The room was silent, the only sound the frantic thudding of Jay's heart against her ribs.
She stood by the mirror, the silk of her gown shimmering under the vanity lights, when the soft knock, knock pulled her from her thoughts.
"Yes," she answered, her voice small.
The door creaked open slowly, and Jay's breath hitched.
She froze.
Standing in the doorway was Keifer, looking impossibly handsome in a deep blue suit that seemed to make his presence even more commanding.
He didn't move at first, he just stood there, his gaze anchored to her, his usual "CEO" composure completely shattered by the sight of her.
Jay looked down instantly, her eyelashes casting long shadows on her cheeks as she bit her inner lip, her face flushing a deep crimson.
Keifer finally moved. He walked toward her, the sound of his dress shoes muffled by the carpet.
He stopped just inches away, his throat working as he swallowed hard, his eyes tracing every detail of her face with raw admiration.
"Jay..." he breathed.
"Hmm..?" she whispered, barely able to find her voice.
"Mom... and... Dad are... asking for you," he said, his voice dropping so low it was barely audible, his usual authority replaced by a hesitant, shaky tone.
"Huh?" Jay looked up, her expression clouded with confusion.
Was that all he had to say?
Keifer shook his head slightly, as if snapping himself out of a trance and coming back to reality.
Without a word, he reached out and cupped her cheeks with both hands.
His palms were warm against her skin, and Jay felt her heart hammering like a trapped bird.
He leaned in, his scent of sandalwood and winter air wrapping around her.
Jay's eyes fluttered shut, her body tensing in anticipation of the fire she'd felt in the hallway.
But instead of his lips on hers, she felt only the softest, most reverent kiss pressed against her forehead.
It was a promise, not a demand.
Jay kept her eyes closed, leaning into the touch for a heartbeat longer than she should have.
"I am waiting," Keifer whispered, pulling back just enough to look at her one last time.
He paused, his gaze lingering on her lips before he forced himself to look away.
"Outside."
He let his hands slide away from her face and turned, walking out of the room before the tension could break him.
Jay caught her breath as she stepped out into the hallway, the cool air of the corridor hitting her flushed skin.
She looked at the closed door behind her for a fleeting second.
His words-"I am waiting"-didn't feel like a simple statement about standing in the hallway.
They felt deeper, like a quiet confession that he was waiting for her to take the next step toward him, to bridge the gap she had created since the night before.
She took one last look at her reflection, straightened her shoulders, and walked out.
Keifer was leaning against the wall opposite the door, his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the floor.
When he heard her footsteps, he looked up, and a slow, genuine smile broke across his face-the kind of smile that made the "Golden boy" look like a boy in love.
"Ready?" he asked softly.
"Hmm," Jay nodded, her heart fluttering.
He offered his arm with a courtly gesture, and Jay didn't hesitate this time.
She interlocked her arm with his, feeling the solid, warm strength of his muscle through the fabric of his blue suit.
As they began the walk toward the grand staircase, Jay felt the weight of every eye in the house landing on her.
The whispers started almost immediately, but Keifer's gaze never left her side, his presence acting like a shield against the crowd.
They reached the bottom of the stairs where Mrs. Watson was already holding court.
When she saw them, her face lit up with a proud, elegant smile.
Jay returned it, feeling a sudden wave of warmth for the woman who had welcomed her into this whirlwind.
A woman standing near Mrs. Watson, draped in expensive jewels, blinked in surprise as she looked Jay up and down.
Her expression was a mix of shock at Jay's undeniable beauty and her soft, graceful aura.
"Is she your daughter-in-law?"
the woman asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Mrs. Watson's smile widened, but her eyes twinkled with a bit of mischief. "No," she replied simply.
Jay's heart plummeted.
A sharp, cold sting hit her chest.
No? she thought, her grip on Keifer's arm loosen instinctively.
But then, Mrs. Watson turned fully toward the woman, her voice ringing with clear, affectionate pride.
"She is my second daughter."
Jay's breath caught.
She looked up at Mrs. Watson, her eyes wide and glassy with unshed tears.
Beside her, she felt Keifer's arm tighten, and he pulled her just a little bit closer to his side.
As Keifer stood there, still holding Jay's arm like he was afraid she'd vanish if he let go, Mrs. Watson stepped in with a playful glint in her eyes.
She reached out and patted Keifer's hand, silently signaling him to release his grip.
"Alright, Keifer, that's enough,"
Mrs. Watson said, her voice full of mischief.
"You've had her all to yourself since you got home. It's my turn now."
Keifer tightened his hold for just a split second before slowly letting his hand slide away.
"We literally just walked down the stairs, Mom,"
he muttered, his voice sounding a little grumpy, which made Jay hide a smile.
"And in those thirty seconds, you've managed to stare at her enough for the whole year,"
Mrs. Watson teased, tucking Jay's arm into hers.
She looked at Jay and winked.
"Don't mind him, dear. He acts like a bodyguard when he's actually just starstruck. If I don't take you away now, he'll spend the entire party standing in one spot just looking at you."
Jay turned bright red, looking down at her silver heels.
"Mom..."
