.

"They're with me," I said, but the guards didn't move.

"Sorry, but we can't allow them," my uncle stated.

I looked at Mr. Ryder. He nodded, as if giving me permission to continue alone. Reluctantly, I walked on with my uncle.

The path ahead was dark. At first, I thought we were in a hallway, but as we moved forward, I realized we were in a tunnel. A dim light flickered at the end, guiding our way.

"How are your brothers?" he suddenly asked.

I glanced at him briefly, but he kept his gaze forward.

"They're fine... I guess," I hesitated.

"Sorry I couldn't make it to your mom's funeral. I wasn't allowed to leave the bank back then."

I held my breath. None of Mom's family had attended her funeral. I barely knew my relatives, and they had always felt distant. But that was a long time ago. It doesn't really matter now.

"I understand. You had a duty to fulfill," I replied.

He stopped walking. We had reached the end of the tunnel, where a massive door loomed before us.

"Your mom was still my sister. It was my duty to protect her," he said, his expression solemn. "And I failed."

Before I could respond, he pushed the door open.

The first thing I saw was a grand fountain. The ceiling was made of glass, allowing faint light to illuminate the space. The floor was covered in pebbles, and the surrounding area resembled a garden, though the plants were withered.

Is this really a bank?

Three doors stood behind the fountain. Uncle Sin walked toward the first one and opened it.

"We need to move fast. The clock is ticking," he said, stepping inside.

He was right. I quickened my pace and followed him.

Inside, a marble counter stood at the center. Behind it, Uncle Sin was already at a keyboard, typing something. I glanced behind him and noticed an entire wall of safety deposit boxes.

After a moment, one of the boxes in the far corner clicked open.

I had no idea how he did that, but I knew why I was here—for the money my mother had left me. Uncle Sin walked over to the open box and retrieved something.

"What exactly is this?" I asked as he approached.

He gave me a small smile. "Everything your mom wanted you to see."

I raised an eyebrow. What she wanted me to see? He handed me a wooden box. It was locked, and the keyhole was so wide that I could almost peek inside.

I examined it for a moment before remembering the old key I had found in the mansion. I pulled it from my pocket. I had assumed the key was for the vault itself, but when I inserted it into the box, it fit perfectly.

I slowly turned the key. A soft click sounded. Uncle Sin watched me in silence, clearly waiting for me to discover the contents.

Why do I suddenly feel pressured?

Taking a deep breath, I opened the box. Inside, I found a small remote control and a piece of card. I stared at them in disbelief. Seriously? Who locks a remote control and a piece of card in a safety deposit box? This has to be a joke. Mom would never do something like this.

I nearly laughed at the absurdity, but Uncle Sin's serious expression kept me grounded. I picked up the card first. Golden letters were embossed on it, barely visible in the dim light. I tried to read it but failed.

So, I picked up the remote instead. It had only a few buttons—Play, Pause, Stop, and End—each in a different color.

"If you're done, follow me," Uncle Sin said.

I placed the remote and the card in my pocket, leaving the box behind. We exited the room and moved toward the last door. Uncle Sin opened it, revealing nothing but darkness.

"From here, you're on your own," he said with a forced smile.

I hesitated. There wasn't a single hint of light inside. I pulled out my phone and turned on the flashlight.

Slowly, I stepped inside.

A few steps later, the door slammed shut behind me. I turned around just in time to see my uncle's sorrowful expression before the door locked. I rushed back, trying to pry it open, but it was no use.

Damn it! Is this a setup?

Did he have bad intentions? Was this why he didn't let Honey come in? A soft glow appeared ahead. I turned toward it. A box sat in the middle of the room, projecting light onto the wall like a screen.

A projector? Is this what the remote is for?

I removed the cap blocking the projector lens. A menu appeared on the wall, displaying three options: Play, Pause, and Stop. They matched the buttons on the remote. Despite my uncertainty, I pressed Play. The screen flickered. A video began playing, revealing a woman.

I froze.

Mom...

I couldn't look away. Why is she in this video?

"Keifer..." she began. "...if you're watching this, it means I didn't make it to your 18th birthday."

Her voice cracked. My tears began to fall.