3rd POV 

The mansion was silent at this hour, but for Yohan, the stillness only made the weight in his chest feel heavier. He sat on the edge of his bed, fingers interlocked, staring at the floor as though the right words might appear if he focused hard enough. The dim glow from the bedside lamp cast long shadows across the room, adding to the suffocating atmosphere that had settled over him ever since last night. 

He had seen him. Jay. 

Not the ghost from his past, not the boy he once made promises to under the broken orphanage ceiling, but Jayden Calvarez—the heir to The Black Serpents. The enemy. 

Yohan inhaled sharply, his hands clenching into fists as an uninvited memory surfaced. 

In the dimly lit corridors of the orphanage, Yohan and Jayden, both five years old, huddled together in a small corner. The other children avoided them, whispering rumors about their backgrounds. Yohan, with his silver hair and piercing eyes, and Jayden, with his raven black hair and quiet demeanor, stood out from the rest. 

"We're different, Yoyo," Jayden murmured, using the affectionate nickname he had for Yohan. "No one wants us here." 

Yohan frowned, his young face showing determination. "We don't need them, Jay. We have each other, right?" 

Jayden's eyes softened, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Right, Yoyo. We're a team." 

As the days passed, they faced the harsh realities of the orphanage together. The taunts, the bullying, the loneliness—none of it mattered because they had each other. 

One evening, Yohan found Jayden sitting alone on the floor, his tiny frame trembling, silent tears slipping down his cheeks. 

"What happened?" Yohan crouched beside him, voice edged with concern. 

"They called me names again," Jayden muttered, his hands gripping his sleeves so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Said I'm worthless. That no one will ever want me." 

Yohan's jaw clenched, a surge of fury bubbling inside him. He didn't understand much about the world yet, but he knew this—Jayden wasn't worthless. 

"They're idiots," he spat. "They don't know anything. You're not worthless, Jay. You're my best friend." 

Jayden sniffled, his tear-streaked face turning up toward Yohan. "...Really?"  

"Really," Yohan said without hesitation. "And if anyone ever says that again, I'll make them regret it." 

Jayden stared at him for a long moment before something in him broke—he lunged forward, wrapping his small arms around Yohan in a tight hug. Yohan hesitated only a second before hugging him back. 

"I'll always be here for you, Jay," he promised, his voice quiet but certain. "No matter what." 

And for a long time, that promise was all they needed. 

But that was a long time ago. 

Yohan's breath hitched slightly as he pulled himself back to the present, his grip tightening on the edge of his bed. That promise had once meant everything to him. 

"I'll always be here for you, Jay." 

His stomach twisted. How naïve they had been. How foolish. 

Because now? Now they stood on opposite sides of a war. 

Jayden wasn't that boy anymore. And neither was he. 

With a deep inhale, Yohan reached for his phone. 

He knew he couldn't keep this to himself. Keeping secrets in their world was dangerous, and this one? It had the power to shake the very foundations of his loyalty.  

Yohan: Dad, can you come to my room? I need to talk to you. 

Seconds later, the typing indicator appeared. 

Kai: I'll be there in a minute. 

The wait felt longer than it was. When the door finally creaked open, Yohan looked up to find his father standing there, his expression unreadable. He was dressed in a loose black shirt, the top buttons undone, revealing the inked skin of his collarbone. But it was his eyes that caught Yohan's attention—sharp, calculating, yet tinged with something else. Concern. 

Kai stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Yohan, what is it?" His voice was low, calm, but Yohan knew that nothing about this conversation would be easy. 

Yohan inhaled deeply, steeling himself for what he was about to say. "Dad, do you remember the friend I told you about from the orphanage? The one who left a few days before..." he trailed off, unwilling to finish the sentence. 

Kai's expression darkened slightly. He nodded. "Jay, right?" 

Yohan swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "Yeah." He hesitated, then forced the words out. "I saw him yesterday. At Talia's bar." 

Kai's sharp gaze locked onto his. The air in the room shifted. 

Yohan could see his father piecing things together, the way he always did, analyzing every possibility in the span of a breath. 

"Seeing your face, I take it the reunion didn't go well," Kai said, voice unreadable. 

Yohan let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "It was fine," he admitted. "But it won't be again." 

Kai's brows knitted together. "Yohan," he said, his voice firmer now, "what are you trying to say?" 

Yohan exhaled through his nose, the words clawing at his throat. Then finally, he forced them out. 