"It's true!" Mrs. Watson laughed, starting to lead Jay toward a group of guests.
Over her shoulder, she called back to her son,
"Go talk to the Minister, Keifer. Try to look like a CEO and not a lovesick teenager. I'll bring your wife back... eventually."
Keifer stood there, looking completely defeated by his mother's teasing.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and sighed, but as he watched them walk away, that small, private smile returned to his face.
~FEW MOMENTS LATER~
Mrs. Watson finally squeezed Jay's hand one last time before slipping away to handle a crisis with the catering staff.
Jay felt a little lost for a second until she felt that familiar, steady presence beside her.
She stepped back toward Keifer, who was pretending to listen to a boring businessman while actually stealing glances at her every few seconds.
When their eyes met, his stoic face softened just a fraction.
But the peace didn't last long.
"KEIFERRRRRR!"
A loud, energetic shout echoed across the marble floor.
A guy around Keifer's age, with blue eyes came charging through the crowd like a heat-seeking missile.
Before Keifer could react, the guy threw his arms around him in a massive hug.
"Keifer, my babyyyy! I missed you so much!"
Jay's eyes widened to the size of saucers. She had never seen anyone-literally anyone-dare to touch the "Golden boy" like that, let alone call him "baby."
Keifer's face went from pale to a frustrated shade of red as he struggled to peel the guy off him.
"Percy, get off! Ugh, let go!" He looked genuinely distressed, like he was being attacked by an over-affectionate golden retriever.
Thankfully, another guy stepped forward.
He had a much calmer, cooler posture.
He reached out and grabbed the back of the first guy's collar, helping Keifer pull the "monkey" away.
"What, baby? Don't you miss me?"
Percy pouted, smoothing out his suit jacket.
The calmer one, Aries, rolled his eyes and smacked the back of Percy's head.
"Shut up, man. You literally just saw him this morning."
Aries gave Keifer a casual nod and a handshake.
"What's up, man?"
Keifer let out a long, exhausted sigh, but Jay noticed a spark of genuine friendship in his eyes.
He realized Jay was standing there, watching the whole chaotic drama with a mix of amusement and pure surprise.
"Jay," Keifer said, stepping closer to her and placing a protective hand on her lower back.
"This is Percy Collins. And this is Aries Fernandes, Percy's step-brother. They're my best friends-unfortunately."
He then pointed toward Jay, his voice turning proud and steady.
"And this is Jay. My wife."
"Oh! Hello," Jay said, giving a polite little wave, still trying to process the "baby" comment from earlier.
Aries gave her a respectful nod. "Nice to meet you, Jay. Good luck dealing with these two."
Percy, however, looked like he wanted to jump in for a hug her, but Keifer stuck out an arm to block him with a half-annoyed, half-amused smile.
Percy rolled his eyes but then flashed a huge, friendly grin at Jay.
"Hey, sister! Listen, if you ever need any help-like, even if you need to kidnap Keifer or lock him in a closet-just call us. You can treat us like your own brothers. We've got your back."
Jay couldn't help it. The sight of these three together was so different from the cold, professional world she'd been seeing at other parts of party.
She let out a genuine, bubbly laugh. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."
The lively atmosphere created by Percy and Aries still lingered in the air, but as they wandered off toward the buffet, the mood shifted.
Jay felt a sudden chill that had nothing to do with the air conditioning.
A girl was walking toward them.
She was undeniably beautiful, wearing a dress that was perhaps a bit too loud for the occasion, and she carried herself with an air of practiced arrogance.
Every step she took seemed designed to make people look at her.
"Keifer! I thought I'd never find you in this crowd,"
she chirped, her voice cutting through the soft orchestral music.
She stepped right into Keifer's personal space, reaching out to tuck a stray hair behind his ear-a gesture so intimate it made Jay's stomach do a painful somersault.
"Nicole," Keifer said, his voice flat.
He didn't lean into the touch, but he didn't pull away immediately either.
Nicole turned her gaze to Jay, looking her up and down with a sharp, calculating expression that made Jay feel like she was being graded.
"And who is this sweet little thing? One of Sophia's classmates?"
"This is Jay," Keifer said, his tone stiffening. "My wife."
Nicole let out a sharp, melodic laugh that didn't reach her eyes.
She moved even closer to Keifer, her hand resting heavily on his forearm.
"Wife? Oh, Keifer, you always did have a flare for the dramatic. I'm Nicole Manalo,"
she added, directed at Jay.
"I'm sure he's mentioned me. We were... inseparable back in school. We only had to part ways because my family moved me to London for university. Such a tragic end to a perfect story, don't you think?"
She smiled at Keifer, a look that said they shared a thousand secrets Jay would never know.
"I just got back, Keifer. London was lonely. I kept thinking about you."
Jay felt a sharp, cold hollow opening up in her chest.
She looked at Keifer, waiting for him to push Nicole away, waiting for him to say that the "perfect story" was dead and buried.
But Keifer remained mostly silent.
He looked at Nicole with a strange, unreadable expression.
He noticed the way Jay was fidgeting with her silk gown, her knuckles turning white, but he didn't say the words Jay was dying to hear.
