Chapter 88

“Why did you bring me here, Jefran?” Jeslyn asked as they stood on the rooftop of the towering Clovies company building. The night sky was cold, and snowflakes fell gently to the ground.

“There’s something I want to discuss with you, Jeslyn,” Jefran said, his gaze fixed on her.

“What is it?” Jeslyn asked, looking at Jefran intently.

“I can’t continue with our agreement plan, Jeslyn.”

Thump.

Jeslyn was clearly shocked to hear this from Jefran. She exhaled softly. “Why?”

“I already told you, I don’t like this plan. You and Leonel keep clashing. How long will this go on, Jes?” Jefran asked.

“Can’t you just ignore it?” Jeslyn shot back sharply.

“No!” he answered firmly. “I know you love him, Jeslyn. We’ve known each other for a long time, we’ve been friends through school and college. I know you very well, Jeslyn,” Jefran explained.

“So, now what do you want to know, Jefran? We’ve already discussed our personal matters—they should remain private. I also won’t interfere with your relationship with Luna, your girlfriend,” Jeslyn replied.

Jefran scratched his forehead. “I want to know why you’re suddenly like this, Jeslyn. What are you planning, and what are you seeking from me?” he asked. “Before, it was clear—you chose Leonel. You rejected my offer, and Leonel went to great lengths to win you over. Now, what made you change?”

Jeslyn remained silent, tears pooling in her eyes. “Don’t ask me that, Jefran.” She turned her face away. “Can’t we carry out this collaboration without delving into our private matters?”

Jefran took a deep breath, trying to suppress the frustration rising within him. “Private matters?” He stepped closer, eyes trembling but intense. “Jeslyn, this isn’t just about privacy. You’ve dragged me into a dangerous game involving Leonel. You know how dangerous he is. I can’t protect you if I don’t know the real reason.”

Jeslyn bit her lip, holding back tears that threatened to fall. The snow fell harder, drenching her trembling body.

“You love him, don’t you? Tell me honestly—you love Leonel, right?” Jefran pressed gently.

“Yes… I love him,” Jeslyn replied, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Then why? Why didn’t you act?” Jefran asked, but Jeslyn only cried silently. “Okay, I won’t force you to answer. I’ll just tell you one thing.”

“I once said that Leonel is dangerous, involved—maybe even a mafia leader in the underground business. I didn’t know for sure,” Jefran admitted. “But while I’ve known him, he never hurt me, Jeslyn. Leonel… he never treated me as an enemy even though he and my father never agreed. He taught me many things and, I admit, I gained a brother figure in him.”

“I said those things to you yesterday because I was emotional, hurt to learn about your relationship with him. I’ve always been insecure about him. I always wanted to be like him. And knowing you’re with him… my ego was wounded, Jeslyn. That’s why I spoke ill of him to you,” Jefran confessed.

Jeslyn froze, speechless.

“I don’t know what happened to you or what made you drift away from him. One thing I know—he loves you, Jeslyn. Leonel loves you.”

Thump.

Jeslyn shut her eyes tightly, her body trembling as she struggled with the overwhelming emotions. Jefran’s words struck her like a hammer breaking down the fragile walls she had built.

“Stop, Jefran—” Jeslyn’s voice was hoarse, barely audible over the wind and falling snow. “Don’t say that…I can’t hear it.”

“Why?” Jefran gazed at her deeply, as if trying to see into her soul. “Because you know it’s true? Or because you can’t accept that the person you’ve been opposing all this time is the one who’s most sincere with you?”

Jeslyn remained silent. Her tears mixed with melting snow on her cheeks.

“Jefran,” her voice trembled. “You don’t know anything. You don’t know what he’s done, what he’s hiding. I can’t go back, I mustn’t.”

Jefran stepped closer, holding her shoulders with both hands. “If that’s the case, then tell me the truth! Stop lying to yourself. You love him, he loves you, and I—” His voice caught, holding back something in his chest. “I just want you to be happy, Jeslyn. Even if it’s not with me.”

Jeslyn looked at Jefran with swollen eyes from crying. “Happy? Do you think it’s easy for me to be happy after all this? I love him, but that love is what destroys me, Jefran.”

They fell silent, accompanied only by the sound of snow and the whistling night wind.

“What? What’s the reason?” Jefran asked.

Jeslyn’s tears fell harder. “According to my father, Leonel killed my twin brother, Julio. I can’t be with someone who killed my twin, Jefran,” she sobbed.

“Wait—killed? Are you sure?” Jefran frowned.

“Yes, that’s what I heard from my father. He wouldn’t lie to me, Jefran,” Jeslyn replied.

“Do you know the reason?” Jefran asked. Jeslyn fell silent, unable to answer because she didn’t know.

“Why are you silent, Jeslyn? Why would Leonel kill your brother? He wouldn’t do it without a clear motive,” Jefran pressed.

Jeslyn took a deep breath. “I don’t know. My father didn’t tell me,” she lowered her head.

“Jeslyn, this is actually a huge secret… and perhaps a disgrace from my family. I only found out myself last night,” Jefran confessed. “I thought I could stay silent and ignore it. But I remembered how Leonel treated me like a brother, even though—” Jefran paused.

Jeslyn frowned. “Even though what?” she asked, curious.

“I hope you can keep this secret, Jeslyn,” Jefran urged. “My father and Uncle Dimitri were behind the death of Leonel’s parents.”

Thump.

The falling snow that night seemed to freeze Jeslyn entirely. Jefran’s words struck her ears like a hard slap, leaving her breathless.

“W-what did you just say?” Jeslyn’s voice trembled, almost inaudible.

Jefran lowered his head, hands clenched in his coat pockets. “My father, William Clovies, along with Uncle Dimitri, conspired to eliminate Leonel’s parents—the rightful heirs of the Clovies company. My father and Uncle Dimitri were sons of a concubine, receiving a smaller inheritance. Leonel… he lost everything because of them, Jeslyn.” Tears fell down his cheeks.

“D-does he know about this?” Jeslyn asked.

“I don’t know. I think he knows, but he didn’t kill my father or uncle. I was shocked when I heard it yesterday. At first, I wanted to stay silent and ignore it. But remembering how he taught me and helped me… I couldn’t stay quiet,” Jefran explained. “That’s why, Jeslyn, I realized I don’t want to lose to him, especially when it comes to you. I want you, but I can’t destroy both of you. You love each other, and Leonel can protect you better than I ever could,” Jefran said, making Jeslyn lower her head.

“The man whose life was destroyed… Leonel didn’t kill him. So, why did Leonel kill your twin, Jeslyn?” Jefran asked.

“I—” Jeslyn realized she had never asked her father the reason. She had blindly believed and destroyed her own feelings—and Leonel’s.

Jefran noticed her shivering and crying. He removed the scarf from around his neck and wrapped it around Jeslyn.

“Seek the truth, don’t let it be too late and regret it later,” Jefran said, pulling Jeslyn into his embrace.

Jeslyn cried in his arms, clutching his coat tightly. Unknown to them, Leonel had just arrived on the rooftop. He had actually planned to leave via a helicopter waiting for him, but that night he witnessed the most painful scene.

Thump.

***