Chapter 262 - Mother's Love

Keifer's POV

I woke up with tears in my eyes. Even in my dreams, the weight of everything still lingers.

"Keifer..."

Her voice. My mom's voice—it haunts me. I tried to get up, but pain immediately shot through my body.

"Damn it," I whispered, massaging my head.

I looked at the time on my wristwatch. 1:04 AM. I had only slept for a short time, but it felt like an entire day.

I lay back down, forcing myself to sleep. I needed strength. It felt like I had lost something in my anger.

As I closed my eyes, my mom's face appeared.

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

Mom...

Her eyes looked so sad. My knees suddenly felt weak. Seeing her talk in this video made me want to see her so badly. It felt like she was alive again.

I had wanted to hear her voice for so long—her voice calling my name, singing lullabies to me and Keigan, and most of all, the way she said, "I love you."

"Mom... I miss you so much," I said through my tears.

"I'm sorry, my Keifer," she said, and I noticed her touching her belly.

She's pregnant?

I wiped my tears and looked at her carefully. I tried to determine the possible time and date this video was recorded.

From the way she looked, she seemed to be pregnant with Keiren. Her belly was huge—around 8 or 9 months. She also looked slightly healthier than usual, unlike how she appeared when Keigan and I were little. That proved this video was taken during her pregnancy with Keiren.

But why? Why at that time?

"I'm sorry for giving you such a huge responsibility. You're still too young to go through this, but we have no choice," she said, taking a deep breath.

"My family owes a lot to your grandfather. When he asked me for a favor, I didn't hesitate to say 'yes' because it was the only way I could repay him for everything he had done for us."

She forced a smile.

"They asked me to marry your father. Even though I was reluctant, I agreed—especially after they explained everything to me."

I frowned. I knew they had an arranged marriage, but what does she mean by 'explained everything'?

"I will explain everything to you. After hearing this, it's up to you whether you want to keep the money or give it away," she said in a serious tone.

Is there something I don't know? I thought Mr. Ryder had explained everything to me. What now?

"The Watson family is related to the Royal Family of England. However, for some unknown reason, they are not recognized. But that did not stop the Watsons from rising. Your great-grandfather was an explorer who made significant contributions to various museums."

I blinked. I was completely dumbfounded. I've never heard any of this before.

"...He left a great fortune to your grandfather when he passed away," she continued. "And that fortune became the root of the problem. Your father knew there was a lot of money waiting for him when your grandfather died, and because of that, he tried to kill his own father..."

I wasn't surprised. He was capable of killing anyone for the sake of money.

"...He failed. That's when your grandfather started taking precautions. He decided to transfer all his assets and liabilities to the firstborn child of Kaizer. But there was a problem—with the number of women your father was involved with, they couldn't monitor who among them might bear his child..."

"...That's why they approached me and my family. I didn't know what to say, but they explained everything to me."

So they forced her into marriage? Just because of that filthy money? Is money really more important than life? They made Mom sacrifice her life for that dirty wealth.

My fists clenched. I wanted to stop the video and burn this whole place down. The extent of Mom's suffering because of my grandfather's request… But I couldn't.

I still wanted to see my mom.

"...Kaizer—your dad—joined a mob. But this wasn't just any mafia group. They were the masterminds behind every illegal operation in the world. To be part of them, your dad had to invest a huge sum of money—we're talking about 100 million."

That's why he tried to kill grandfather. He was completely out of his mind.

"...Even after we were married, your father never stopped trying to harm your grandfather. Until one day, your grandfather finally gave up and allowed his son to do whatever he wanted. What Kaizer didn't know was that all the legal documents had already been prepared—transferring everything he owned to his first grandchild."

"No lawyer showed up at his funeral, which made Kaizer suspicious. I tried my best to ensure he never found out why he didn't receive his inheritance."

Mom looked directly at the camera, but it felt as if she was looking straight into my eyes.

"When Kaizer gets his inheritance and all the Watson money, the entire Watson family will lose everything. Even those who depended on them—my family included. The schools, hospitals, and livelihoods your grandfather supported—all of it will disappear."

A lot of people depended on us. Is that why Mom fought so hard for the money?

"Keifer, this isn't just about money. It's about the people who supported and believed in us. My family and I did everything we could to protect you and every single property that will soon belong to you."

Mom and Uncle Sin. They sacrificed their lives—for my grandfather, for the Watsons. Does that mean I should do the same?

That's it. I finally understand.

