Keifer's POV
The next morning arrived quietly.
Sunlight spilled through the curtains as I opened my eyes.
For a moment, I didn't move.
Jay was still asleep.
The room felt strangely peaceful.
No court.
No reporters.
No phone calls.
Just silence.
A strand of hair had fallen across her face.
I reached over and brushed it aside.
A few seconds later, her eyes opened.
She blinked once.
Twice.
Then groaned.
"Morning."
"Morning," I replied.
She buried her face into a pillow.
"I'm tired."
"You slept for eight hours."
"I'm still tired."
"That's not my problem."
She glared at me.
I smirked.
Eventually we got up and headed downstairs.
The mansion was already awake.
Staff moved through hallways carrying trays and paperwork.
A few security guards stood near the entrances.
Everything looked normal.
Until they saw us.
Or more specifically—
Until they saw me.
Because I was carrying jay bridal style as if we were rehearsing our wedding.
"Keifer."
"What?"
"Stop."
"No."
"People are staring."
"They work for me."
"That doesn't make it less weird."
"It does, actually."
Jay looked like she wanted to argue more.
Then one of the maids walked past us.
The second she noticed us, she immediately looked away and sped up.
Jay pointed— discretely.
"See?!" She whispered, her eyebrows furrowing.
The maid practically disappeared around the corner.
I shrugged.
"They're being respectful."
"They're avoiding us."
"Same thing."
By the time we reached the kitchen, half the staff seemed determined not to make eye contact.
One chef suddenly became very interested in a basket of oranges.
Another employee turned around so quickly he nearly walked into a wall.
Jay stared.
Then looked at me.
Then back at them.
"Oh my gosh."
I sat down at the dining table.
"They'll survive."
"No, because now I'm embarrassed."
"You'll survive too."
A few moments later breakfast arrived.
The staff placed everything down with professional smiles.
Very professional smiles.
The kind people use when they're pretending not to notice something.
Jay buried her face in her hands.
I just laughed.
For the first time in a long time, the mansion didn't feel empty.