Jeff's smile vanished. Jenn choked on her own breath and coughed hard. "W–What?" she stammered.
Lucy gasped. "Oh! Sorry, Nanny! Do you need water?"
Jenn shot her a glare that could burn holes through steel, but the damage was done. Jeff was staring straight at her, eyes dark with disbelief.
"Lucy," Jenn said tightly, forcing calm into her voice, "let's go."
Lucy pouted. "But—"
"Now," Jenn said firmly, her voice trembling slightly.
Lucy sighed and waved at Jeff. "Bye, Jeff. Get well soon!"
Jeff nodded silently, his gaze still fixed on Jenn.
Jenn could barely meet his eyes as she turned and walked out with Lucy. Her heart felt like it was collapsing inside her chest.
Behind her, Jeff stared at the door long after it closed. He didn't move. Didn't speak.
And for the first time, Jenn wished Lucy had never opened her mouth.
The moment Jenn and Lucy left, silence filled the room. Jeff stared blankly at the door for a long while, his heart pounding harder than it should.
Gosh, he thought, my head… it feels like it's about to explode.
He pressed his hand against his forehead, closing his eyes. I knew it. I knew this was going to happen. I should've taken her away from that house.
He leaned back weakly on the hospital bed, frustration tightening every muscle. The truth Lucy had dropped wasn't just a sentence — it was a storm.
A soft knock came, followed by Carlos' familiar voice.
"Hey, man," he said, stepping in. "I saw Jenn and Lucy leaving. Is everything alright?"
Jeff looked up slowly, his eyes distant. "Jenn…" he started, then stopped. "Oh, sorry. Lucy told me something."
Carlos frowned. "What's that?"
Jeff swallowed hard. "Lucy said… Alden and Jenn kissed."
Carlos exhaled sharply and hissed, pacing for a moment before replying. "That shouldn't even be a problem to you, Jeff. She's supposed to be your fake girlfriend, remember? This is what you wanted, for Alden to fall for her. I mean, isn't that the plan?"
Jeff's eyes darkened. "That shouldn't happen. Not anymore."
Carlos turned sharply toward him. "What do you mean not anymore? Don't tell me—"
Jeff cut in, his voice low and trembling. "I don't want to use Jenn anymore, Carlos. I just… can't."
Carlos' brows furrowed. "Jeff…" He stared at him for a moment, then realization dawned. "You've fallen in love, haven't you?"
Jeff didn't speak. His silence was enough.
Carlos sighed and shook his head. "Oh, man. Jeff…"
Jeff's voice cracked as he spoke. "To be very honest, Carlos… I don't even know how it happened. I'm in love with her. I can't help it. She's not just part of the plan anymore. She's—" He swallowed hard. "She's everything I think about."
Carlos rubbed the back of his neck, frustration mixed with sympathy. "You see? I told you this might happen. That's why I warned you from the start — playing games with feelings always gets messy."
Jeff's eyes glistened. "Please, help me. What do I do now?"
Carlos sighed deeply. "Help you? There's nothing I can do. You need to tell her the truth, Jeff. Everything. Tell her why you got close to her in the first place, and then tell her what changed — that you fell for her for real. That's the only way you'll have peace."
Jeff lowered his gaze, guilt washing over him. "I'm so sorry, Carlos. I didn't plan any of this. Why can't I help it? I love her."
Carlos gave a small, sad smile. "That's love, bro. It doesn't ask for permission."
He picked up his bag and moved toward the door. "Anyway, the doctor said you'll be discharged today. So I'll get going for now. Catch you later, alright?"
Jeff nodded weakly. "Yeah… thanks."
When the door closed, silence settled again. Jeff lay back against the pillow, his mind spinning endlessly.
What am I going to do now? he thought. Please… someone help me.
He turned his face toward the window, watching the faint sunlight creep through the blinds — the same sunlight that once felt warm, now just felt heavy.
The room fell quiet after Carlos left. The faint hum of the air conditioner filled the emptiness, and Jeff sat there—still, heavy, lost in thought.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands pressed against his face. His mind wouldn't stop racing. Lucy's voice wouldn't stop echoing. Alden kissed nanny Jenn.
He groaned, shaking his head.
"I knew it," he whispered. "I knew this would happen."
The words felt sour in his mouth. He ran a trembling hand through his hair, trying to calm the ache in his chest. "I should have taken her away from that house," he muttered. "What was I even thinking?"
Then his voice softened, broken.
"She doesn't deserve this… not her."
He stared at the floor, his eyes unfocused. "Carlos was right. This whole thing was a mistake. Jenn was never supposed to be part of this game." He laughed dryly, a sad, bitter laugh. "A game… that's what I called it."
He paused, voice barely above a whisper. "But now… now I can't even think straight. I can't stop thinking about her smile. About how she looks at me. God—" his voice cracked, "I don't want to use her anymore."
He lifted his head, staring at nothing. "I don't care about revenge or Alden. I just… love her."
The words came out raw, honest. The first time he'd said them aloud.
"I love her," he repeated, almost as if trying to convince himself. "I love Jenn."
A long silence followed. Jeff thought he was alone, that his confession was swallowed by the walls of that room.
But the door hadn't closed completely.
Just beyond the narrow crack, Jenn stood frozen — hand trembling on the doorknob, eyes wide with disbelief. Her breath hitched quietly as his words echoed inside her chest, every syllable piercing deeper than she could handle.
She wanted to step in. To ask if she heard him right. But her feet wouldn't move.
Tears welled up in her eyes. Confusion. Pain. A strange, uncontrollable pull toward the man she was supposed to hate and maybe, deep down, couldn't.
Jeff ran a tired hand over his face, sighing heavily. "If only she knew the truth," he muttered.
Jenn's heart skipped. The truth?
She took a quiet step back before he could notice her shadow. Her mind was spinning, her chest tight with questions she wasn't ready to ask.
By the time Jeff turned toward the door again, it was already closed.