"But Mom..." Keifer's voice was barely a whisper, his own eyes starting to glisten as he watched his mother tenderly wipe the tear tracks from Jay's face.
The sight of his mother's protective care for Jay seemed to hit him harder than any physical blow.
Jay had finally calmed down, her breathing hitched but steady, though the same couldn't be said for Mrs. Watson and Sophia.
The air in the room was still charged with their silent, simmering fury.
Mrs. Watson suddenly extended her hand toward her son. Keifer looked at her palm, then back at her face, his expression completely lost in a fog of confusion.
"Give me those divorce papers," she commanded.
"Huh?" Keifer blinked, his brain seemingly stalled.
"Didn't you hear? Mom said give her the papers!"
Sophia snapped, her voice so sharp and icy that Keifer actually flinched, stepping back instinctively.
"But... I was trying to—"
He tried to explain, his fingers tightening on the documents.
"No 'buts.' Give them to me,"
his mother repeated, her voice dropping to a level that brooked no argument.
Still not fully grasping what was happening, Keifer slowly extended the papers toward her.
Mrs. Watson snatched them from his grip, scanning the text for a brief moment before turning to Jay.
"Jay, anak... please. Sign these,"
she said, holding out a pen.
"Huh?" Jay looked up, her eyes wide and startled.
"Mom?"
"Jay, just do it. Give him exactly what he says he wants,"
Mrs. Watson said, her voice turning firm yet surprisingly gentle.
She stepped forward and cupped Jay's cheeks in her hands, forcing Jay to look into her eyes.
"Jay, end this contract once and for all. After this, it will be your own decision what you want to do with your life. No more forced roles."
Jay took a long, shaky inhale. She looked at the signature line, then at the pen.
With a final, determined nod, she took the pen and signed the papers, the ink sealing the end of the arrangement.
Mrs. Watson immediately took the signed documents and thrust them back at Keifer.
She crossed her arms over her chest, her chin tilting up as she stared him down.
"Mark my words, Keifer Watson,"
she said, her voice ringing through the room.
"From this moment on, I have two children. Do you want to meet them?"
Keifer let out a frustrated sigh, rolling his eyes at what he thought was his mother's typical flair for the dramatic.
"Mom, you've always had two kids. I know who they are."
Mrs. Watson narrowed her eyes, her gaze turning dangerously sharp.
"Still, it's better if you know exactly who stands where in this house."
She reached out and rested a hand on Sophia's shoulder.
"This is my first daughter," she said proudly. Then, she turned and pulled Jay close to her side, wrapping an arm protectively around her.
"And this... this is my second daughter
he looked like he had just been evicted from his own family.
"And who am I then?"
Keifer asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and growing annoyance.
Mrs. Watson didn't even look at him.
She adjusted Jay's hair with a motherly touch and let out a dismissive hum.
"I don't know you. You just happen to live in this house,"
she said, rolling her eyes toward the ceiling.
Keifer's eyebrow shot up so high it nearly vanished into his hairline.
"I just live here? Mom, I pay the property taxes!"
Mr. Watson couldn't contain it anymore.
He let out a booming laugh, slamming a heavy palm onto Keifer's shoulder with a grin.
"Tough luck, son! My wife has officially abandoned you. You're just a tenant now!"
But the laughter died in his throat as Mrs. Watson turned her icy, narrowed gaze toward him.
"Don't laugh too much, Mr," she snapped.
"Because I don't know who you are, either."
Mr. Watson's eyes widened, his hand freezing on Keifer's shoulder.
"What? Elena, be reasonable. I'm your husband!"
"Are you?"
she asked, her voice tilting with mock curiosity.
"Because I seem to recall an 'Alberto' who spent all afternoon smiling at someone's wife and inviting her for tea.
No, I definitely don't know you. Or this boy standing next to you."
Beside them, Sophia and Jay were vibrating.
