[Jay's POV]
The universe apparently decided that one "Bridget Variable" wasn't enough of a challenge, because I woke up the next morning feeling like a structural failure was occurring in my lower abdomen. My internal biological clock had hit the "Monthly Cycle" phase, and it was hitting hard.
I tried to slide out of bed quietly, but the moment I moved, a sharp cramp made me gasp.
Immediately, the "Keifer Sensor" triggered. Before my feet even hit the rug, Keifer's arm was around my waist, pulling me back into the warmth of the duvet.
"Movement detected. Analysis: You're pale, your heart rate is elevated, and you're clutching your stomach," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep but already in full protective mode. "Data suggests the cycle has started."
"I'm fine, Keifer, I just need to—"
"You need to stay exactly where you are," he commanded, already reaching for his phone to alert the "Home Support System."
The Watson Total-Care Protocol
Within thirty minutes, the Blue Suite became the headquarters for "Operation: Comfort Jay."
Mamma Serina entered first, carrying a specially prepared hot water bottle wrapped in pink cashmere and a cup of dark, herbal tea. "No arguments, Jay-Jay," she said, tucking the bottle against my
stomach with practiced ease. "The first day is always the most exhausting. You are staying in this bed."
Then came the "Maintenance Crew." Keiran scurried in with a literal basket of my favorite snacks—chocolates, salty crackers, and a small plush bear he'd decided I needed for "emotional support." Keigan followed, carrying a laptop and a stack of movies.
"I've cleared my schedule, Ate," Keigan announced, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'm the designated entertainment officer. If you feel a cramp, tell me, and I'll increase the volume of the movie to drown out the pain."
The Breaking Point: Bridget's Entry
The door to the suite was open, and as Keifer was sitting behind me, leaning against the headboard and rubbing my temples while I rested my head on his chest, Bridget walked past.
She stopped at the threshold, her eyes widening as she took in the scene. She saw the youngest CEO in the world acting as a human pillow. She saw the matriarch of the Watson family personally brewing tea. She saw the heirs of the estate acting like footmen.
"What is going on?" Bridget asked, her voice high and tight with disbelief. "Is there an emergency? Why is everyone huddled in here like the world is ending?"
"Jay is unwell," Pappa Keizer said, walking into the room with a fresh stack of journals for me to read if I got bored. He didn't even look at Bridget. "We are ensuring she has everything she needs."
"She has periods!" Keiran shouted helpfully, not understanding the concept of 'discretion.' "Mamma says she's making a new life-system ready, so she needs 100% care!"
Bridget's face turned a sickly shade of grey-green. The jealousy was no longer just visible; it was radiating off her in waves.
"You're all... you're all doing this for a period?" Bridget stammered, her voice trembling. "I've had my cycle for years and no one has ever—I mean, it's a basic biological function! Why is she being treated like a literal Queen for something every woman goes through?"
Keifer looked up, his eyes flashing with a cold, territorial light that made Bridget flinch.
"Because she's our Queen, Bridget," Keifer said, his voice low and dangerous. "If you're looking for someone to pity you, go call your parents. In this house, Jay's comfort is the priority. If you find the 'sentimentality' too much to handle, the guest wing has its own door. Use it."
Bridget looked like she wanted to scream. She watched as Mamma Serina leaned down to kiss my forehead and Keifer pulled the blanket higher around my shoulders. She was the "relative" who was staying for two years, yet she felt like a ghost, an outsider looking through a.window at a warmth she would never be allowed to touch.
She turned and bolted down the hallway, the sound of her frustrated sobbing echoing faintly.
I leaned back into Keifer, the warmth of the tea and the hot water bottle soothing the pain. My internal processor confirmed: Bridget's jealousy had reached a Critical Overload. She wasn't just losing the battle for Keifer; she was losing the battle for the entire Watson family's heart.