"Dad... Jay is Jayden Calvarez." He met his father's gaze head-on. "The heir of The Black Serpents." 

The silence that followed was suffocating. 

Kai didn't react right away. He simply stared at Yohan, his expression unreadable, his breathing controlled. But Yohan knew his father well enough to recognize the storm brewing beneath the surface. 

The Black Serpents weren't just another gang—they were a threat. A gang that had clashed with theirs before, a gang that would continue to challenge them. And Jayden was one of them. 

When Kai finally spoke, his voice was careful, measured. "Yohan, listen to me." He took a slow step closer. "I will never ask you to choose between him and us." 

Yohan's jaw tightened. He appreciated the sentiment, but deep down, he knew it wasn't that simple. 

"You don't have to ask, Dad," he said quietly. "I already made my choice." 

Kai studied him for a long moment. "And what choice is that?" 

Yohan lifted his gaze, his silver eyes unwavering. "I won't cling to both sides. That wouldn't be fair to you or Jay." His voice remained steady. "He was my family once. My everything. But now? You are." 

A pause. 

"You, Uncle Ethan, our family, our gang." His fists clenched. "I won't betray what I have now for a memory." 

Yohan expected relief in his father's eyes. Approval. But instead, he saw something else—understanding. As if Kai knew better than anyone what it meant to leave something behind, even when it hurt. 

Then, after a long silence, Kai exhaled and placed a hand on Yohan's shoulder. 

"I am proud of you," he murmured. "So damn proud." 

Yohan felt warmth spread through his chest, but at the same time, there was a weight that wouldn't lift. Because even though he had spoken those words with conviction, a part of him still felt that lingering ache. The past didn't disappear overnight. 

Kai leaned down, pressing a firm kiss to Yohan's forehead—silent reassurance, silent understanding.

"I promise," he murmured, "I will never let you regret your choice." 

Yohan closed his eyes for a brief second, letting the moment sink in. Then he nodded. 

"I know, Dad." 

Kai studied him for a long moment, his sharp gaze scanning Yohan's face. A quiet sigh left his lips as he took a step back. 

"You look like you didn't sleep well last night." His voice softened, the concern slipping through despite his composed exterior. "Get some rest. When you wake up, ask any maid to bring you your breakfast. I'll have your favorite food made." 

Yohan exhaled, a small, tired smile flickering on his lips. His father wasn't one for excessive words, but this—this was enough. A promise of care in his own way. 

"Thanks, Dad," Yohan murmured. 

Kai gave him a last lingering look before nodding. 

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The study of The Black Serpents' estate was lavish yet foreboding. The air was thick with cigar smoke, and the sound of a fireplace crackling was the only warmth in the room. Jayden stood before Valeria, his posture tense. She sat in an armchair, swirling a glass of whiskey, her sharp eyes reading him like an open book. 

"You saw him." Her voice was cool, matter-of-fact. Not a question—she already knew. 

Jayden clenched his jaw, his hands tightening into fists. He didn't bother denying it. 

"It wasn't planned," he said. 

Valeria exhaled, setting her glass down with deliberate force. "And yet it happened. I told you, cariño, the past is nothing but a shackle. If you keep looking back, you'll trip and fall." 

Jayden remained silent. He knew she was right. But forgetting Yohan wasn't as easy as she made it sound. 

Valeria stood, circling him slowly, the click of her heels against the marble floor echoing like a countdown. "We have an opportunity, Jayden. The Cassano family's defenses near the docks are weaker than ever. Their closest ally is preoccupied, their little king is too busy playing with ghosts from his past." She stopped beside him, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You know what needs to be done." 

Jayden swallowed. His mind flashed to Yohan—the defiant set of his jaw, the fire in his eyes when he declared his allegiance to the Cassanos. 

"And if I refuse?" he asked. 

Valeria chuckled, stepping in front of him. "Then I will remind you where your loyalties lie." Her fingers grazed his cheek, deceptively gentle. "I raised you, Jayden. I turned you into who you are today. Are you really going to throw all of that away... for him?" 

Jayden lowered his gaze. He already knew his answer. 

"...What's the plan?" he asked, his voice quiet but resigned. 

A smirk tugged at Valeria's lips. 

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The golden morning light spilled through the tall windows of the dining hall, casting long shadows against the polished mahogany floor. A delicate breeze carried the faint scent of fresh coffee and toast, but neither Kai nor Ethan seemed interested in their breakfast. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension, the kind that didn't need words to be felt. 

