Jay's POV]
As we entered the third month, the "Glow" wasn't just a feeling anymore—it was becoming a visible reality. My waistline was finally surrendering to the "Little Watson," and for the first time, I could see a tiny, soft curve when I looked in the mirror.
But as my happiness grew, I couldn't shake a strange, prickling sensation on the back of my neck. It was like a "System Warning" flickering at the edge of my consciousness. I didn't know that Bridget was out there, spiraling in her own bitterness, but I could feel the weight of the world watching us.
The Mirror Moment
I was standing in the dressing room, wearing one of Keifer's oversized white dress shirts—the only thing that felt comfortable—when I saw him in the reflection. He was leaning against the doorframe, watching me with an intensity that made my heart skip.
"Analysis, Wiefy?" he murmured, walking over to stand behind me.
"The 'Bump' has officially made its debut, Hubby," I said, turning sideways. "I think the raspberry has upgraded to a lemon."
Keifer didn't laugh. He knelt down on the plush carpet, his large hands reaching out to cup the small curve of my stomach with a reverence that felt like a prayer. He pressed his forehead against me, closing his eyes.
"100%," he whispered against my skin. "You're radiant, Jay. But your vitals are showing a slight spike in anxiety. Is the perimeter failing you?"
The Hidden Shadow
I sighed, running my fingers through his hair. "It's not the perimeter, Keif. It's just... everyone is so happy. Mamma, Pappa, the boys... even Ci N is acting like he's the one who discovered fire. It feels so perfect that it's almost scary. Like the world is waiting for a glitch."
Keifer's grip on my waist tightened instantly. He stood up, his blue eyes flashing with that cold, "CEO" steel that usually terrified his enemies.
"Let them wait," he growled, pulling me into the solid heat of his chest. "If there's a glitch, I'll rewrite the code. If someone tries to flicker your light, I'll black out their entire world. You are the Constant, Jay. The baby is the Legacy. I am the Shield. The math is simple."
The Family Shield
Later that afternoon, the care reached a new level of "Watson Overdrive."
Mamma Serina arrived with a box of silk maternity wear that felt like clouds. "Bridget and her circle can gossip all they want about 'corporate distractions,' Jay," she said, her eyes sharp and protective. "But a Watson mother is a force of nature. You wear this silk like armor."
Keigan had installed new "Bio-Metric" scanners at every entrance of the West Wing. "If someone's heart rate is too high or they're carrying a negative 'vibe', the door won't unlock," he explained.
Keiran was busy drawing a "No Entry for Mean People" sign for the nursery door. "I'm going to use the telescope to keep watch, Ate Jay. If I see anyone looking at our house with a jealous face, I'll tell Pappa!"
The Nightly Vow
That night, as the moon hung over the estate, Keifer led me to the bed. He had checked the locks, checked the monitors, and even checked with Ci N one last time to make sure the "software" was resting.
He pulled me into his arms, his chin resting on top of my head. I felt safe, but I knew the world outside—people like Bridget—were watching and waiting.
"You feel it, don't you?" I whispered into the dark.
"I feel everything," Keifer replied, his voice a low, dangerous vibration. "I know there are shadows watching the Glow. But they forget one thing, Wiefy."
"What's that?"
"I'm the one who owns the light. And I don't share."