Three months.
That's how long it took Jay to settle into her new role as CEO.
Three months of board meetings and surgical schedules. Three months of Percy accidentally emailing the entire company (twice). Three months of Aries silently fixing every problem Percy created. Three months of Keifer holding her when she came home exhausted, cooking her dinner, and reminding her to breathe.
Three months of building something together.
Then Keifer's grandfather called.
"Marry that girl," he said without preamble. "Before someone else does."
Keifer smiled into the phone. "I'm working on it."
"You've been working on it for months. Work faster. I'm not getting any younger."
"You're seventy-three. You're fine."
"I could die tomorrow."
"You won't."
"You don't know that." The old man's voice softened. "I want to see it, Keifer. You happy. Really happy. With her."
Keifer was quiet for a moment.
"I know, Grandpa."
"Then stop waiting. Life's too short."
The ring arrived three days later.
Keifer had designed it himself—a diamond surrounded by smaller stones, elegant and strong. Like her.
He stared at it for a long time, heart pounding.
Then he called his family.
"I'm proposing. Saturday night. At our place. I need everyone here."
The responses came fast.
Keizer: FINALLY.
Serina: Oh, Keifer! We'll be there.
Keigan: Do you need me to do anything? I can do things.
Keiren: IS JAY GOING TO BE MY SISTER FOR REAL NOW? BATO WANTS TO KNOW.
Keifer: Yes, Keiren. For real.
Keiren: BATO IS CRYING HAPPY TEARS.
He called the Marianos next.
Jasfer answered on the first ring. "Keifer. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I'm asking your permission to marry your daughter."
Silence.
Then: "You're asking?"
"Of course I'm asking. She's your daughter."
More silence. When Jasfer spoke again, his voice was thick. "You're a good man, Keifer Watson. Yes. Absolutely yes."
"I also need everyone at our apartment Saturday night. It's a surprise."
"I'll bring the lumpia."
Saturday arrived faster than Keifer expected.
The apartment was transformed. Flowers everywhere—roses, her favorite. Candles. Soft music. A private chef in the kitchen.
His family arrived first.
Keiren burst through the door, Bato in hand. "WHERE'S JAY? DID YOU ASK HER YET? IS SHE MY SISTER?"
"Keiren, she's not here yet. And calm down."
"I CAN'T CALM DOWN. THIS IS THE BEST DAY."
Serina kissed Keifer's cheek. "Nervous?"
"Terrified."
"You'll be fine. She loves you."
Keizer shook his hand firmly. "Good luck, son. Not that you need it."
Keigan was already filming everything. "This is for the family archive."
"Keigan—"
"History, Kuya. I'm documenting history."
The Marianos arrived in their usual chaos.
Percy first, holding five different things. "I brought champagne! And backup champagne! And emotional support snacks! And tissues because I'm definitely crying!"
Reycee hugged Keifer tightly. "Anak, we're so happy."
Jasfer shook his hand, then pulled him into a hug. "Take care of her."
"Always."
Aries nodded once. "Don't mess this up."
"Not planning to."
"Good."
Jay was running late.
Of course.
Emergency at the hospital. A child needed surgery. She'd texted: Give me two hours. Patient first.
Keifer smiled at the message.
Take all the time you need. I'll be here.
Two hours became three.
His family waited. Her family waited. The food stayed warm. The flowers stayed perfect.
Finally, the door opened.
Jay walked in, still in scrubs, exhausted and apologetic. "I'm so sorry, the surgery took longer than—"
She stopped.
Took in the flowers. The candles. The people. The way everyone was looking at her.
"Keifer?" Her voice was careful. "What's going on?"
He crossed to her. Took her hands.
"You're late," he said softly.
"I know, I'm sorry, there was a child—"
"I know." He smiled. "That's why I love you. Because you're always late for me but never for them."
Jay blinked. "Keifer—"
"Come with me." He led her to the center of the room. "Everyone, give us a minute."
The families melted away. Discreetly. Quietly.
