Chapter 9 — "Two Rooms, One Silence" 💔✨️
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Jay's POV 💐🌙
The night sky over the Watsons' resort shimmered with fairy lights, laughter fading slowly as the last guests left the ballroom. The smell of roses, champagne, and vanilla candles lingered in the air, mingling with something heavier—tension.
I stood by the giant glass window, still in my wedding gown, staring at my reflection.
A bride.
A wife.
And yet, I'd never felt so alone.
The golden shimmer of my dress caught the light as I ran a finger over my ring—the sparkling diamond that screamed commitment but whispered contract.
"Mrs. Watson."
That's what everyone had called me tonight. Over and over. With smiles, hugs, blessings.
But it didn't feel real.
Because the man who was supposed to be my husband had barely looked at me since we said "I do."
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The wedding had ended hours ago.
The guests had gone home.
The music had faded.
And now, it was just us—Jay and Keifer—in the grand, cold silence of the Watsons' mansion suite.
Two newlyweds… walking in opposite directions.
Zia hugged me goodbye. "You'll be fine, Jay. He's just… you know, Keifer."
I smiled weakly. "Yeah. Business first, emotions later."
She hesitated, searching my face. "Do you—like him?"
I didn't answer. Because I didn't even know anymore.
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When I reached the hallway leading to the rooms, Keifer was there—hands in his pockets, tux slightly undone, tie hanging loose, looking both flawless and exhausted.
We froze when our eyes met.
He looked at me once, briefly, before turning toward the door on the right. "Your room's next door," he said flatly. "I asked the staff to separate them."
I blinked. "Separate rooms?"
He nodded, voice unreadable. "We're not obligated to… share, Jay. It's part of the contract. One year of marriage, not one bed."
Ouch.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smirk. "Good. Wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable, Mr. Watson."
He didn't even reply. Just opened his door, walked in, and shut it softly behind him.
And that silence…
That silence hurt more than any argument could.
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Keifer's POV 💍🔥
I stared at the closed door for a long time before locking it and collapsing onto the couch.
My head was spinning.
The wedding, the flashes, the applause—it was all supposed to feel powerful, satisfying. A successful merger, a perfect deal.
But instead, it felt like signing away something I didn't know I still had.
My peace.
My heart.
I loosened my tie and stared at my reflection in the mirror.
"Congratulations, Mr. Watson," I muttered bitterly. "You just married a girl who probably hates your guts."
And yet… when she'd walked down that aisle, glowing in gold and tears she thought no one saw, my chest had felt tight.
Because damn it, she was beautiful. Not just in the way she looked—but in the way she carried herself even when her world was falling apart.
And now, she was my wife.
My contract.
My undoing.
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The sound of faint footsteps came from the hallway. I froze, listening.
It was her. I could tell. She moved softly, hesitantly—like she didn't belong here, though she did more than anyone else.
I stood, walked to the door, and leaned against it quietly.
Through the wood, I could hear her sigh.
Then, a soft whisper.
> "Goodnight, Keifer…"
She thought I wouldn't hear it.
But I did. And that single word—my name in her voice—broke something open inside me.
"Goodnight, Jay," I whispered back, even though she couldn't hear.
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Jay's POV 💔🌸
I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the bouquet I'd caught at the end of the ceremony. The petals had started to wilt, a few falling onto my lap.
"Typical," I muttered. "Even the flowers don't last."
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the photos from the wedding. Every picture was perfect.
The smiles. The poses. The kiss on the forehead.
We looked like the dream couple.
We looked like we were in love.
But no one could see what happened between those frames—the awkward silence, the tension, the distance that no amount of lights could hide.
I placed my phone face-down and looked at the ring again.
It sparkled mockingly.
Like it knew this wasn't forever.
And yet, deep down… a stupid, fragile part of me wanted to believe it could be.
Because somewhere between the sarcasm, the arguments, the accidental kisses, and the hurt… I'd started to care.
But I couldn't say that now. Not after everything.
Not when he'd chosen separate rooms.
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Keifer's POV 💍🔥
I couldn't sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her.
Jay.
Sitting in her Red dress, eyes shimmering, pretending not to care.
I hated myself for the things I'd said. For the way I'd made her doubt herself. For the distance I created when all I wanted was to close it.
But how could I?
If I got too close, I'd forget the deal. Forget that this marriage had an expiration date.
One year.
And then she'd be gone.
And I'd be the idiot who fell in love with someone who never meant to stay.
I walked to the balcony, cold night wind brushing my face. Down below, the hotel garden lights were still glowing.
And there she was—standing by the fountain again. In her wedding gown, barefoot, holding her heels in one hand.
She didn't know I could see her.
Her veil fluttered in the wind, and for a moment, she looked like a fallen angel who'd forgotten how to fly.
My heart clenched.
I wanted to run down there. Tell her I was sorry. Tell her that maybe this deal didn't have to be loveless.
But I didn't.
I just whispered to the night,
> "You'll fall for her, Keifer. You already are."
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Jay's POV 💐💔
I dipped my fingers into the fountain water, watching the ripples distort the reflection of the diamond on my finger.
It was supposed to symbolize forever.
But forever had conditions now—one year, one contract, one illusion.
I let out a shaky laugh. "Who needs love when you've got paperwork, right?"
But when I looked up at the mansion window and saw his silhouette against the light—Keifer, standing alone, looking out at me—I stopped breathing for a second.
He didn't move. Neither did I.
Two people, separated by glass and pride.
And somehow, that moment said everything we couldn't.
Maybe love didn't begin with confessions.
Maybe it began with silence.
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Keifer's POV 🌙🔥
The night went on, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from her.
When she finally went inside, I felt the emptiness return like a tide.
I sat on the bed, exhaled, and whispered to the dark,
> "One year, Jay. One year to survive you… or fall for you completely."
And as I turned off the lights, I realized—
the real deal hadn't even started yet. 💍💔✨️
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🌸✨️End of Chapter 9✨️🌸