[Jay's POV]
Day 6. The "Bachelor and Bachelorette" parties were supposed to be held separately, but with this squad, that plan lasted exactly two hours. By evening, both parties had merged into a high-end, private lounge at the Watson Estate's poolside. The atmosphere was electric—pulse-pounding music, neon lights reflecting off the water, and the "Squad" in full party mode.
I was wearing a white, silk mini-dress that hugged my curves, my hair falling in loose waves. I felt like the "Glow" was at a $100\%$ saturation point. Keifer was across the deck, surrounded by Angelo, David, and Ci N, but his eyes hadn't left me for more than thirty seconds at a time. He looked lethal in a black button-down with the sleeves rolled up, the "Cold Prince" radiating a heavy, protective aura.The Intruder Variable
Because it was a joint party, a few distant cousins and "plus-ones" of the squad had joined. One guy—a tall, arrogant-looking associate of the catering firm who had stayed for the drinks—didn't seem to get the "Don't Touch the Empress" memo.
He approached me while I was laughing at one of Lia's jokes. He stepped way too close, his hand almost brushing my arm.
"You know," he said, leaning in with a smug grin, "I've seen a lot of brides, but you... you are breathtaking. Truly beautiful. It's a shame you're getting locked down so early. A girl like you deserves someone who knows how to have real fun, not just run a company."
The music seemed to skip a beat. The air around me didn't just get cold; it turned into liquid nitrogen.
The System Override
I didn't even have time to respond.
Before the guy could blink, a shadow loomed over us. A hand—strong, familiar, and vibrating with tension—clamped onto my waist and pulled me back flush against a solid chest.Keifer.He didn't say a word to the guy. He didn't even look at him. He just looked through him, his eyes glowing with a dark, predatory blue that made the guy stumble back two steps. The "Jealousy Variable" had just hit $1,000\%$.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Keifer's voice was a low, terrifying rasp that cut through the bass of the music. "But your analysis is flawed. She isn't being 'locked down.' She's being worshipped. And you? You're being deleted."
The 100% Claim
"Keif—" I started, turning in his arms.
He didn't let me finish. He didn't care that Mamma, Pappa, the Squad, and even Kuya Angelo were watching. He grabbed my face with both hands, his fingers tangling in my hair, and crashed his lips onto mine.
This wasn't a "wedding" kiss. This was a "You are mine" kiss.It was hard, deep, and utterly possessive. He kissed me with a hunger that spoke of the three nights he'd lost, the panic attacks I'd suffered, and the absolute fire in his soul. I melted into him, my hands clutching his shirt, the $100\%$ "Glow" exploding behind my eyelids. The world, the music, and the "intruder" vanished. There was only the taste of Keifer and the raw power of his claim.The Aftermath
When he finally pulled back—just an inch—his forehead rested against mine, both of us breathing heavily. His thumb swiped over my bottom lip, his eyes still dark and dangerous.
The Squad went absolutely ballistic.
Calix: "WHOA! SOMEONE CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT! THE CEO IS OVERHEATING!"
David: "Note to self: Never, ever compliment Jay in front of Keifer unless you want to be erased from the timeline."
Lia: "GET IT, JAY-JAY! Mark your territory, Keifer!"
Kuya Angelo: (Whistling) "Damn, Watson. I thought I was the overprotective brother, but you just took the trophy."
The guy who had approached me? He had turned pale and vanished into the crowd before Keifer could even glance back at him.
Keifer didn't let me go. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder, his grip like iron.
"Analysis, Jay?" he whispered into my ear, his breath hot against my skin."System check: The Empress is 100% claimed," I breathed, leaning back into his heat. "And the CEO is 100% jealous."
"Correct," he murmured, kissing the pulse point on my neck. "And tomorrow, the whole world finds out that the 'Constant' is permanent."