My grandfather didn't leave me his wealth as an inheritance. He left it to me so I could protect it—just as my mom had.

This isn't just about money. This is about protecting the people around the Watson family.

"Oh my God…" I whispered to myself.

"But there's something else you need to know. You must act before your father and the elders find out." Mom's eyes were serious, as if this were a major problem.

Please don't tell me…

"Your dad had a child before you."

Damn!

I washed my face, feeling a surge of frustration. So it was true. That man had a child before me. I thought it was just a rumor because we never found any leads on him—whoever he was.

"…Your father and the elders will use him if you don't take control. You have to find him, and if necessary…" Mom closed her eyes for a moment. "…kill him."

My jaw dropped at her words. I couldn't believe she was asking me to take someone's life. I never thought my mom was capable of something like this.

"If you don't, there's a chance that he will kill you and your brothers." A tear slid down her cheek.

I understood.

She just wanted to keep us safe. Even until the end, she was thinking about us.

She wiped her tear and took a deep breath. "…I don't have any clues about where to find him, but I know someone who does—Aries's mother, Gema Fernandez."

What does Aries's mother have to do with this?

"Talk to her. Ask her about your father's child."

But why her? Why am I supposed to talk to her—Angelo?

Everyone says we're similar in behavior and appearance. Even our habits seem to mirror each other sometimes.

No way. Impossible.

That only happened because we grew up together. Besides, he knew his father, but he never had the chance to talk to him because he was buried in the ground.

That's why it's impossible. He's not the boy Mom is referring to. Mom forced a smile and took another deep breath.

"I hope you and your brothers are alright," she said with a sad smile. "Maybe you even have a girlfriend now. I hope your friends aren't giving you too many headaches."

How I wish you were here with me, Mom. Maybe you could have helped me when Percy and I had our accident. Maybe things wouldn't have turned out like this.

I wish you were here. I want to introduce you to her—the girl who's been bothering me. I can picture you two talking, smiling, and having a cute conversation about us.

If only you were here, I'd tell you how karma came back to me. How I fell for her without realizing it. How she makes my head hurt with her nonsense. How she's so stubborn, always ready for a fight. How she drives me crazy and makes me cry.

I want to protect her. I want to protect my life, my world… my queen. She's my everything.

"Just so you know," Mom continued, "your dad used to love me…"

Her words stopped me in my tracks.

Love? He loved my mom? That man doesn't know anything about love. How could he still claim to love her after everything? I couldn't believe it.

"…but I never loved him back," she admitted. "Maybe that's why he turned out the way he did. If I had been stronger, I would never have let him hurt you."

No. If I had been stronger, he wouldn't have hit you. You wouldn't have had to suffer. Keigan and Keiren wouldn't have been lost. Mom smiled as if she were looking directly at me.

"I'm leaving everything to you now. The card you received, along with the remote control, is your password."

I looked at the card I had picked up earlier. Now that I was in the dark, I could read it clearly.

"Press the end button now, Keifer. It's time for you to decide."

The video gradually faded to black. I did as Mom instructed. A dim light turned on to my right, just enough to reveal a door and a small monitor beside it. I stepped closer and read the text on the screen.

'Scan the barcode.'

There was an arrow pointing to an infrared scanner at the end of the monitor.

What barcode?

I examined the remote in my hand—no barcode. Then I checked the card, flipping it over. My eyes widened when I noticed a silver shimmer on the back. Unlike the golden print on the front, this side reflected in the low light.

I tilted it slightly, and faint lines became visible. This must be the barcode. I held it up to the infrared scanner. The screen changed again.

'Read the code.'

What code?

I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I just wanted to see the vault. No one told me this process would be so complicated. I sighed in frustration, rubbing my temple. My head was starting to hurt.

I glanced at the card again. I had struggled to read the golden print earlier, but now I remembered what it said.

"Love is not free. It is the most expensive thing in the world. It costs more than a life, and you pay for it without realizing it."

I thought about the words carefully. What does love have to do with this? The screen changed once more.

'State your name.'

I let out a breath. My headache was getting worse from all these unnecessary steps. This was the only bank I knew that used such a complicated process. Every other bank just required an account number or an ATM card.

"Mark Keifer Watson," I stated firmly.

A robotic voice, similar to Siri, responded. "Welcome, Mr. Keifer."

It came from the monitor. Before I could react, I heard the sound of a lock disengaging. The door automatically opened, revealing the vault door behind it. That, too, opened on its own. As I stepped forward, the lights inside gradually turned on. I hesitated for a moment, then took my first step inside.

