Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 141: What She Deserves

Zephany was already halfway through the street, walking briskly in her usual neat blouse and cardigan. Her shoes tapped lightly against the pavement. The morning was cool, the breeze brushing strands of her hair across her cheek.

She kept her head slightly lowered, eyes focused on the ground ahead. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her shoulder bag.

Her heart was still heavy from last night. It wasn’t that she was upset at Kendrick. If anything, she was upset with herself. For being this attached. For feeling something she wasn’t supposed to feel. For letting herself hope. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Her phone buzzed in her bag.

She stopped at the corner of the sidewalk and pulled it out, blinking when she saw the caller’s name.

Kaelion.

She answered the call and held it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Good morning, Idol!" Kaelion’s cheerful voice rang through the line. "Just checking in. I was wondering if you needed anything for the music? Still good with the melody from last time?"

Only then did she remember.

"Oh, right..." She paused and looked around, then continued walking. "I might need some instruments. For composing the full track."

"We have a full set here in the studio," Kaelion offered brightly. "You can come anytime. We’ve got keyboards, guitars, percussion, anything you need. And it’s just a few blocks from Air Media."

Zephany considered that. She had a full day ahead, but the thought of sitting quietly in a studio, letting the music take over, sounded like something she needed right now.

"Okay," she said. "Send me the address. I’ll drop by after work."

"Sure! I’ll text you the details," Kaelion said, clearly pleased. "I’ll be waiting, Idol."

"Thank you," she said softly and ended the call.

She slipped her phone back into her bag and kept walking, her thoughts still drifting.

It wasn’t Kendrick’s fault, really. He’d been nothing but kind. Patient. He looked at her as if she mattered. Treated her like she belonged. Maybe that was what scared her the most.

Belonging wasn’t something she was used to.

As she reached the front of the Air Media building, she stood still for a moment and took a deep breath.

Then she entered the building, putting on the same soft smile she always did, careful to hide the rest.

---

Back at the apartment, Kendrick sat on the edge of the couch, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together.

He had cleaned the dishes. Swept the kitchen floor. Reorganized the pantry. And still, he couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at his chest.

"She barely spoke," he said quietly, shaking his head. "Was it something I said? Or didn’t say?"

He didn’t want to push her. But he didn’t want to keep his distance either.

He looked over at the closed door of her room. It was quiet again. And he hated how much he missed her laugh. The quiet hums she’d do when helping him with breakfast. Even the way she stumbled over her own feet when she was in a hurry.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

Whatever this was, he didn’t want to ruin it.

He just had to wait. Let her come around.

Hopefully, she still would.

Maybe... maybe a proper proposal would clear the air. Maybe what she needed was reassurance. A moment that truly belonged to them.

He had given her a legal marriage, but not the ceremony, not the promise wrapped in sincerity. And that, somehow, felt wrong now.

He exhaled, unlocked his phone, and scrolled to a name he always relied on.

Mom.

He hesitated for just a second before tapping "Call."

It rang once.

Then twice.

"Hello? Kenny?" came Christy’s warm voice, cheerful as always. He could almost see her smiling on the other end, probably wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.

"Hi, Mom," Kendrick said, soft, a small smile forming.

"Oh? My son remembered me today?" she teased. "How’s your day, sweetheart?"

"It’s fine," he replied, eyes drifting to the corner of the room. "Just... thinking about something."

"Hmm." Her tone shifted instantly, just as perceptive as ever. "Do you need something, Kenny?"

Kendrick rubbed the back of his neck and leaned forward. "Uh... yeah, actually. I mean, sort of. It’s not really urgent or anything, just..." he trailed off.

There was a pause on the line, then Christy gently said, "Just say it, Kenny."

He cleared his throat. "I want to propose to Zephany."

A silence.

Then—

"Propose?" Christy gasped. "Aren’t you two already married? Wait—don’t tell me—you didn’t propose before?"

Kendrick felt his face heat up. "Mom, it’s not like that. I... I just want to give her a proper wedding ceremony. We only signed papers. No ring. No vows. Nothing meaningful. I want to make it right."

