Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 82: Hard to Resist

Later that day, Zephany met up with Pia at a small cafe near their office. The cafe was cozy, with sunlit windows and the soft hum of conversations blending with the clinking of cups. Pia, ever the early bird and ball of energy, was already settled at a corner table. She had two drinks in front of her and was scrolling through her phone with a mischievous smile curling at her lips.

Zephany approached slowly, still nursing the mild headache from earlier. Kendrick had actually made her a drink to help with the hangover. She only realized it was meant for her after he left it on the kitchen counter without saying a word. That was just so like him: gentle, thoughtful, but mischievous sometimes.

Pia looked up the moment Zephany sat down. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Okay, tell me everything," she demanded, practically bouncing in her seat. "How’s married life? Is he secretly a vampire? A serial killer? Does he snore?"

Zephany blinked, taken aback. "I—I don’t know."

The questions came out of nowhere, and she hadn’t been ready for them. And honestly, they were totally absurd and completely nonsensical. What were those questions even for? Aliens? But then again, this was Pia. She should’ve expected it—she just had an overly creative mind sometimes.

It had already been several days since the news of her marriage became public, so Zephany was surprised that Pia was only asking about it now. She had thought she dodged this topic, skillfully avoiding it at every turn. But here it was, catching up to her.

Pia gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, does he not sleep? Does he just stand in the corner all night like some horror movie ghost?"

Zephany rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh. "No, he sleeps like a normal person. And no, he doesn’t snore. But I did burn the toast on our first morning living in that apartment, so he probably thinks I’m hopeless."

Pia laughed so loud that a few heads turned. "You? The great Zephany, who closed the Varen Enterprises deal, defeated by toast?"

"I was distracted!" Zephany defended herself.

"By his abs?"

Zephany nearly choked on her drink. "Pia!"

Pia leaned forward, smirking like a fox who had just cornered her prey. "You didn’t deny it."

Zephany groaned and tried to shrink into her seat, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. Pia always had a way of turning the most mundane details into dramatic sagas. And the worst part? She wasn’t wrong.

She didn’t want to admit that she couldn’t cook, and she definitely didn’t want to admit that she’d been caught staring at Kendrick more times than she could count. Especially that one morning, not too long ago.

It happened on a quiet weekday. Zephany had gone to do her laundry. She walked toward the laundry room of the apartment, humming a soft tune to herself, holding her laundry basket close. The door creaked slightly as she pushed it open—and she froze.

There he was.

Kendrick.

Wearing nothing but a pair of gray shorts, standing with his back turned toward her, pulling clothes out of the washing machine. His earphones were in, his head bobbing slightly to whatever music he was listening to. He didn’t hear her come in.

Her eyes widened. She should have looked away. She really should have. But her gaze was practically glued to him.

His back was broad, his muscles flexing with every movement. And when he turned slightly to reach for another shirt, the light hit his chest—no, his abs. Zephany blinked. Did people actually have abs like that outside of movies?

She gulped.

Realizing too late that she’d stopped walking. Her foot caught the edge of the rug, and she tipped forward with a quiet gasp.

Kendrick turned just in time, pulling out an earphone as he saw her stumble. "Zeph?"

She caught herself, barely avoiding an embarrassing fall. Straightening up like nothing happened, she stood tall, her face already heating up like a kettle left on the stove too long.

"You okay?" he asked, stepping toward her, laundry in one hand.

"I’m fine," she said quickly, eyes fixed on the laundry basket in her arms. Her voice came out higher than usual.

He raised a brow, then chuckled softly. That deep, amused chuckle that always made her spine tingle.

"Did you like it?" he teased, now standing far too close.

Her head snapped up, eyes wide. "What?"

He leaned slightly, voice dropping into a whisper. "You don’t have to be shy. You have the right to look at your husband, dear wife."

And just like that, he walked away with his basket of clean clothes, not bothering to look back. She was left standing there, blinking, blushing, and wondering what in the world just happened.

He had a grin on his face when he left. Zephany was sure of it. The man knew exactly what he was doing.

Back at the cafe, the memory still lingered in her mind. Her ears felt warm just thinking about it. Pia was mid-sentence, probably planning another round of teasing, when Zephany’s phone buzzed.

She glanced down. Her heart jumped.

Kendrick’s mom.

Christy.

Zephany’s spine straightened involuntarily. She cleared her throat and quickly swiped to answer.

"Hello, Mrs. Montclair?"

"Zephany, dear! I’ve told you to call me Mom," came the warm, familiar voice.

"Oh, right. Mom. Hi. Good afternoon," she said, voice soft.

Pia arched a brow, watching her curiously.

"I hope I’m not interrupting anything?" Christy asked kindly.

"Not at all. I’m just out with a friend."

"Good, good. I was just wondering if you and Kendrick are free tomorrow. Come visit us for breakfast. I also have a favor to ask."

Zephany nodded, then remembered Christy couldn’t see her. "Sure, no problem. That sounds lovely. I’ll check with Kendrick, but I’m sure we’ll make it."

"Wonderful. I’ll cook your favorite," Christy added, sounding delighted.

A small lump formed in Zephany’s throat. Christy had been nothing but kind and welcoming since her first visit. Her warmth reminded Zephany of the mother she lost so many years ago.

They said goodbye, and Zephany gently placed her phone on the table.

Pia leaned in. "Was that your mother-in-law?"

Zephany smiled faintly. "Yeah. She invited us for breakfast tomorrow."

"Lucky. Can I come too? I’ll just pretend to be part of the family. Change my last name to Montclair, maybe?"

Zephany chuckled. "You’re ridiculous."

"No, seriously," Pia said, leaning back in her chair. "But I’m glad. You seem... different lately. Softer. Like your edges got filed down a bit."

Zephany may have seemed weak and timid to others, but Pia knew she actually didn’t care much about how people perceived her. Most of the time, she just ignored them and let them be. That’s why others often found her unapproachable.

But now... she seemed to care.

Zephany paused. She hadn’t noticed it before, but maybe Pia was right.

Something about being around Kendrick, in his space, under the same roof, was changing her. Not in a dramatic way, but in those small, quiet moments.

Like when he made her coffee without saying a word. Or when he handed her the remote with a slight smile. Or when he leaned against the kitchen counter and asked about her day, genuinely curious.

She still didn’t understand why he was kind. Why he was gentle. But maybe she didn’t have to understand it just yet.

All she knew was that her heart beat a little faster whenever he walked into the room.

And that scared her more than any undercover mission she’d ever taken.

Pia’s voice broke into her thoughts again. "So... about those abs."

Zephany groaned. It was going to be a long afternoon.