I combed my own hair. I'm speechless—I don't even know what to say. Now I understand why my relatives are so desperate to have this.

Inside the vault, it wasn't just money—it was gold. And this was no ordinary vault. It was a room, bigger than my own, filled with bars of gold. They were neatly stacked, each layer labeled with a number. I thought gold was the only thing stored there, but as I walked around, I discovered more.

A table overflowing with diamonds and jewelry. A cabinet filled with antique vases and plates, each likely worth more than a million.

This is what treasure looks like. I sat on one of the gold clusters. It was ice-cold, sending shivers through my skin. I still can't believe it. This is what my mom died for. And now, it's my responsibility to protect it.

My knees feel weak. How can I possibly guard so much gold? What am I supposed to do with all of it? I have to think carefully before accepting this.

I stood up and walked toward the door. As I stepped out, I turned to the monitor beside it and pressed the button labeled Close. The vault door automatically sealed shut, and the outer door swung open. Stepping outside, my eyes struggled to adjust to the bright light.

"How was it?" Uncle Sin asked, handing me a bottle of water.

I shook my head and declined. "Not good. I... I don't know what to do."

"Relax… You still have time to think—until your birthday."

I stared at him in disbelief. "My birthday is next month."

He smiled. "Exactly. That means you have a month to decide."

A month isn't enough. I need more time—maybe even a whole year.

"I don't even know where to start," I muttered, heading toward the tunnel.

"Keifer," Uncle Sin called after me. "You have to think wisely."

I turned to face him. "Don't fucking pressure me!" I snapped, then quickened my pace.

When I reached the gate, I found Mr. Ryder patiently waiting beside the car, leaning slightly against it.

"Keifer… What happened?" he asked.

Before I could answer, Honey stepped out of the car and approached me.

"I want to go back to the hotel," I said, getting into the car.

Neither of them said a word. They simply got in and remained silent. I kept to myself, my thoughts spiraling into a headache.

I think I'm losing my mind over this.

After nearly half an hour, we arrived at the hotel. I stepped out before them, heading straight for the elevator. I wanted to be alone.

When I reached my floor, I walked toward my room—only to notice the door was slightly open. I hesitated, taking a step back. But before I could react, someone shoved me inside. I was about to fight back when I saw a familiar face.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in a flat tone.

"Don't play dumb. You know exactly why I'm here," my cousin Clyde responded.

He's the current CEO of Watson Enterprises. He secured the position before anyone else could. I don't know if I should be grateful for that, but one thing is certain—he won't give it up easily.

"You won't get anything from me. You can leave now," I said, shrugging off my coat and tossing it onto the nearest chair.

He extended his hand, holding up a photograph.

I froze.

It was Jay-Jay.

He smirked. "So… should I pay your girl a visit? Or shall we settle things here?"

My fists clenched. "Don't you dare."

"Oh, but I will. You know me."

"You son of a bitch!"

He laughed, enjoying my anger.

"Look at you," he taunted. "You're turning into a beast. You must be in love."

I frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"

His smirk widened. "It's the family curse. When a Watson falls in love, he turns into a beast."

I let out a bitter laugh. "That's a fucking myth."

"But it's half true. Just look at yourself—and your father. You're both living proof."

Nonsense. It's just an old saying. A so-called family curse.

"They say you shouldn't fall in love with a Watson because it makes him vulnerable," he continued.

"I don't give a damn about that curse," I snapped, pointing at him. "Get out."

"Don't test me, Keifer. Just give me what I want."

I remained silent. I had no intention of giving him anything.

He scowled, his patience thinning. "You asked for this. Now, you'll pay the price."

With a sharp rip, he tore Jay-Jay's picture in half. Panic shot through me.

No—no! Not Jay-Jay.

Before I could react, a man grabbed me from behind. Another appeared and drove his fist into my stomach. I barely had time to think before they struck me again.

And again.

They beat me relentlessly, each hit leaving me breathless. My body crumpled under the pain. When they finally stopped, I could barely stand.

"This was just a warning," Clyde said coldly. "Next time, it'll be your girl."

He turned and left, his men following.

I couldn't even fight back—I was too stunned. My mind had been so fixated on Jay-Jay that I never saw it coming.

I need a plan. I can't let Jay-Jay be dragged into this. I have to protect her.

But how?

How can I do that when she's so far away?