Jay's POV]
April 25th. The date that had once felt like a distant coordinate in a complex equation had finally arrived.
The morning sun over the Watson Estate was a soft, brilliant gold, but inside the bridal suite, it was a whirlwind of silk, perfume, and high-stakes preparation. I was sitting in front of the vanity, my reflection looking back at me like a stranger—someone radiant, someone powerful. Someone who was about to become a Watson.
The Inner Circle
Mamma Serina and Lia had officially taken over. They had locked the door, declaring a "No-Keifer Zone" until the ceremony.
"Don't breathe too hard, Jay! You'll fog up the diamonds!" Lia chirped, her usual chaos channeled into a frantic, loving precision. She was already dressed in her bridesmaid gown, looking like a rose petal, but she was currently on her knees, carefully steam-cleaning the hem of my train for the tenth time.
Mamma Serina stood behind me, her hands resting on my shoulders. In the mirror, her eyes were shimmering with a mixture of pride and something deeply emotional.
"You aren't just joining a family today, Jay," Mamma whispered, her voice steady and warm. "You are the anchor that stabilized my son. You are the piece of the puzzle we didn't know was missing."
The Empress Gown
Then came the moment. The "Empress Gown."
It took both of them to help me step into it. It was a masterpiece of French lace and hand-sewn pearls, with a bodice that fitted like a second skin and a train that flowed behind me like a river of moonlight.
As Mamma Serina began to fasten the vintage pearl buttons down my back, the room went silent. Lia stopped moving. She stood up, her lip trembling as she looked at me.
"Oh my god, Jay-Jay..." Lia whispered, her eyes welling up. "You don't look like a student anymore. You look... you look like the 'Glow' incarnate. Keifer is literally going to stop breathing. His heart rate is going to hit $200\%$ the moment he sees you.""I just hope my legs don't give out," I admitted, my heart hammering against my ribs. "The 'Constant' feels very heavy today, Mamma."
"That's not weight, darling," Mamma Serina said, clipping the Watson family's heirloom diamond tiara onto my head. "That's power. The power of a woman who is loved completely."
The Final Touch
Lia handed me the bouquet—a cluster of rare white orchids and lilies of the valley. She leaned in, checking my makeup one last time.
"Okay, system check!" Lia announced, trying to keep the mood light despite her tears. "Hardware: Flawless. Software: Empress Mode $100\%$. Heart rate: Critical but stable. Jealousy firewall: Active—though I'm pretty sure Keifer will still want to fight the priest if he stands too close to you."I laughed, a small, shaky sound. "Thank you, Lia. And thank you, Mamma."
Mamma Serina kissed my forehead, her perfume—a scent of jasmine and authority—settling over me like a blessing. "He's waiting for you, Jay. The whole world is waiting to see the woman who tamed the Cold Prince."
A knock came at the door. It was Kuya Angelo.
"Time to go, Lil Sis," his voice boomed from the hallway, sounding thick with emotion. "The CEO is currently pacing at the altar so fast he's wearing a hole in the marble. Let's not keep the man waiting."
I took a deep breath, the $100\%$ "Glow" radiating from me so strongly I could almost feel the air vibrating. I looked at Mamma and Lia one last time, then turned toward the door.April 25th was no longer a deadline. It was the beginning of the "Forever" file.