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 fvcking shaking.

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

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

Slowly, he lowered the gun—but then he 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 and slid it back inside his tuxedo. He tucked it into his side where the holster was. He smirked again as he turned back to me.

I was sweating bullets after what he did. Yes, I'm familiar with guns—but this is Angelo in front of me. Aside from the fact that he hates me, he literally curses my existence.

"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 pulled something out from the pocket of his coat. A folded piece of paper. He handed it to me, and I just stared at it for a few minutes.

"Relax, it's just a paper."

I could see a glimpse of happiness on his face. I wanted to launch my fist straight into his face. He was clearly enjoying teasing me.

I took the paper and opened it. It was 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 the emblem that identifies their group.

What was surprising was that the form was already filled out. From my name, to the details of my personal life—even the space where he told me to put Jay-jay's name.

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

I took it and, without hesitation, signed the form.

I handed back to him both the form and the pen.

He looked at the paper before folding it again and returning it to his pocket. I remembered we still had something important to talk about.

"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."

"It was stupid of me to agree with her. But I have my personal reason."

Maybe he doesn't know what my Mom did to his Dad. I'd rather he never finds out about that.

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

He paused for a moment, then touched his lips using 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. "Naah... I won't take the risk. I'm not interested in your money. I have my own."

I simply nodded. He looked at the time from 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 goodbyes? I know he knows Ion is with me. His task isn't really a task—it feels more like a favor.

"I will."

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

He opened the door and stepped out. I was left staring after 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 know she also wants to see Angelo. But I'm afraid she won't be able to handle it if she finds out that Angelo is ending everything between them.

This could be her last chance.

I immediately went out to follow Angelo. I tapped him on the shoulder and walked beside him.

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

I quickly looked for Ion. I went to the same place where I left them earlier. I saw Hazel—but Ion wasn't beside her. I looked around, hoping I'd catch sight of her.

I saw Honey, who seemed to be following someone with her eyes. I quickly approached her.

"Have you seen Ion?"

She pointed her fingers toward the kitchen door—the same area she had been staring at before.

I immediately walked toward that direction. The kitchen has been busy the whole night. It looked like no one noticed anyone else entering. I tried to look around. The kitchen was too big, until I reached the area near the fire exit. There weren't many people in 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 gestured for me to stay silent.

A few minutes later, I heard running footsteps coming toward her. A man wearing a waiter 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 trying to help her settle down.

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

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

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

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

"So this is how it ends? We're just going to let your parents rot in jail? What about me? What about the woman I love who's waiting for me?" He 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 jail, so be it. And you, you need to face your brother."

"What about our agreement with his brother?"

Keigan?

Ion shook her head. "He's 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 battle 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 need help, my brother took advantage of that.

Why do I feel so fvcked up?

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

I stepped out from behind the post. "I knew it. You guys are 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'm 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 needs to hide. He forgives you."

There was pain in her eyes. She knew Angelo was saying goodbye to her. She immediately ran off. 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 to her just as she bumped into a waiter coming out the door.

People were looking at her. She was a mess and weak. I held her by the 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 door to the hall. I grabbed Ion's wrist and pulled her. We ran as fast as we could, but her dress and heels were giving her trouble. She almost tripped several times.

We finally got out of the mansion when I let go of her. She fell to her knees as she saw Angelo's car driving away.

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

I couldn't do anything but watch her misery. As much as I wanted to help her, it was better not to.

I've interfered enough in their lives. This is their own fate and destiny.

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 into my pocket. I took the handkerchief from my other pocket. I half-kneeled and handed the handkerchief to Ion.

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

She took the handkerchief. I took off 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 kept looking in the direction Angelo's car went. Maybe not now, but in the near future they'll have their chance—and it's up to them if they will continue what they started before.

I put an arm around her as I guided her back inside. I walked her to one of the guest rooms in the mansion.

"Rest. I will look for Rafael," I said and left her, but just as I was about to close the door, she called me.

"I'm sorry... I'm really sorry." She said, and 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 stopped me.

"Where is he? Where is Angelo?" the oldest 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 left them and went back to searching. I looked for him in the kitchen but he was no longer there. I returned to the hall only to see the party getting wilder.

Hazel was obviously drunk with our other cousins. Honey was ignoring everyone around her and continued typing on her phone. I had a feeling I knew who she was talking to.

I looked at my watch. It was nearly midnight. My birthday was almost over and my life as the heir was about to begin. I let out a deep sigh. My real battle is about to start.

But am I strong enough?

I walked to the bar area and asked for a drink. I secretly glanced at my secret phone. No message from her. She's probably busy—or still asleep.

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

I went back to looking for Rafael. I left the hall and after a long search, I found him on the phone by the grand staircase of the mansion.

Devastation was registered on his face. He ended the call while staring into nothingness. I walked closer to him.

"If you badly want to go back to the Philippines, I can help you with that," I said and stopped 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 signaled for him to follow me. I brought him to the room where I 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 and looked down. "And my brother already found me."

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

They looked at each other as if waiting for the other's confirmation to speak.

"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 briefly and we both looked at 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 know 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 at me while I raised an eyebrow at how they reacted.

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 still managed 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 no other than Mr. Moskovoski.

I wasn't surprised—from the moment we met and he asked about Rafael and Angelo, my gut was already telling me something suspicious.

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

I stood still, 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 to grab the mic and speak.

A high-pitched screech echoed, grabbing everyone's attention. The music from the speakers faded.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming to the final celebration of my birthday. It's already past twelve, 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 for those who are about to get in my way, be ready to be crushed." I looked at everyone. "So if I were you, my dear cousins, uncles, and aunties..." I looked at the Elders. "Grandfathers." I smirked, enjoying how pissed they looked. "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. I walked through the crowd, and I could feel Honey following me.

"Trying to act cool. Doesn't suit you." She commented.

I ignored her and kept walking. We were already 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.