Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 96: Ribbon-cutting ceremony

Zephany’s gaze fell on Kendrick, seated casually with one hand holding his phone, the other cradling his coffee mug like he had walked straight out of a lifestyle magazine. His hair was slightly tousled, shirt sleeves rolled up just enough to expose his forearms.

She blinked.

Why does this man keep looking more handsome every day?

She shook her head quickly, trying to dismiss the thought. "Morning," she greeted softly.

Kendrick glanced up and gave a small smile, calm and warm. "Morning. Slept well?"

She nodded, pulling out a chair. "Yeah... thanks for letting me sleep in."

He handed her a plate, his tone gentle. "I figured you needed it."

Their fingers brushed slightly, and Zephany quickly pulled her hand back, cheeks pink.

"This looks good," she mumbled, avoiding his eyes as she picked up her fork.

He watched her for a moment, noticing the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, how her shoulders seemed a little more relaxed today. Maybe she had received some good news. Maybe she was slowly starting to feel comfortable here.

He took another sip of his coffee and smiled softly to himself.

Zephany glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. She could see him trying to act nonchalant, pretending to scroll through his phone, but the way his posture shifted every time she moved—yeah, he was definitely pretending.

She suppressed a grin.

"Did you already eat?" she asked, poking at her eggs.

"I had a little," he said, lifting his mug. "Coffee mostly."

"You should eat more than that," she mumbled.

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you scolding me now?"

She bit her lip and looked down at her plate. "Not scolding. Just... you cook breakfast, you should at least eat it too."

Kendrick chuckled lightly. "Duly noted."

The kitchen fell into a comfortable silence, only the soft clinks of cutlery and the hum of the fridge filling the air.

As they neared the end of breakfast, Kendrick broke the comfortable silence. He set down his mug, glanced at Zephany, and asked in a calm voice, "What’s your plan for today?"

Zephany looked up from her plate, a bit surprised by the question. She wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin and tilted her head slightly. "Hmm, just work as usual," she replied softly. "But I’ll be going to the newly built hotel of the Diamond Family. My boss assigned me there to write an article about it."

Kendrick paused.

Diamond Family.

He almost forgot about them today. But of course, how could he truly forget? He had been tracking any movement, any news connected to that name. The Diamond Family. One of the most influential dynasties in the country. Wealth, power, and secrets wrapped in a neat, polished exterior. They were untouchable.

He remembered the files he had tried to access, the records he thought would hold answers to what happened twelve years ago. And yet, everything he found was surface level. Magazine articles, press releases, and filtered interviews. Nothing deeper. Nothing real. They were experts in hiding the truth, veiling everything behind charm, elegance, and control.

He believed it to his core: the Diamond Family must know something. Maybe they weren’t directly involved, but with the reach and influence they held, there was no way they didn’t have access to information about that tragedy. A tragedy that changed the course of his life forever.

He thought about how every time he tried to dig further, doors would quietly close. People who once agreed to speak with him backed out. Records vanished. Even whispers of their scandals would be silenced overnight. Whoever controlled the Diamond Family’s public image did a terrifyingly good job.

And now Zephany was going to be right in the middle of them.

He blinked slowly, his grip tightening just slightly around his mug. He needed to be careful. This wasn’t just another assignment. It might become dangerous if they sensed someone snooping around too much.

He would keep tracking them. Quietly. Patiently. Just as he had done all these years.

Zephany, still finishing her eggs, noticed Kendrick’s faraway look. She frowned and waved a hand gently in front of his face. "Are you okay? Is there something wrong?"

He snapped out of his thoughts, blinked, and then offered her a warm smile. "I’m fine. I wish you good luck with your work. Hope they don’t make it hard for you."

She smiled back, a little concern still in her eyes. "Thanks. I wish you a good day too."

He gestured towards the table, his tone light. "Go on, let me handle the washing of this. I’ll be staying at home today, so just leave this to me."

Zephany hesitated, then whispered a sincere, "Thanks," before heading to her room to get ready.

On the other side of the city, preparations for the grand ribbon-cutting ceremony were in full swing.

Outside the massive entrance of the newly built hotel, members of the Diamond Family were gathered with coordinated grace. Velvet ropes had been placed, polished brass stands gleamed under the sunlight, and media teams lined up their cameras and mics.

Cassius adjusted his cuffs, his signature half-smile playing on his lips as he looked around. "They really went all out. Looks like they want to make a statement," he murmured.

His assistant Sophia, standing beside him in a sharply tailored suit, gave a subtle nod. "It’s not just a hotel. It’s their power move. The location, the timing—it’s strategic."

Cassius chuckled softly. "Of course. When are the Diamonds not strategic?"

Larman Diamond, a man in his early fifties with silver at his temples and a presence that could silence a room, arrived with his only son, Lian, following closely behind. Larman wore a navy suit, not flashy but immaculately tailored.

"Is the press ready?" Larman asked without looking at anyone in particular.

"Yes, sir," one of the men following them replied.

Pia darted past them with her ID badge swinging on her neck. She was on her second cup of coffee, not because she needed it, but because it made her feel productive. Spotting Sophia, she paused and gave her a cheeky grin. "Looking as cool as always, Miss Sophia. Do you ever sweat?"