I woke up to the sound of construction. Not the distant sound of city work, but the very distinct sound of power tools echoing from inside my own house.
I blinked, reaching out for the other side of the bed. It was empty, but the sheets were still warm.
"Hubby?" I called out, rubbing my eyes.
The door to the master suite opened, and Keifer walked in. He looked refreshed, wearing a clean charcoal-grey suit, but he was carrying a single, perfect cup of coffee. He looked like the ultimate Green Forest husband—calm, collected, and completely devoted.
"Morning, baby," he said, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to my forehead.
"What is that noise, babe? Are we being invaded again?"
Keifer let out a low chuckle, sitting on the edge of the bed. "No, honey. But remember the 'aroma' Kit created last night? It turns out the smoke damage was a bit more... permanent than we thought. And the garlic smell in the vents? Moya actually managed to stain the marble with his 'meat specialty.'"
I hid my face in my hands. "Oh no. I've ruined the mansion."
"You didn't ruin anything, weify," he whispered, pulling my hands away so he could look into my eyes. He was the only one who ever called me that, and every time he did, it felt like a secret vow. "I told you, I'll fix everything. I've got the best contractors in London downstairs. And Section E... well, they're helping."
The "Help"
I threw on my robe and followed him downstairs. I stopped at the entrance to the kitchen and gasped.
The entire kitchen had been gutted. The scorched marble was gone, the burnt cabinets were being replaced with sleek, matte-black wood, and there were about twenty workers moving with military precision.
And then there was Section E.
Kit was wearing a hard hat over his perfectly styled hair, pointing a laser level at a wall. Moya was trying to "help" a worker carry a slab of granite, but he was mostly just getting in the way and talking about his Instagram followers.
"Looking good, Jay-jay!" Kit chirped when he saw me. "We decided the old kitchen was too 'pre-kidnapping.' This new one is going to be 'New Life, Who Dis' themed."
"It's beautiful, guys," I said, looking around in awe. "But you didn't have to do all this."
"Of course we did!" Keiran shouted from across the room, where he was testing out a new, high-tech espresso machine. "We were part of the crime, so we have to be part of the cover-up. Plus, Keifer threatened to make us live in the guest house without Wi-Fi if we didn't help oversee the renovation."
The Protective Husband
I felt Keifer's hand slide into mine, his fingers interlacing with mine. He looked at the chaos with a satisfied expression.
"I wanted you to have a fresh start, baby," he murmured. "New kitchen, new memories. No more smoke, no more burnt wagyu."
"You're too good to me, babe," I whispered, leaning my head against his shoulder.
"I'm just being your husband, weify," he replied, his voice dropping into that possessive tone that made my toes curl.
Suddenly, Erdix ran over, holding his tablet. "Keifer! I just got a ping on the perimeter sensors. Someone just pulled up to the gate in a vintage Rolls Royce. No security clearance, but the plates are registered to... The Mariano Estate."
The laughter in the room died instantly. Angelo stepped forward, his face turning into stone. Keifer's grip on my hand tightened until it was almost painful.
"My father," I whispered, the color draining from my face. "Jasper Mariano is here."
The Confrontation
The front doors groaned open. Standing there was a man who looked like an older, colder version of me. He looked at the construction, the boys of Section E, and finally, his gaze landed on me—and the man holding me.
So," my father said, his voice like cracking ice. "My daughter gets kidnapped in Japan, and I have to find out about it from the morning news because her husband was too busy playing 'hero' to call me?"
Keifer stepped in front of me, his entire body tensing like a predator about to strike. The Green Forest was gone; the Monster was back.
You lost the right to be informed the moment you stopped protecting her, Jasper," Keifer hissed. "She is a Watson now. She is my wife. And you are standing on my property without an invitation."
Section E moved as one, forming a silent, intimidating wall behind Keifer. Kit dropped the laser level, Moya stepped away from the granite, and even Keiran looked ready for a fight.
The battle for the Mariano legacy had just arrived at our front door.