Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 94: Her Husband

Zephany groaned. "There’s no triangle. And Kendric doesn’t even—"

"—know that his wife has the star of last year’s top drama literally calling her ’idol’ and waiting for her message like a lovesick puppy? Oh girl. You’ve got drama whether you like it or not," Pia continued with a chuckle, her eyes gleaming with teasing.

Zephany tried to refocus on her monitor. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, motionless. Kaelion’s voice lingered in her head.

Pia continued, in a much gentler tone now. "Hey. I’m messing around, but seriously... you okay? I know you get nervous around attention."

Zephany gave her a half-smile. "Yeah. Just... overwhelmed. He remembers things I forgot. It’s weird."

"Not weird. Sweet. Maybe you meant more to him than you realized."

Zephany didn’t respond. She didn’t know how to.

Pia leaned back, arms behind her head. "Well. If he invites you to a recording studio, I’m tagging along. I’ll pretend to be your manager. I’ll wear sunglasses. No one will know."

Zephany snorted. "You’d announce it before you walked in."

"Damn right I would. Gotta keep your star power visible."

For a moment, both women laughed softly. The tension eased just a little. But deep in her chest, Zephany still felt that tug—that part of her heart that hadn’t yet closed the door on the music, on performing, on being someone more than just a shy face behind a monitor.

And somewhere out there, Kaelion was waiting.

But of course, there’s still Kendrick, who is clearly unaware that another man is trying to get his wife’s attention.

Then again, even he isn’t sure what he truly feels for Zephany, so it’s not exactly fair to call Kaelion a love rival.

...but now he was in character as a kind, gentle man who loved quietly, showing his care not through words but through actions. And this time, it was through a simple gesture, a lunchbox in his hand.

Just like he had promised himself back when they ate at the seafood restaurant. He would take care of her meals and make sure she ate balanced food.

---

Just before lunchtime, the glass doors of Air Media slid open with a soft hiss. Kendrick stepped in, dressed in a clean, neutral-toned shirt and dark slacks, holding a brown paper bag with both hands. His steps were quiet, steady, purposeful. There was nothing grand about his entrance, but heads still turned.

He walked up to the receptionist desk, eyes scanning the nameplate before settling his gaze on the young woman behind the counter.

"Hi," he said, his voice calm and polite. "Can you tell me where I can find Zephany Draven? I just came to deliver her lunch."

The receptionist blinked at him, caught off guard not by the question, but by the man himself. There was something familiar about his face. Something striking.

"Um—Zephany?" she echoed, flipping through the employee directory before glancing back up. "Do you have an appointment with her?"

Kendrick shook his head gently. "No. I’m her husband."

That made the receptionist freeze.

Wait. Wait.

The husband?

Her husband?

Her brain caught up a second later. The Zephany. The quiet journalist. And this man, this man with sharp features and soft eyes, holding a paper bag like it was something precious, was Kendrick.

She had seen the viral videos just a week ago. The one where young Zephany played the piano, and even the latest one, where she performed again recently. Meanwhile, Kendrick’s videos were about him being a child prodigy in both sports and academics. Even the recent video of him fighting with a martial arts champion went viral.

And now he was here. In person. Looking unfairly attractive and, apparently, domestic.

The receptionist smiled. A warm, honest smile. The kind you give when something pure unfolds in front of you.

"Oh, right! Zephany’s on the 12th floor. Just go straight from the elevator, her desk is right near the glass wall with the corner view. You can’t miss it," she said, now visibly beaming.

Kendrick nodded, offering a small, grateful smile. "Thanks. I’ll just head up then."

The receptionist watched him walk away, sighing dreamily to herself as he pressed the button for the elevator.

What a sweet couple. Seriously. Their babies are going to be heartbreakers.

She turned back to her monitor, still smiling, already imagining the scene upstairs—Zephany surprised, maybe blushing, her husband offering her lunch like it was nothing, like it was just part of his day to make sure she ate. Ugh, she thought. Men like that should be preserved. For science.

--- ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Upstairs, the 12th floor was calm. The hum of computers, quiet chatter, and the occasional ringing phone created a gentle rhythm of mid-morning work.

Kendrick stepped out of the elevator, his eyes scanning the room. He spotted Zephany right away.

She was at her desk, a little hunched, fingers poised above her keyboard, unmoving. Her lips were pursed like she was trying to push back thoughts she couldn’t write down. Pia sat beside her, now suspiciously quiet, her eyes darting toward Kendrick the moment he stepped in.

Zephany didn’t notice him at first.

Kendrick approached slowly.

"Zephany," he called, his voice soft.

Zephany flinched in surprise, spinning around in her chair.

"Kendric?!" Her voice cracked just slightly. "What are you—?"

He lifted the bag in his hand. "I brought you lunch. I figured you might forget to eat again."

Her mouth parted, stunned. "I... You didn’t have to."

He shrugged gently, placing the bag on her desk. "I wanted to."

There was no grand gesture, no spotlight. Just him, standing there with that calm, unshakable presence. It was quiet, but it carried weight.

Zephany looked at the bag like it was something delicate.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Pia, however, was anything but quiet.

"Hellooo husband," she greeted, drawing out the words like a rom-com narrator. "Did you know you just missed the superstar dropping off a love confession?"

Zephany groaned. "Pia..."

Kendrick blinked. "Superstar?"

"Kaelion Voss," Pia supplied with a grin. "He was just here earlier. Apparently, our Zeph is his idol."

Kendrick turned back to Zephany.

She avoided his gaze, focusing instead on the lunch bag. "He just wants me to help him with something music-related. That’s all."

"I see." Kendrick didn’t press. He only nodded, quietly digesting that information.

There was a pause.

"Anyway, thanks again... for this." She touched the lunch bag gently, as if afraid it might vanish.

"Make sure you eat it while it’s still warm," Kendrick said, stepping back. "I’ll head out now. Didn’t mean to interrupt your day."

Zephany shook her head. "You didn’t. I mean... it’s okay. It’s nice."

Their eyes met for a brief second.

There was a lot unsaid in that moment.

Kindness. Distance. Maybe guilt.

Kendrick offered a faint smile and nodded once more. Then he turned to go, leaving behind the scent of warm rice and something cooked with care.

As he walked away, Pia leaned in with a low whisper. "See? Triangle."

Zephany shook her head, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "There’s no triangle."

But even as she said it, her heart fluttered in confusion.

Because someone was waiting for her message.

And someone had brought her lunch without saying a word.

And she? She didn’t know what she wanted. Not yet.

But the music inside her had started playing again. And this time, it didn’t sound like a solo.