Morning came quietly.
Too quietly for a hospital.
The soft glow of sunrise slipped through the window of the private observation room where Keifer was still resting.
Jay hadn't slept.
Not even for a minute.
She sat beside the bed, scrolling through his updated medical chart on her tablet, reviewing every result twice… then a third time.
Stable vitals.No further bleeding.Oxygen back to normal.
Still, she watched him like he might suddenly disappear if she looked away.
Keifer stirred slightly.
"You're staring again," he mumbled.
Jay didn't even flinch.
"I'm monitoring."
"You've said that eight times."
"And I will say it again if necessary."
He cracked one eye open.
"Doctor Mariano… are you aware normal fiancées sleep?"
"I'm aware normal CEOs don't cough blood at midnight."
"Fair."
He sat up slowly, stretching his shoulders.
Jay immediately reached out.
"Careful."
"I'm fine."
"You are under observation."
"I feel like a hostage."
"You're lucky I didn't admit you for forty-eight hours."
Keifer smirked.
"You would've chained me to the bed."
"If necessary."
Their quiet banter was interrupted by a knock.
Before Jay could respond, the door opened.
Percy walked in.
And froze.
His eyes moved between the hospital bed… the oxygen tube… and Jay sitting beside Keifer.
Silence.
Then Percy slowly closed the door behind him.
"…Okay," he said.
Jay sighed.
"You weren't supposed to find out yet."
Percy blinked.
"Find out?"
He pointed dramatically.
"MY BEST FRIEND IS IN A HOSPITAL BED."
Keifer raised a hand lazily.
"Good morning to you too."
Percy walked closer, eyes wide.
"What happened? Did someone poison you? Were you attacked? Was it corporate espionage? WAIT—was it a dramatic love sacrifice situation??"
Jay pinched the bridge of her nose.
"He coughed blood."
Percy gasped.
"THAT IS NOT CASUAL INFORMATION."
"It's under control."
Percy leaned closer to Keifer.
"Are you dying?"
"No."
"Are you almost dying?"
"Also no."
Percy turned to Jay.
"You look like you haven't slept."
"I haven't."
He stared at her.
Then at Keifer.
Then back to Jay.
"Oh."
Jay narrowed her eyes.
"Oh what?"
Percy crossed his arms with a knowing look.
"You love him."
Keifer coughed.
Jay glared.
"Everyone already knows that."
"Yes," Percy said dramatically, "but this is the first time I've seen you look like someone threatened your entire universe."
Jay didn't respond.
Because Percy wasn't wrong.
Keifer watched her quietly.
The room grew still.
Percy clapped suddenly.
"ANYWAY."
Both of them looked at him.
He pulled out his phone.
"I already canceled Keifer's meetings for today, tomorrow, and possibly the next century."
Keifer frowned.
"Percy—"
"You coughed blood."
"I'm fine now."
"You still coughed blood."
Jay nodded approvingly.
"See? Percy understands."
Keifer groaned.
"I'm surrounded."
"Yes," Percy said happily. "By people keeping you alive."
Then he leaned closer to Jay and whispered loudly—
"Also the Mariano family is going to lose their minds when they hear about this."
Jay froze.
"…They don't know."
Percy slowly straightened.
"You didn't tell them?"
"No."
Keifer sighed.
"They would panic."
Percy stared at both of them like they had collectively lost intelligence.
"You think they won't panic when they find out later?"
Jay paused.
"…Good point."
At that exact moment—
Jay's phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
And immediately regretted everything.
Caller ID:
Mom.
Percy slowly grinned.
"Oh no."
Keifer smirked.
Jay closed her eyes briefly before answering.
"…Hello?"
Her mother's voice exploded through the phone.
"WHY DID I JUST HEAR FROM A NURSE THAT MY FUTURE SON-IN-LAW IS IN THE HOSPITAL?!"
Percy covered his mouth to stop laughing.
Keifer leaned back against the pillow.
Jay stared at the ceiling.
"…Percy."
"Yes?"
"You're dead."