The mall was the perfect escape.
For a few hours, the heavy air of the Watson mansion was replaced by bright lights, loud music, and the smell of fresh popcorn.
Jay and Sophia spent the afternoon eating their favorite snacks, drinking cold sodas, and trying on clothes they didn't need.
With Sophia by her side, the tight knot in Jay's chest finally began to loosen.
She felt like a normal girl again, not a "wife" caught in a confusing whirlwind of emotions.
But as they pulled back into the driveway of the estate, the old anxiety crawled back into Jay's heart.
When they reached the upstairs hallway, Sophia opened the door to her own bedroom.
Jay stopped at the entrance, her fingers gripping her shopping bags tightly.
"Soph..." Jay said softly.
Sophia turned around. She saw that familiar wave of sadness and fear washing over Jay's eyes again.
Jay looked toward the door of the room she shared with Keifer.
The memory of what happened in the hallway-the heat, the intensity, and her own bold actions-made her heart race in a way that scared her.
"I... I don't want to face him right now," Jay admitted, her voice trembling. "Not yet."
Sophia's expression softened instantly.
She didn't judge Jay or ask too many questions.
She knew her friend needed a safe space to breathe.
"Hey, that's actually a great idea!" Sophia said excitedly, reaching out to take Jay's hand.
"Let's have a total besties' night! No boys allowed. We can help each other get ready for the party tomorrow and just relax."
A real, relieved smile finally broke across Jay's face.
The weight on her shoulders felt lighter knowing she didn't have to deal with Keifer's intense gaze tonight.
"Really? You don't mind?" Jay asked.
"Mind? I've been wanting to have a sleepover all week!" Sophia laughed.
They walked into the room and shut the door, locking the rest of the world out.
They threw their colorful shopping bags onto the big, soft bed and just flopped down right beside them.
For the first time all day, Jay let out a long, happy sigh.
She felt safe, she felt understood, and most importantly, she felt ready to just be herself for a while.
The quiet of the room was suddenly broken by the sharp buzz-buzz of Jay's phone.
It had been vibrating almost non-stop.
Jay sat up straight, her heart doing a nervous little dance.
"Soph..."
"What now, Jay?" Sophia asked, propping herself up on one elbow and looking at her friend with a raised eyebrow.
"What am I supposed to say to Keifer?" Jay asked, her voice hovering between panic and exhaustion.
"I've already received fifteen messages from him asking where I am."
Sophia let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Umm... then let's just go and tell him."
"What?!" Jay practically shrieked.
Sophia flinched at the volume and rolled her eyes.
"Jay, seriously! I don't mean go to him in person. I mean let's just tell him-via text-that you're staying with me tonight. Problem solved."
"He'll ask why," Jay countered, her thumb hovering over the screen.
"He's going to want a reason."
"For getting ready for the party, of course!"
Sophia said, waving a hand dismissively.
"And tell him you're my best friend too, and I'm claiming my rights. Now, don't waste time-just message him."
Jay took a deep, shaky breath and gave a small nod.
She stared at the screen for a second, her heart hammering against her ribs.
📥 Jay:
I am in Sophia's room now, and I am going to stay with her tonight.
She hit send, the little whoosh sound feeling like she had just dropped a bomb.
She immediately clutched the phone against her chest, her eyes wide as she waited for him to reply.
The room was silent, the only sound being the faint, repetitive music from Sophia's scrolling.
Jay sat on the edge of the bed, her knuckles white as she gripped her phone.
She felt like she was waiting for a lightning strike.
1 minute.
The screen stayed dark. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
2 minutes.
Her eyes began to sting from not blinking, but she didn't dare look away.
3 minutes.
Buzz.
One word.
Keifer 📥
"Okay."
"Sophhhhhhhhh..." Jay's voice was a shaky, high-pitched whisper.
Sophia flinched so hard her phone nearly slipped from her hand and hit her face.
"What happened?! Is the house on fire?"
"He said okay,"
Jay whispered, staring at the four letters as if they were written in a foreign language.
Sophia let out a long, dramatic breath of relief.
