Jay–Jay (POV)
Everyone left.
The house went quiet again.
Too quiet.
I walked toward my room.
Kiegen was heading to his.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
He paused.
"Company stuff," he said. "There's an issue… Clyden and I are handling most of it. Kiefer's only attending important meetings."
I stared at him for a second.
That didn't feel right.
And now I'm 200% sure Kiefer is hiding something.
"…Okay," I said.
But it didn't sit well.
I went to the kitchen and made hot chocolate.
Three mugs.
For me.
Kiran.
Kiegen.
When I walked into Kiegen's room—
He was already lying on the bed, rolling slightly like he couldn't settle.
"Can't sleep?" I asked.
He nodded.
I sat beside him.
"Can I join too?"
I turned.
Kiran stood there, holding his pillow.
Kiegen and I exchanged a glance—
Then both nodded.
He climbed onto the bed, settling beside me.
I ended up in the middle.
And just like that—
We started talking.
Random things.
A movie.
Something stupid.
They responded slowly.
Then started talking about games.
At some point—
Both of them moved closer.
Resting against me.
Their voices got softer.
Slower.
Until—
They stopped.
I looked down.
Both of them—
asleep.
A small smile formed on my lips.
I adjusted the blanket over them.
Brushed their hair back gently.
And kissed their foreheads.
"Good night," I whispered.
I picked up my mug and walked out.
On the way—
I passed Kiegen's study table.
Papers were scattered.
I bent down to pick them up.
Just out of habit.
My eyes paused on them.
Watson Group.
Project files.
Numbers.
Documents.
I didn't read much.
Just enough to understand—
It wasn't small.
I stacked them neatly.
Placed a paperweight on top.
He then reached for his glasses and set them beside the bed.
And left.
Back to the kitchen.
It was already 11.
"…That idiot," I muttered.
Still not home.
I walked to my room.
Lay down.
Turned.
Then turned again.
Sleep didn't come.
Not tonight.
I sat up, frustrated.
Walked to the closet.
Pulled out one of his shirts.
hoodies.
Then another.
Then a few more.
I changed into one.
And threw the rest onto the bed.
Then fell onto them.
Buried my face in the fabric.
It smelled like him.
Faint.
But still there.
My fingers tightened.
"…Kiefer…"
I closed my eyes.
Trying to pretend—
He was there.
But the warmth—
wasn't.
And that made it worse.
Because now—
I knew exactly what I was missing.
Kiefer (POV)
I walked into the house.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
It was 2 a.m.
The kind of silence that only exists when everyone's finally asleep.
I loosened my tie as I walked down the hallway, my steps slower than usual… heavier.
Without thinking, I stopped by Kiegen's room.
The door was slightly open.
I pushed it gently.
Kiran was there too—curled up beside him, both of them tangled in the same bedsheet, holding onto it like it was the only thing keeping them grounded.
A small breath left me.
Jay must've put them to sleep.
I leaned against the doorframe for a second, just watching them.
Earlier, my phone hadn't stopped ringing.
C-in.
Yuri.
Kiegen.
Even Kiran.
All saying the same thing—
Jay's missing you.
A faint smile touched my lips.
…because I was missing her too.
More than I wanted to admit.
I stepped closer, careful not to wake them, and adjusted the blanket over their shoulders.
Then I leaned down—
and pressed a soft kiss to each of their foreheads.
"Sleep well," I murmured.
Quietly.
Before straightening and walking out.
Toward my room.
Toward her.
When I stepped into the room—
I froze.
The bed…
was covered with my shirts.
My hoodies.
Everywhere.
And in the middle of it—
Jay.
Curled up.
Wearing one of my shirts was like it was the only thing she needed to sleep.
Something in my chest tightened.
So this is how much she missed me…
A quiet breath left me.
I pulled out my phone without thinking and took a picture.
…maybe two.
I moved closer, softer this time, careful not to wake her.
I reached out to tuck her in properly.
But the moment my fingers brushed her—
She moved.
Fast.
Before I could react, she grabbed my collar—
and pulled me down onto the bed.
I landed beside her—
then suddenly—
She was over me.
Pinning me.
My eyes widened.