They were pressing their lips together so hard their faces were turning red, desperate to suppress the laughter bubbling up as they watched the two powerful Watson men stand there looking like two lost, confused puppies.
Keifer narrowed his eyes, his "Ice CEO" persona trying to make a comeback.
"Mom, this is getting a bit too much. You can't just disown the entire male population of the house because of my stupid joke."
But Mrs. Watson didn't even let him finish.
She raised a strict, silencing palm, her expression shifting from "Goddess of Vengeance" to "Commanding Matriarch."
"No more discussions. It's already late at night, Let's just march towards our rooms without stranger's intervention"
she declared, turning her back on the men and gently guiding Jay and Sophia toward the stairs.
"Kids, let's go to sleep.
As the three women continued their march toward the stairs, Mr. Watson finally found his "CEO voice."
He stood tall, adjusted his shirt, and spoke with a cold, ringing authority that usually made board members tremble.
"Elena! Enough of this," he commanded, pointing a firm finger toward the grand staircase.
"This is my house. That," he pointed to the master suite,
"is my room. And that one,"
he gestured to the door beside it,
"is my son's room. We are going to sleep in our respective rooms, and that is final."
He tried to look as authoritative as possible, standing like a king reclaiming his castle.
Mrs. Watson stopped dead.
She turned on her heel with the precision of a soldier, her arms crossing slowly over her chest.
She raised a single, perfectly groomed brow and let a sharp, dangerous smirk play on her lips.
"Sophia..." she said, her voice dropping into a silky, calm tone that was far scarier than her husband's shouting.
"Yes, Mom?" Sophia chirped, leaning in.
"Tell Mr. Watson that while this may be his house, there are plenty of other rooms in it to explore tonight,"
Elena said, her eyes locked on her husband.
"As for me, I'll be sleeping in your room."
Sophia blinked, then whispered loudly enough for the whole hallway to hear,
"But Mom, we have plenty of guest rooms, why my room?"
Mrs. Watson's eyes narrowed into icy slits as she flicked her gaze toward Keifer and then back to Mr. Watson.
"No, Sophia. I don't trust the security of the guest rooms tonight. Some 'strangers' might try to wander in where they aren't invited."
Sophia's mouth formed a wide, dramatic "Oooooooo!" She looked at her father and brother as if they were common burglars.
Without another word, Mrs. Watson gathered Jay and Sophia like a protective hen with her chicks.
They turned their backs on the men and disappeared into Sophia's suite, the heavy door clicking shut with a finality that echoed through the marble hallway.
The silence that followed was heavy and pathetic.
Mr. Watson's authoritative posture deflated like a popped balloon.
He stood there, finger still half-pointed at his room, looking utterly defeated.
"Dad..." Keifer muttered, his voice sounding hollow.
"Yes, son?" Mr. Watson answered, his voice small and weary.
Keifer straightened his posture, his eyes locking onto his father's with a sudden, sharp intensity.
"Dad..."
"Yes?" Mr. Watson answered, instinctively leaning back as Keifer leaned in, looking like he was about to cross-examine a witness in a boardroom.
"I understand why Jay is angry at me. I messed up the 'divorce' reveal. But... what about you? What exactly did you do to Mom today?"
Mr. Watson suddenly became very interested in the pattern of the hallway carpet.
He rubbed the back of his neck, his face turning a shade of pink that matched the walls.
"Ummm... it's... just, you know... old friends, a little tea, some misplaced nostalgia..."
But then...
"Leave it," dad groaned..
"Dad?"
"Yes, leave this topic!" Mr. Watson snapped, suddenly straightening his own suit jacket.
He seemed to find his second wind. He ran a hand through his hair, slicking it back into a stylish, suave look that he hadn't used in years.
"Now, we need to court our wives again."
He looked at Keifer with a competitive glint in his eye.
"I think I need to use my charm again. The Watson charm never fails, son. You just wait and watch."
With a confident—if slightly desperate—stride, Mr. Watson marched toward his own room, whistling a low tune as if he hadn't just been evicted five minutes ago.