"Ugh, you scared me! I thought it was an emergency. 'Okay' is good, Jay. It means he's not coming to drag you back. It's nice!"
But Jay didn't feel like it was "nice."
She felt a sharp, cold pinch in her chest.
Just 'okay'?
she thought, her bottom lip caught between her teeth.
No 'I miss you'?
No 'Come back soon'?
Is he actually angry because of what happened in the hallway?
Does he think I'm some kind of monster for almost marking his neck?
The silence from his side felt louder than any argument.
She had expected him to fight for her, or at least tease her, but the bluntness of the reply made her feel small.
"Now what happened? You look like you just swallowed a lemon," Sophia said, pausing her video to look at her friend.
"Nothing," Jay lied, quickly locking her phone and shoving it under a pillow.
"Everything is fine."
But as she lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, all she could think about was the "CEO" sitting alone in their room, and whether that "Okay" meant he was giving her space-or giving up on her.
Back in the master suite, the air felt too still and far too quiet.
Keifer was sprawled on the bed, still wearing his dress shirt with the top buttons undone, staring at the small, glowing screen of his phone.
"Okay."
He had spent five minutes drafting a long reply, then deleted it.
He had tried to sound casual, then deleted that too.
In the end, his pride and his fear of pushing her too hard had won.
He stared at the ceiling, the shadows of the fan spinning like his thoughts.
Does she really regret what happened?
he wondered, his jaw tightening.
Is she ignoring me because she's disgusted?
Does she really not want me near her at all?
He let out a frustrated growl, rubbing his face with his hands.
"No, just shut up, Keifer," he muttered to the empty room.
"Just give her some space, she's overwhelmed... don't be a predator."
He flopped his phone onto the nightstand, turning away to close his eyes and force sleep to come.
But the darkness was worse. The moment his eyelids shut, the memory of the hallway hit him like a physical blow.
He could still feel the phantom sensation of Jay's fingers tangled in his hair, her body pressed against his, and that electric, raw moment when her teeth had grazed his skin.
His breath hitched in the quiet room.
His heart started a heavy, thudding rhythm against his ribs.
"You are really going to be the end of me, Jay," he whispered into his pillow.
But then, despite the frustration and the distance, a small, involuntary smile touched his lips.
He remembered the look in her eyes right before Sophia called out-it wasn't fear.
It was hunger. And if that was how she felt, he could wait a hundred nights in this empty room just to see that look one more time.
The next morning, the Watson estate was already a whirlwind of activity.
The quiet, tense atmosphere of the night before had been replaced by the rhythmic sounds of hammers, the rustle of expensive silk drapes, and the fragrant, overwhelming scent of thousands of fresh lilies being arranged in crystal vases.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson were moving through the foyer like generals on a battlefield, pointing out every stray thread and misplaced centerpiece.
They were perfectionists, and tonight's gala was their stage.
Jay and Sophia descended the grand staircase together, still in their pajamas with messy morning hair.
As they reached the landing, Jay's eyes instinctively flickered toward the closed door of the master suite.
Her heart did a nervous little skip.
Is he still in there?
Is he already working?
Did he sleep at all?
Every time she looked at that door, she felt a mix of that lingering guilt and a strange, buzzing anticipation.
Sophia, ever the blunt one, rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at the chaos in the living room.
"Mom? Dad? Why are you doing all of this this early?"
she asked, leaning over the banister.
"The party isn't until 7:00 PM! It's barely breakfast time!"
Mrs. Watson didn't even look up from a floral arrangement she was critiquing.
"Early is on time, Sophia. On time is late. We have the Mayor, the press, and half the business board coming tonight. Everything must be flawless."
She finally glanced up, her sharp eyes landing on Jay.
"Good morning, Jay, dear. I hope you've picked out something spectacular. Tonight is as much about you as it is about the company."
Jay forced a small, polite smile, but her mind was still focused on the hallway upstairs.
~few hours later~
The morning hours dragged on, filled with the scent of expensive lilies and the constant rustle of staff preparing for the gala.
Jay felt like she was wandering through a dream-one where she was looking for someone who wasn't there.
Sophia was currently sequestered in her room, a thick layer of charcoal face mask making her look more like a statue than a best friend.
