The sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Watson penthouse, casting long, golden streaks across the marble floor. It had been exactly six months since the "Wedding of the Century"—the day the grumpy king of Section E finally made the "Mutya" his queen.
Jay-jay stirred under the silk sheets, her hair a messy halo against the pillow. For years, her mornings were defined by the chaotic shouting of Section E, the fear of Yuri's next move, or the anxiety of Keifer's cold stares. Now, the only sound was the steady, rhythmic breathing of the man beside her.
Keifer was still asleep, his arm draped possessively over her waist even in slumber. Without his usual sharp suits and the intimidating "Watson Heir" aura, he looked almost vulnerable. His forehead, usually creased with worry or annoyance, was smooth.
Jay-jay reached out, tracing the sharp line of his jaw with her fingertip. "Still handsome even when you're drooling, King," she whispered, a small smirk playing on her lips.
Suddenly, a large, warm hand caught her wrist. Keifer didn't open his eyes, but a low, gravelly chuckle vibrated in his chest.
"I don't drool, Jay. That's a Section E trait you brought into this marriage," he grumbled, finally opening his eyes. Those intense, dark eyes—once filled with revenge and walls—now looked at her with a softness he reserved only for her.
"Good morning, Mrs. Watson."
"Good morning, Hubby," she teased, knowing how much that word still made him flush.
The Reality of "Happily Ever After"
Breakfast was a quiet affair, or at least as quiet as it could be when Jay-jay was involved. She was currently trying to flip a pancake while Keifer watched her with a mixture of terror and amusement, his hand hovering near the fire extinguisher.
"Jay, we have a chef. You don't have to risk burning down the building," Keifer said, leaning against the kitchen island with a cup of black coffee.
"Where's the fun in that? Besides, Ci-N and the others are coming over later. I promised them home-cooked food," she replied, sticking her tongue out.
Keifer's expression soured at the mention of his former classmates. "They're coming here? Again? We were supposed to have a quiet weekend."
"Keifer, they're family. And besides, Edrix said he has news. Something about the old Section E classroom."
Keifer sighed, but there was no real heat in it. He knew that marrying Jay-jay meant marrying the chaos of Section E as well. He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.
"You're too kind for your own good," he murmured. "But if Felix breaks another vase, he's paying for it this time. I'm not joking."
A Shadow from the Past
The domestic bliss was interrupted by the sharp buzz of Keifer's work phone. His posture shifted instantly—the husband disappeared, and the CEO of the Watson Group returned. He stepped away to take the call, his voice dropping into that cold, professional tone Jay-jay hadn't heard in weeks.
"What do you mean, 'he's back'?" Keifer's voice was a low hiss. "I thought the Hanamitchi files were sealed."
Jay-jay froze, the spatula still in her hand. The name Hanamitchi always brought back a chill. Yuri. Even though things had been settled, the scars of the past—the betrayals, the hidden agendas, and the danger—never truly vanished.
Keifer hung up, his knuckles white as he gripped the phone. He looked at Jay-jay, and for a split second, she saw the old flicker of fear in his eyes—the fear of losing her again.
"What is it?" she asked softly, walking toward him.
Keifer took a deep breath, smoothing his expression, but he couldn't hide the tension in his shoulders. "Nothing you need to worry about today. Just... business."
Jay-jay placed her hand on his chest. "Mark Keifer Watson. We're married. No more 'just business' secrets. If there's a storm coming, we face it together. Remember?"
Keifer looked at her—his Mutya, the girl who fought her way into the hearts of the most dangerous class in school and emerged as his wife. He leaned down, forehead against hers.
"It's not Yuri," he clarified. "It's someone else. Someone who thinks the Watsons are weak now that I've 'settled down.' They think you're my weakness."
Jay-jay's eyes flashed with that familiar Section E spark—the one that proved she wasn't just a trophy wife, but a survivor.
"Then they clearly haven't met me yet," she said with a grin. "And they definitely haven't seen Section E in action lately."
Keifer couldn't help but smile. The marriage life wasn't just about quiet mornings and silk sheets; it was about building a kingdom together. And as the doorbell rang—followed by the unmistakable sound of Ci-N and Felix arguing in the hallway—he realized that the real adventure was only just beginning.