Kai sat at the head of the table, fingers drumming absently against his coffee cup. His eyes, sharp and contemplative, remained fixed on the swirling dark liquid. Across from him, Ethan leaned back in his chair, gaze locked on Kai, as if reading every thought that crossed his mind. 

"You look tensed, what's on your mind?" Ethan finally said, his voice carrying the weight of observation rather than concern. 

Kai let out a dry chuckle, though it lacked amusement. "Nothing. I was pondering about something." 

"Let me guess—Yohan?" 

Kai exhaled sharply, setting his cup down with a soft clink. "He told me about Jayden." 

Ethan stilled, his fingers tightening around his spoon. He didn't ask for clarification—he already knew what that meant because he was the one Yohan approached for information. "And?" 

Kai's gaze darkened. "He's still trying to process it. But he made it clear that his loyalty lies with us." 

Ethan hummed, tapping his fingers against the table. "Yohan is loyal. I don't doubt that." 

Kai studied him carefully. "But?" 

Ethan hummed, neither satisfied nor reassured. "Yohan's loyalty isn't the problem." He set his cup down and leaned forward, voice lowering into something sharper. "The problem is Jayden. And more than that—Valeria." 

Kai's fingers tightened around his cup. "You think she's behind this?"  

Ethan sighed, finally setting his spoon aside. "Yes. You think Jayden won't try to use Yohan. Emotions make people vulnerable, and Jayden knows exactly which wounds to press. After all he is raised by Valerie Calvarez." He leaned forward, voice dropping slightly. "You don't think it's a coincidence that he approached Yohan now, do you? I think Valeria never does anything without a reason. And if Jayden 'accidentally' crossed paths with Yohan, then I'd bet my life that it wasn't accidental at all." 

Kai clenched his jaw. He had considered that possibility, but hearing it from Ethan made it feel even more like a certainty. He frowned. "You think they are playing a long game?" 

Ethan nodded. "I think Jayden knows Yohan better than we do. He knows where to strike, what to say, how to make him hesitate when the time comes." His voice was steady, but the edge in his tone was unmistakable. "That makes him dangerous." 

"But even if we consider Jayden may or may not try to manipulate Yohan," Ethan continued, his voice unwavering, "but Valeria? She will. Without a shred of doubt." He leaned back, his fingers tapping against the table in slow, calculated beats. "She's a strategist. A predator. And she just found a weakness in our armor." 

Kai's eyes darkened, his grip on his coffee cup tightening as his other hand curled into a fist. He ran a hand through his hair, eyes flickering with irritation. "I trust Yohan. He isn't weak," he said, his voice like a blade. 

"So do I," Ethan admitted. "But trust isn't the problem here. Those Calvarez are. And Valeria knows exactly how to use Yohan's emotions as weakness." He leaned back, arms crossed. "They're not going to come at us with brute force—at least not yet. They will test the waters first, see if Yohan bends before they try to break them." 

Kai's jaw clenched. He hated the idea of Yohan being used as a pawn in this war. "Then we make sure they don't get the chance."  

Ethan gave a small, approving nod. "Good. Because the moment Black Serpents see an opening, they'll take it." 

A heavy silence settled between them. Outside, the estate remained peaceful, the quiet hum of the world waking up starkly contrasting the war brewing beneath the surface. 

Kai finally exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair. "If she thinks she can use Yohan to weaken us, she's making a mistake." 

Ethan smirked, but there was no amusement in it. "Then let's make sure she realizes that mistake before she gets too comfortable." 

Kai nodded, the steel in his gaze unmistakable. 

If Valeria wanted to play games, she had no idea what she was walking into. 

He picked up his cup again, his grip firm. "Let them try," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. "They'll regret it." 

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Hey everyone! 

This chapter was all about tension, choices, and the weight of the past. Yohan's reunion with Jayden wasn't just a simple meeting—it was a collision of old wounds and new loyalties. We got a glimpse of their childhood bond, making their current situation even more complicated. Meanwhile, the Black Serpents are already making their moves, proving that this war isn't just about strength—it's about strategy, manipulation, and knowing exactly where to strike. 

Also, I know Elias and Noah have been absent for the last two chapters, but don't worry—you'll be seeing them in the next one! Their return is going to shake things up, so stay tuned. 

From now on, the book will be updated monthly on the 17th, so mark your calendars! Thank you for reading, and let me know your thoughts—I love hearing from you all! 💙 

See you next chapter! 👀🔥