Keifer was left standing alone in the dim hallway, scratching the back of his head in pure bewilderment.
"Charm?
Really?"
he muttered to the empty air.
"I know he's handsome for his age, but...
seriously?
Does he think a wink and a smile is going to fix whatever he did?"
Then, his gaze fell back down to the crumpled divorce papers in his hand.
The weight of them felt heavier than ever.
"Ugh!"
he groaned, leaning his head against the cold wall.
"It's still easy for him. He just has to court his wife. She's already married to him, she's just mad. But me..."
He looked toward Sophia's closed door, where Jay was currently hiding.
"I have to court a girl who just signed legal papers to leave me. I'm not even an 'Intern' anymore. I'm a total stranger."
He looked at the papers one last time before stuffing them into his pocket.
The "Ice CEO" was gone; in his place was a guy who realized that "Business Logic" was absolutely useless when it came to the heart of a girl like Jay-jay.
___________________________________
The tension of the night seemed to soften slightly as the three of them moved around Sophia's spacious room.
Sophia was sprawled out like a starfish, her face illuminated by the blue light of her phone as she scrolled through endless reels, occasionally snickering at a video.
Mrs. Watson was busy smoothing out the silk sheets, while Jay quietly moved to the other side, tucking in the corners with careful, practiced precision.
"Soph, put your legs anywhere else,"
her mom said, nudging Sophia's ankle out of the way of a fresh duvet.
Sophia groaned dramatically and threw her legs in the other direction, nearly knocking over a decorative pillow.
"Soph, are you a monster?" her mom asked, exasperated.
"Why? What happened now?"
Soph asked, not looking up from a video of a cat wearing a hat.
"How the hell are you lying on the bed like that? Can't you see we are trying to make it?"
Mrs. Watson sighed, finally pulling the last corner tight.
Once the bed was perfectly laid out, Mrs. Watson didn't stand on ceremony.
She flopped herself right into the middle of the plush mattress, letting out a long, tired sigh.
Sophia rolled over next to her, still glued to her phone.
Jay, however, remained standing near the sofa.
She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, her eyes darting toward the door and back to the floor.
She looked like she was waiting for permission to exist in the room.
"Jay..." Mom said, her voice softening instantly.
"Yes, Mom?" Jay replied, her back straightening as she answered automatically.
"Anak, come here," she said, her hand reaching out to pat the empty space on the mattress right beside her.
Jay hesitated, a small, shy smile fluttering on her lips.
"Mom... I think you won't be comfortable. It's okay, I'll just sleep here," she said, pointing toward the velvet sofa by the window.
Mrs. Watson and Sophia exchanged a quick, knowing look.
Sophia didn't even wait for her mom to speak.
She tossed her phone onto a pillow, stood up, and marched over to Jay.
Before Jay could protest, Sophia grabbed her wrist and firmly led her back to the bed.
"Stop being so polite, it's exhausting," Sophia teased, pushing Jay down onto the spot their mom had picked out. "Here. Sit here"
Before Jay could even protest, Sophia was already in motion.
She grabbed Jay's ankles and swung them onto the mattress with a playful shove.
"Soph! What are you—" Jay gasped, her eyes wide as she tumbled back onto the pillows.
But before she could finish her sentence, Mrs. Watson gently guided Jay's head onto her shoulder.
She pulled the thick, quilted blanket up to Jay's chin and immediately began a slow, rhythmic stroke through her hair.
It was so natural and warm that Jay's heart, which had been racing all night, finally skipped a beat and slowed down.
Without wasting a second, Sophia flopped down on the other side of their mother, mirroring Jay's position.
"Group snuggle! No escapes!"
Jay still felt a flicker of hesitation. She looked up at the ceiling, her voice small.
"Mom... I really don't want to crowd you..."
"Jay, just shut up," Mrs. Watson said, her voice carrying a firm, motherly authority.
