[Author's POV]
The first day of the "Seven-Day Lie" felt like a slow-motion car crash. Kiara had successfully occupied the primary space in Keifer's recovery suite, playing the doting wife with a calculated, sickening sweetness. To keep the "System" from a neurological overload, Jay had to be forcibly escorted out of the room by Bridget before her heartbreak caused a scene that could trigger Keifer's stress levels.
The transition from "Empress" to "Outsider" was a 1,000% catastrophic blow to Jay's spirit.
The Breakdown: The Unofficial War Room
[Jay's POV]
The moment the heavy ICU doors clicked shut behind us, my legs gave out. If it weren't for Bridget's iron grip on my arm, I would have collapsed onto the hospital tiles.
"He looked right at me, Bridget," I sobbed, my voice echoing in the private waiting lounge. "He looked at me like I was a stranger. Worse... he looked at me like I was a bother. He told me to leave so he could rest with her."
Bridget pulled me into a chair, her eyes burning with a protective fire. "It's the trauma talking, Jay. It's not Keifer. It's the glitch."
"But he's avoiding my eyes!" I wailed, clutching my chest. "Whenever I try to speak, he looks at Kiara for permission. My Hubby... the man who wouldn't let a fly touch me... is letting that snake hold his hand."
The Family Gathering: The Watson Shield
The door opened, and the rest of the Watson unit filed in. Mamma Serina rushed to my side, immediately pulling my head onto her shoulder. Pappa Keizer stood like a stone monument by the window, his jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth might break.
Keigan was hovering over a tablet, his fingers flying across the screen. "I've already geofenced his room, Jay. I'm recording every word Kiara says. If she slips up—even a 1% inconsistency in her story—I'll have the data ready to delete her."
Keiran, the youngest, sat on the floor by my feet, looking up at me with tears in his own eyes. "Ate Jay... Kuya Keifer is just confused. It's like when my laptop gets a blue screen. He just needs to find the right backup file. We all know you're the Queen. She's just a... a pop-up ad."
"We are all here, Jay," Mamma Serina whispered, stroking my hair. "Seven days. We will endure this together. Let her play her game; she has no idea what happens to people who try to steal from the Watsons once the timer hits zero."
The Return: The Silent Caretaker
[Jay's POV]
After an hour of crying and being held by the family, the Empress in me began to reboot. I wiped my face and stood up. I couldn't stay away. If I wasn't his wife in his mind, I would be his shadow.
"I'm going back in," I said, my voice shaking but determined.
"Jay, the doctor said—" Pappa started.
"I'll be quiet," I interrupted. "I'll just be the 'Assistant.' But I won't leave him alone with her. Not for a second."
I walked back into the suite. The lights were dimmed. Kiara was curled up in the guest chair, looking like she was drifting off to sleep, feeling triumphant. Keifer was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, his expression troubled and lost.
I didn't say a word. I didn't look at Kiara. I moved to the side of the bed and picked up the basin of cool water. I soaked a small cloth and began to gently dab the sweat from Keifer's forehead.
[Keifer's POV]
I felt a hand on my brow. It wasn't the heavy, clinging touch of the woman who called herself my wife. This touch was light. It felt... correct.
I looked up. It was the "Assistant" again. The one who had been crying earlier. Her eyes were red, but her hands were steady. As she wiped my skin, I felt a strange pulse of electricity—a "Signal" that bypassed my memory and went straight to my nerves.
"You're still here," I whispered, my voice raspy.
Jay didn't look at me; she just kept her focus on my forehead, her movements rhythmic and soothing. "I told you, Mr. Watson," she murmured, her voice a soft frequency that made the pounding in my head lessen. "I'm the Constant. I don't go offline."
I closed my eyes, letting her care for me. I didn't know why, but with her standing there, the void didn't feel quite so empty.