"Jay—"
"Finally caught you, asshole," she muttered, her voice still heavy with sleep… but her grip firm.
I stared at her.
Half shocked.
Half… something else.
"You were pretending to sleep?" I asked, a breath of disbelief slipping out.
Her eyes barely opened, a lazy smirk forming.
"Wow… finally I get to see my husband after a whole week," she said, her tone teasing, a little dramatic.
"Jay…" I sighed.
"What?" she shot back immediately.
"You can't stay up this late," I said, softer this time. "You're pregnant."
She stilled for half a second.
Then—
"What, Kiefer?" Her brows furrowed. "I can't see my husband now? Or I can only hear his voice on the phone?"
Her voice rose—not just anger.
Hurt.
I exhaled. "Jay, it's not like you think—"
Before I could finish, she wrapped her arms around me—tight.
Too tight.
Like if she loosened her grip, I'd disappear again.
I froze for a second.
"Jay, it's not like you think," I tried to explain—
—but she only held me tighter.
Her arms locked around me like I was something she refused to lose again.
I could feel it now—
the heat.
A lot.
"Jay…" I said softly, trying to ease her grip just a little.
"I'm sweating… let me take a bath."
She shook her head immediately.
"No."
Her voice was quiet. Stubborn.
"I like it," she murmured, pressing closer. "It smells more like you… It's okay."
My chest tightened.
I stopped trying to move.
Just let her hold me.
Then she lifted her head.
And that's when I saw it.
Tears.
Falling silently—one after another—onto my face.
My breath caught.
"Jay…" I whispered.
This wasn't just clingy.
This was hurting her.
"Why, Kiefer…?" Her voice trembled.
"You got what you wanted, didn't you…? You stopped treating me like your queen."
My brows pulled together.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, reaching up to wipe her tears—
—but she pushed my hand away.
That hurt more than her words.
"Now you have a child, you don't want—"
Before she could finish, I pulled her down and kissed her.
Not gentle.
Not patient.
Desperate.
How could she even think that?
But she pushed me back.
"Don't," she said, shaking her head.
I exhaled, forcing myself to slow down.
"Don't say that," I said, my voice lower now, steadier.
"I like children… because I'm having them with you."
She searched my face—
still unconvinced.
"Then what?" she asked quietly.
"Are you having an affair?"
For a second—
I just looked at her.
Then I smiled.
Not because it was funny.
But because the thought itself felt impossible.
"Why are you smiling?" she demanded.
I cupped her face gently this time, giving her time to pull away if she wanted.
She didn't.
"Jay…" I said softly,
"My mind is already full of you."
I brushed my thumb under her eye, catching a tear.
"How would I even look at another woman… when my wife is this beautiful?"
A faint smirk touched my lips.
"Honestly… I don't even have the space to think about anyone else."
For a second—
She just stared at me.
Then suddenly—
She grabbed my collar.
Hard.
Her eyes burned.
"Then why, Kiefer…?" her voice cracked, anger breaking into something raw.
"Why can't I feel you anymore?"
I stilled.
"I feel distance," she continued, her grip trembling now.
"I want your touch… I want to talk to you… I want to sleep next to you—holding you… on your chest…"
Each word hit harder than the last.
"I fucking miss my husband.... My kiefer..," she said, tears spilling freely now.
"The one who couldn't stay away from me… who went crazy just to touch me… to kiss me…"
My chest tightened.
"But now… I don't see him," she whispered.
"All I see are those stupid notes beside me every morning."
Her voice broke.
"I want to see your face when I wake up… but it's cold."
"I want you to hold me… but when I reach out, there's no one there."
Her grip loosened.
"I miss you, Kiefer…" she whispered.
"I really… really miss you."
She didn't push me this time.
Didn't fight.
She just… broke.
Something inside me gave in.
I leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her tear-stained eyes—
slow.
Careful.
Like I was trying to take her pain away.
Then I held her face between my hands—
and kissed her.
Not with urgency.
Not with hunger.
But with everything, I hadn't been there to give her.
"I'm here," I murmured against her lips.
"I'm right here."
Then I smiled.
Yeah… I was an asshole.
Making my wife cry—
and still feeling relieved… happy… because she finally said it out loud.