He didn't tell Nicole to move. He didn't tell her that he was happy now.
Jay felt a wave of insecurity wash over her.
Is he quiet because he still misses her?
she wondered.
Is a contract wife really no match for a 'perfect' ex-girlfriend?
And most important question, he had a girlfriend.
The midnight-blue dress that had made her feel like a queen minutes ago suddenly felt like it didn't belong on her at all.
"Jay, can you please show me the washing", Nicole said.
Jay gave her a polite smile ,"yeah sure."
Jay's heart was already heavy, but she kept her back straight, determined to be the perfect hostess despite the sinking feeling in her chest.
As soon as they reached a quiet corner near the guest washroom, the "polite" mask Nicole had been wearing dropped completely.
She didn't go into the washroom.
Instead, she stepped in front of Jay, effectively cornering her against the gold-trimmed wall.
"You know," Nicole began, her voice dropping the fake sweetness and turning sharp as a blade.
"Keifer looks at you like you're a delicate little doll. It's cute, really. But Keifer doesn't stay interested in dolls for long."
Jay's breath hitched, but she didn't look away.
"I'm not sure what you mean, Nicole."
Nicole stepped closer, the scent of her expensive, heavy perfume filling the narrow space.
"I mean that Keifer and I weren't just 'school friends.' We were a fire. The only reason we aren't together right now is a map and a plane ticket to London. He would do anything for me back then, and trust me, he still will. A man like him needs someone bold, someone who can stand at his level. Someone like me."
She ran a judgmental eye over Jay's soft features and the modest, elegant cut of her blue gown.
"A girl like you? You're sweet, Jay, but you aren't his type. You're the quiet 'safe' choice his parents probably picked out. But once the novelty of playing house wears off, he'll be looking for the fire again. And I'm right here."
Jay felt a sharp pinch in her heart.
Every insecurity she'd felt since the contract began seemed to bubble up at once.
She thought of Keifer's silence in the ballroom and felt a wave of doubt.
The air in the quiet hallway felt heavy as Nicole stepped even closer, her eyes flashing with a cruel, knowing glint.
She saw Jay's polite smile and it clearly annoyed her.
"You think that ring makes you a Watson?"
Nicole hissed, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"Don't be naive, honey. I know exactly what this is. I know about the contract. You're just a business deal with a pretty face."
Jay's heart skipped a beat.
Her breath hitched, but she forced herself not to let her expression crumble.
How does she know?
Nicole smirked, sensing she had hit a nerve.
She leaned in until her lips were right next to Jay's ear.
"And in case you forgotten who you're talking to... my father is the Mayor. In this city, the Watsons need my family's signature for every bridge they build and every building they buy. Do you really think Keifer would choose a 'contract' like you over a powerhouse like me once the ink on your little deal dries up?"
But then, she remembered the way he had kissed her forehead just an hour ago-the tenderness that didn't feel like "playing house."
Jay took a slow, steady breath.
She didn't raise her voice, and she didn't move an inch.
She looked Nicole directly in the eyes with a calm that she didn't know she possessed.
"I appreciate your honesty, Nicole,"
Jay said, her voice soft but incredibly firm.
"And it's clear you have a lot of memories with Keifer. But 'types' are for people who don't know what they want. Keifer knows exactly who he is, and he's the one who chose to put this ring on my finger."
She gave a small, polite tilt of her head, the kind of gesture she'd seen Mrs. Watson use a hundred times.
"If you're as bold as you say you are, I'm sure you don't need to corner his wife in a hallway to prove it.
The washroom is right there. Please take your time."
With a final, polite smile that didn't reach her eyes, Jay turned and walked back toward the gala, her legs trembling slightly but her head held high.
Inside the lavish guest restroom, the silence of the hallway was broken only by the sharp, rhythmic click-clack of Nicole's heels as she paced back and forth.
The polite smile she had worn in the ballroom had curdled into a look of pure, ugly frustration.
She stopped in front of the massive, gold-framed mirror and gripped the edge of the marble vanity until her knuckles turned white.
Her reflection stared back at her-perfect makeup, expensive dress-but she looked shaken.
"That little... brat,"
Nicole hissed, her voice echoing off the tiled walls.
"What does a girl of no worth like her think she is? Talking to me about what Keifer wants?"
She grabbed a paper towel and crushed it into a tight ball, throwing it violently into the bin.
The way Jay had stood her ground, using that calm, "Watson-style" politeness, had stung Nicole more than a direct insult ever could.
"She's just a placeholder,"
Nicole muttered to her reflection, narrowing her eyes.
"A quiet, boring little shadow. Keifer is probably just bored or doing this to please his parents. He's mine. He was always mine."
She reached into her clutch, pulled out a dark red lipstick, and reapplied it with aggressive, sharp strokes.
She looked like a soldier preparing for a second round of battle.
"Enjoy your little moment in the spotlight, Jay,"
she whispered, a cold, predatory smirk finally returning to her face.
"Because I don't care about your ring or your 'contract.' I'll snatch Keifer back anyhow. And when I'm done, you'll realize just how out of your league this family really is.
I'll not think twice in playing those dirty games because of which keifer hates me."