The hospital room was quiet when the doctor walked in that morning.
Jay immediately stood up from the chair beside Keifer's bed. She looked exhausted — eyes tired, hair messy, clothes wrinkled from staying there for days — but the second the doctor entered, all her attention sharpened.
The doctor checked Keifer's reports carefully before looking at both of them.
"He can be discharged today."
Jay let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding.
But before she could fully relax, the doctor continued.
"However, Mr. Watson is still weak. The wound is fresh, the stitches need time to heal, and his body lost a dangerous amount of blood. He needs proper rest." His tone turned serious. "No stress. No work. No meetings. No physical strain."
Jay nodded before Keifer could even speak.
"He won't do anything."
Keifer sighed softly from the bed. "You both are talking like I'm dying."
Jay immediately looked at him. "You got shot."
"And survived."
"That doesn't make it better!"
The doctor almost smiled watching them.
"He may act fine," the doctor said while writing something down, "but his body is still recovering. If he pushes himself too hard, it could delay healing."
Jay crossed her arms. "He won't even touch work."
Keifer looked at her with tired amusement. "Do I get a say in this?"
"No."
The doctor handed her the medicines list.
"She's definitely in charge," he muttered before leaving the room.
The second the door closed, Jay turned toward Keifer with narrowed eyes.
"You heard him."
"I heard betrayal."
"You heard instructions."
He shook his head slightly, but there was warmth in his eyes.
—
A little later, Jay carefully helped him out of the hospital bed.
The moment he winced slightly while standing, her entire expression changed.
"Careful!"
"I'm standing, not climbing a mountain."
"You can barely stand straight."
"I'm fine."
"You got shot."
"That sentence again."
"And I'll keep repeating it."
She stayed beside him the entire walk out of the hospital, one hand lightly holding his arm like she was scared he would collapse any second.
The staff at the hospital watched silently because seeing Keifer Watson — the cold, untouchable billionaire — being handled so carefully by one girl was almost unbelievable.
Outside, the driver quickly opened the car door.
Jay helped him sit first before getting in beside him.
The moment the car started moving, Keifer leaned his head back against the seat with a tired sigh.
Jay immediately noticed.
"Does it hurt?"
"A little."
Her face instantly softened.
She adjusted his position carefully so his injured shoulder wouldn't press against the seat too much.
"You need to stop moving."
"Yes, doctor."
She glared.
He smiled faintly.
—
When they finally arrived at Watson Mansion, the entire staff straightened immediately.
Keigan and Keiran were already downstairs.
"KUYA!"
Keiran ran toward him happily before suddenly stopping midway, remembering.
His small face became serious.
"Can I hug you?"
Keifer's expression softened instantly. "Come here."
Keiran hugged him carefully around the waist.
Very carefully.
Like Jay.
Keigan walked over too, quieter but visibly relieved.
"You look terrible," he said honestly.
Jay snorted softly.
Keifer sighed. "Thank you."
The boys helped guide him upstairs while Jay stayed beside him the entire time.
The second they reached his room, Jay turned fully serious again.
"Sit."
Keifer looked at her. "You sound like a commander."
"Sit."
He obeyed.
Keiran whispered dramatically to Keigan, "Kuya is scared of her."
"I can hear you," Keifer muttered.
Jay ignored them and adjusted Keifer's pillows carefully before helping him lean back properly.
Then she started organizing everything.
Medicines on the table.
Water beside the bed.
Extra pillows adjusted.
Curtains half-open.
Keifer watched her quietly for a while before finally speaking
"You know you can go home and rest."
She stopped moving.
Then slowly looked at him.
"No."
"You've barely slept."
"I said no."
His gaze softened slightly. "Jay—"
"I'm staying here."
The room went quiet.
Keiran's eyes widened happily. "Really?!"
Jay nodded while fixing the blanket over Keifer carefully.
"I already took leave from work."
Keifer blinked. "You did what?"
"I'm staying at the mansion until you recover."
"You don't have to do that."
"I want to."
Simple.
Certain.
Final.
Something warm flickered in his eyes.
Keiran looked excited instantly. "YAY! Ate stays with us!"
Keigan smiled slightly too.
Keifer looked at her quietly.
"You're serious."
She moved closer and gently adjusted the collar of his shirt so it wouldn't touch the bandage.
"You took a bullet for me," she whispered softly. "Now let me take care of you."
For once—
Keifer had no response.
Because no one had ever looked at him this carefully before.
Like he mattered more than his power.
More than Watson Enterprises.
More than anything.
—
That night, Jay refused to leave his room even once.
She made sure he took his medicine on time.
Made sure he ate properly.
And when he reached for his phone—
She snatched it immediately.
"No work."
"I just wanted to check one email."
"No."
"Jay."
"No."
He stared at her for a second before letting out a weak laugh.
"You became terrifying overnight."
"You got shot overnight."
"Again with that?"
"Yes. Forever."
Keifer leaned back against the pillows, looking exhausted now.
Jay noticed instantly.
"Sleep."
"I'm trying."
But even after the lights dimmed…
He couldn't.
He kept shifting slightly, uncomfortable.
Jay looked up from the chair beside the bed immediately.
"What happened?"
He stayed quiet for a moment.
Then finally looked at her.
"…Come here."
She stood up instantly. "Does your shoulder hurt?"
"No."
"Then what?"
He hesitated before speaking softly.
"I sleep better when you're close."
Her breath caught slightly.
He looked tired.
Vulnerable.
Nothing like the powerful Keifer Watson everyone feared.
Just… him.
She walked closer to the bed carefully.
"You need rest," she whispered.
"So stay."
Her heart softened immediately.
"You're impossible."
"And injured."
She rolled her eyes softly.
Then after a moment…
She carefully climbed onto the bed beside him, making sure not to touch his injured side.
The second she settled beside him, his entire body relaxed.
His arm slowly wrapped around her waist.
Gentle.
Careful.
Like even injured, he still needed to keep her close.
Jay looked at him quietly.
"You scared me," she whispered softly.
His eyes slowly closed.
"But you stayed," he murmured.
She moved closer carefully and rested her head beside his.
"I'm not going anywhere."