Christy’s voice turned soft with understanding. "Oh, Kenny. Of course you should. Every girl dreams of that. You should’ve told me sooner."

"I know. That’s why I’m calling you," he admitted, his tone quiet. "Did Zeph ever mention anything she likes? About weddings? Or proposals? I... I’m scared she might not like it if I get it wrong."

"You really like her, huh," Christy said, her smile audible through the line.

Kendrick leaned back on the couch, voice barely above a whisper. "I think I more than like her, Mom."

There was a pause, then she said warmly, "Then listen to me. You don’t have to make it grand. What matters is that it’s you. That you mean every word. Zephany isn’t the type who needs the world handed to her. Just give her your heart."

He nodded, even if she couldn’t see him. "Thanks, Mom."

"I’ll help if you need anything," she added. "Just let me know."

"I will," Kendrick said. "Thank you."

They exchanged a few more soft words before the call ended. Kendrick stared at his phone again, still unsure.

Then he scrolled again and tapped on Pia’s name.

If anyone knew what Zephany liked, it was Pia. Loud, eccentric Pia. This was probably a bad idea, but...

The call connected fast.

"Kendrick?" Pia’s voice came through, breezy and playful. "Oh! Zeph’s husband! What made you call me? Wait, don’t tell me. Are you finally realizing I’m more helpful than I look?"

Kendrick chuckled softly despite himself. He found himself smiling. "I actually need your help."

"That’s a rare sentence," she teased. "Go on."

He cleared his throat. "I want to propose to Zeph."

There was a beat of silence, then Pia let out an exaggerated gasp.

"Oh my G! This is real? You wanna propose? I’d love to see it live. Do you need a director? A drone shot? Fog machine? Wait, what’s your budget?"

"Pia," Kendrick said, half amused and half scared, "Please, no fog machines."

Pia laughed hard. "Kidding. Kidding! Okay. Alright, I’m focused now. Zephany... hmm. She’s not the type who likes crowds. She’d die of embarrassment if you did it in public."

Kendrick nodded to himself. "I thought so."

"She likes simple things," Pia continued. "You know, small gestures. Like that time she got flustered over a handwritten note? Yeah, that. So maybe... something quiet. Maybe somewhere meaningful to the two of you. Private. Soft music. Minimal talking from you, just enough to melt her heart. Think K-drama proposal."

He chuckled. "You watch too much K-drama."

"And yet I’m your best hope," she shot back. "Let me think. Okay, how about this: you cook dinner—nothing fancy, just her favorite dishes—then leave little notes that lead her to the balcony or something. You stand there. Candlelight. Ring. Done."

Kendrick blinked. "That’s actually... not bad."

"I know, right? Wait! Or maybe you do a scavenger hunt of memories? Like, leave clues in the apartment of moments you shared? ’First time she tripped in front of you,’ ’first coffee she made that tasted like death’—"

"That was once!" Kendrick laughed, remembering.

Pia kept going, voice lively. "And maybe you play a song you know she likes. But not something dramatic. Just something personal. Then you kneel. You look into her eyes and say, ’You’ve already married me, but I want to ask again. Will you spend the rest of your life with me?’ Boom! Tears."

"Pia..."

"Yes?"

"You should write dramas."

"I tried. Got rejected. So now I use all my creativity to fix your love life," she said proudly.

For the next thirty minutes, Kendrick listened to a non-stop stream of ideas. Pia switched tones, imitated dramatic actors, described lighting angles, even suggested involving Levy as a backup singer.

He finally slumped on the couch, groaning.

When she ended with, "Or maybe just do it in the rain. So romantic!"

"Pia. I think I got enough material for a whole season," he said dryly.

"You’re welcome," she said brightly.

"Thanks," he said, sincerely this time.

As he ended the call and finally placed the phone down, Kendrick exhaled.

So, what exactly was he going to do for the proposal?

That was still unclear.

But what he did know... was that it had to be honest. And it had to be just the two of them.

No fog machines. No drones.

Just her. Just him. And the words she deserved to hear from the beginning.