"I finally got to see you pout like this…" I murmured, brushing her cheek gently.
"You're so cute. I like it."
I leaned in and kissed her cheek.
She immediately hit my chest.
Hard.
"Sorry," I said, catching her wrist lightly. "I was busy with work—"
"Don't fucking lie to me, Kiefer."
That shut me up.
Her eyes locked onto mine—sharp, hurt, knowing.
"I know you're lying," she said, her voice breaking again.
"I just want my Kiefer back."
My grip on her tightened slightly.
"I'm not telling you to stop working," she continued, softer now but no less intense.
"But you can't make me feel like I'm losing you."
That hit.
Hard.
"I want to smile in your arms again… not wonder where you are," she whispered.
"I miss you… I miss my husband."
Her fingers curled into my shirt.
"I miss the way you tease me… the way you look at me like I'm everything."
For a second, I didn't speak.
Didn't joke.
Didn't deflect.
I just looked at her—
really looked.
Then I leaned in and kissed her.
Slow.
Gentle.
Not to stop her words—
but to answer them.
She kissed me back immediately.
Not soft.
Not hesitant.
But like she was pouring everything she couldn't say into it.
Every missed moment.
Every lonely night.
Every piece of me, she thought, she was losing.
I pulled her closer, my hand resting against her back, steadying her.
"I'm here," I whispered against her lips.
"And I'm not going anywhere."
"You really drive me insane," I muttered, brushing my lips against hers.
She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer like she still wasn't convinced I'd stay.
"Do you even know how much I fucking missed you?" I whispered. "I thought I'd make it up to you later…"
I exhaled softly, resting my forehead against hers.
"But now… you're making it really hard to wait."
A faint smile touched my lips.
"Wait here," I said gently. "I'll take a quick bath… then we'll sleep together."
I stepped away, heading toward the washroom—
—but I heard soft footsteps behind me.
I turned.
"Jay," I said, softer this time, "I'm not going anywhere."
"I know," she replied quietly, stepping closer.
"But I don't want to be away from you."
Something in my chest softened again.
I smiled faintly. "What… do you want to come with me?" I thought she would refuse.
She didn't answer.
She just stepped closer and kissed me.
We both ended up in the bath together. She stayed close the entire time—quiet, clingy in a way that felt almost instinctive, like she didn't want even a second of distance between us.
When I came out and started dressing, she lingered by the door, leaning against it and watching me. She was still wearing my shirt, and I had only put on my shorts—I hadn't bothered with anything else.
I let out a slow breath, then walked back to the bed and sat down.
After a moment, I opened my arms.
"Come here."
She didn't hesitate.
She walked straight into my arms—as if she belonged there.
Like she always had.
She rested her head on my chest, the warmth of her skin pressed against me, her breath soft and steady against my skin. Little by little, her breathing began to slow, evening out as she settled completely.
"I like it here," she murmured. "It's warm now."
And just like that—
She fell asleep.
I looked down at her.
Peaceful.
Finally.
I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, my hand resting protectively over her.
Slowly… it moved down.
To her belly.
A small breath left me.
"Hey…" I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Caretaker…"
My thumb brushed lightly, carefully—as if they could already feel me.
"Didn't you tell your mom we've been talking?" I said softly, a faint smile touching my lips.
"Why are you making me the bad guy, hm?"
I exhaled, resting my forehead lightly against hers.
"Didn't Dad explain everything to you?"
Silence.
Warm.
Peaceful.
But my chest still felt heavy.
I looked back at Jay, sleeping, finally calm in my arms.
"Just wait a little longer, Jay…" I whispered.
"I'll make it up to you."
My hand tightened slightly around her.
"I'll make everything right."
"I'll be your Kiefer…" I whispered.
My hand stayed over hers.
"But things changed… a week ago."
A pause.
Long enough to mean something.
"We were supposed to be together… like this," I added softly, glancing at her sleeping against me.
My jaw tightened slightly.
"And I was supposed to make sure you'd never feel alone."
Silence settled between my words.
Then, lower—
more certain.
"I'll erase every threat around you."
My fingers brushed gently over her hair—
almost tender.
"No matter what it takes."
"I'll never let anything take me away from you again.