"On one hand, you call me 'Mom,' and on the other, you behave like a polite guest. Pick one."
She smoothed a stray hair from Jay's forehead.
"Tonight, you are just my daughter. Stay put."
As the warmth of the bed and the steady heartbeat of the woman beside her began to sink in, Jay finally let herself go.
She exhaled a long breath she'd been holding since the dining room.
"Jay?"
"Hmm..."
"Don't let Keifer melt you so easily."
Jay's eyes flew open. She lifted her head slightly, blinking in confusion.
"Huh?"
"What Mom means,"
Sophia chimed in, suddenly sitting bolt upright as if a lightbulb had exploded in her brain,
"is that you can't be a softie. We need him to suffer. Just a little bit. For his own good."
Sophia's eyes lit up with a mischievous glint.
She grabbed Jay's hands, her energy suddenly hitting 100%.
"Jay, listen to me! Tomorrow is the start of the new semester. You need a total 'New Year, New Me' vibe. I'm talking lip tint, hot dresses, the works!"
"Huh? Soph, what are you even saying?"
Jay asked, sitting up as well, her confusion growing.
"Ugh, okay, let me get straight to the point!"
Sophia waved her hands dramatically.
"You have to look good. Like, 'Queen of the Campus' good. Wear the girly clothes, do your makeup, and make him regret every single stupid decision he made tonight the second he sees you."
Jay's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Huh?..."
Mrs. Watson shook her head, letting out a long sigh at her daughter's chaotic explanation.
"Sophia, I don't think you're helping. Let me tell her."
She took Jay's hands in hers, her expression turning calm and wise.
"Jay, listen. From tomorrow, I want you to live like a normal, beautiful, single college girl. No husband to worry about, no in-laws to please. Just you. Don't let Keifer court you too easily."
Jay felt a sudden heat rush to her cheeks, her face turning a soft shade of pink.
"Just live like the queen bee of that college,"
Mrs. Watson continued with a knowing smirk.
"Let him see you. Let him admire you. But... only from a distance."
The bedroom fell into a comfortable, conspiratorial silence, the air finally clear of the evening's heavy drama.
Mrs. Watson tightened her hold on Jay, her voice a soft, final anchor for the night.
"Ignore him. Let him suffer as much as you want,"
she whispered, her eyes reflecting a mix of maternal protection and a hint of mischief.
"But... don't forget to choose him at the last. Because, at the end of the day, we all know to whom his heart belongs."
"Exactly!" Sophia chirped, grinning widely as she leaned over.
"He's obsessed with you, Jay. We're just making sure he remembers why."
Jay let out a genuine chuckle, the sound light and musical.
She gave a small, steady nod against Mrs. Watson's shoulder.
For the first time all night, the "divorce" didn't feel like a tragedy—it felt like a fresh start.
"Now, both of you, go to sleep," Mom commanded, pulling them both back into a warm, protective embrace.
"No more talking."
Jay let her eyelids flutter shut, the warmth of the blanket and the steady breathing of the two women beside her acting like a lullaby.
She was just drifting off when Sophia's voice cut through the darkness again, bright and full of trouble.
"Jay? I have a surprise for you tomorrow."
Jay's eyes snapped open instantly.
"A surprise?"
In the dim light, she could see Sophia nodding, her grin practically glowing with secret plans.
Jay shifted, trying to sit up.
"Soph? What kind of surprise?"
But Sophia just reached over and patted Jay's head with exaggerated care, like she was comforting a small child.
"Sleep, sleep, little sister. If I tell you now, it won't be a surprise, will it?"
"Sophia..." Jay groaned softly, but she could hear the playful smirk in Sophia's voice.
"Goodnight, 'Intern's Boss'!" Sophia whispered, turning over and hugging her pillow.
___________________________________
Ohk buddies, hey buddies, how are u buddies.
I'm totally fine so...no need to ask, but don't forget to tell me about yourself.