Jay, unable to sit still, wandered downstairs.
She finally spotted Mrs. Watson in the kitchen, her voice authoritative as she gave final instructions to the catering staff.
"Umm... Mom?" Jay started softly.
Mrs. Watson turned, smoothing her apron.
"Yes, anak?"
Jay bit her lip, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt.
She had been staring at his closed door for hours, but she hadn't heard a single sound from inside.
"Umm... Mom, where is Keifer?"
Mrs. Watson paused, arching a perfectly groomed eyebrow.
"Don't you know?"
"No," Jay admitted, her voice dropping.
"I was... with Sophia since last night."
Mrs. Watson's expression shifted instantly.
The busy General persona faded, replaced by the sharp intuition of a mother.
She stepped closer, searching Jay's face.
"Did you both have a fight?"
"No! No..." Jay waved her hands frantically, her face heating up.
"We were just doing stuff for the party. You know, skincare and all that."
Mrs. Watson's gaze softened. She reached out and gently slid her hand through Jay's hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear.
"Oh, dear... He's gone to the office. It was an important meeting that couldn't be moved."
She paused, a small, knowing glint appearing in her eyes.
"But don't worry,"
she added teasingly, "your husband will be back long before the party starts. He wouldn't miss seeing you tonight for anything."
Jay felt the heat rush from her neck to her forehead.
"I... I'll go,"
she stammered, unable to meet her mother-in-law's playful gaze.
She practically sprinted out of the kitchen, her heart thumping.
Even when he wasn't in the house, Keifer managed to make her blush just by the mention of his name.
But as she walked back upstairs, the "Okay" from his text still echoed in her head.
He went to work without even saying goodbye? she thought.
Is he throwing himself into work to forget about the 'debt'... or to forget about me?
~Evening~
The air in Sophia's room was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the frantic hum of hair dryers.
Outside, the sun had finally dipped below the horizon, and the first few luxury cars were already crunching up the gravel driveway of the Watson estate.
Jay stood in front of the full-length mirror, smoothing the fabric of her gown.
It was a deep, midnight blue that seemed to shimmer like the ocean under the vanity lights.
The color made her skin look like porcelain and brought out a spark in her eyes that hadn't been there that morning.
Sophia, looking like a literal rose in a tiered pink dress that fluffed out around her, stopped mid-lipstick application to stare at her friend.
"Wow, Jay..." Sophia breathed, her eyes widening.
"You are looking damn hot. Like, 'CEO-needs-an-oxygen-tank' hot."
Jay felt the heat rush to her cheeks instantly, a soft pink glow clashing beautifully with the blue of her dress.
"Soph! Stop it," she stammered, looking down at her silver heels.
"You look way more beautiful than me. You look like a princess."
Sophia let out a loud, bubbly laugh and waved her makeup brush in the air.
"Oh, shut up! We both know I'm the cute sidekick tonight. You're the main character in that dress. Keifer isn't going to know what hit him."
They both dissolved into giggles, the nervous tension of the day finally breaking. For a moment, they weren't a "wife" and a "sister-in-law" preparing for a high-society event-they were just two best friends sharing a secret before the world started watching.
Jay caught her reflection one last time. She looked sophisticated, elegant, and bold.
But as the laughter died down, her heart gave a heavy thump. The hallway, the "Okay" text, and the empty morning all came rushing back.
Is he's back?
The room suddenly felt much larger when Sophia slipped out to check on their mom's final preparations.
The distant sound of the orchestra tuning up drifted through the cracks of the door, but inside, it was just Jay and her reflection.
Jay smoothed the silk of her midnight-blue gown, her hands trembling slightly.
She looked like a woman who had everything under control, but her heart was a chaotic mess.
The "okay" text, the empty morning, the way he had given her space-it all swirled together in her mind.
A sudden, sharp clarity washed over her.
She didn't want to hide anymore. She didn't want to run into Sophia's room or pretend she wasn't affected by him.
The guilt of the day before-the fear of her own intense feelings-was replaced by a quiet, burning resolve.
"Tonight," she whispered to the empty room. "I'm not running. I'm telling him."