Jay watched them go, confused. "What is this?"
Keifer took a breath.
The longest breath of his life.
"Jay." His voice was steady, but she could see his hands trembling slightly. "Three years ago, I was alone in my apartment, convinced that control was the only thing that mattered. That feelings were weakness. That love was a distraction."
She listened, heart pounding.
"Then you walked into that gala. Looked at me like I was nothing." He smiled. "And I've never been the same."
"Keifer—"
"Let me finish." He squeezed her hands. "You taught me that control isn't everything. That vulnerability isn't weakness. That love—real love—is the only thing worth fighting for."
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"You save lives every day. You hold hearts in your hands. You're going to run an empire and still find time to operate because you can't stop caring." His voice cracked slightly. "And somehow, impossibly, you love me. Me. The cold, controlling, emotionally stunted CEO."
Jay laughed, wet and broken.
"I'm not cold anymore," he continued. "Not with you. You warmed me, Jay. You made me human. You made me want things I never thought I deserved."
He reached into his pocket.
Pulled out the ring.
Jay's breath stopped.
"Jay Mariano." He dropped to one knee. "Will you marry me?"
The room was silent.
Everyone held their breath.
Jay stared at him. At the ring. At the man who had changed everything.
"Yes," she whispered.
Then louder: "Yes. Yes, Keifer. Yes."
He slid the ring onto her finger. Perfect fit.
Then he stood, pulled her close, and kissed her.
The room exploded.
Percy screamed. Reycee cried. Jasfer hugged Keizer. Aries actually smiled. Keiren ran in circles with Bato. Serina clutched her heart. Keigan filmed everything.
And Keifer and Jay kissed like the world didn't exist.
Because for them, in that moment, it didn't.
Later, after the chaos settled and the champagne flowed, Jay found herself on the balcony.
Alone.
Staring at the ring on her finger.
Keifer joined her. "You okay?"
"I'm engaged."
"Yes."
"To you."
"Yes."
"I'm going to be Jay Mariano-Watson."
"Yes."
She looked at him. "I love you."
"I know."
"I really, really love you."
"I know that too." He pulled her close. "I love you too. More than I knew it was possible to love anyone."
Jay pressed her face into his chest.
"I'm going to cry again."
"Good. You need to."
"I hate you."
"You love me."
"Yeah." She tilted her head up. "I really do."
He kissed her softly.
From inside, Percy's voice: "ARE THEY KISSING AGAIN? OF COURSE THEY ARE. THIS IS THEIR THING NOW."
Keiren: "BATO WANTS TO SEE!"
Aries: "Percy, stop narrating."
Percy: "I'M CELEBRATING LOVE!"
Jay laughed against Keifer's chest.
"Our families are insane."
"Our families are perfect."
"Same thing."
"With us? Always."
She smiled.
Looked at the ring.
Looked at him.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"For waiting. For loving me. For not giving up when I was impossible."
"You were never impossible. You were just... you." He kissed her forehead. "And you're exactly who I want."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
They stood there, wrapped in each other, as the city glittered below.
The world was still watching.
They still didn't care.
Because they had each other.
And that was everything.
The Family Group Chat That Night:
Percy: SHE SAID YES
Percy: JAY MARIANO IS ENGAGED
Percy: TO KEIFER WATSON
Percy: I HAVE A NEW BROTHER
Percy: WHO IS ALSO A BILLIONAIRE
Percy: THIS IS THE BEST DAY
Aries: Congratulations, Jay. Keifer. You're both insane. But congratulations.
Mom (Reycee): My baby girl. Engaged. I'm so happy I could burst.
Dad (Jasfer): Welcome to the family officially, Keifer. You've been unofficially here for months anyway.
Keizer: MY BOY DID IT. HE ACTUALLY DID IT.
Serina: Jay, darling, welcome to the family. We're so blessed.
Keigan: I got the whole proposal on video. It's already edited. Sending now.
Keiren: JAY IS MY SISTER NOW!!! BATO SAYS WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!!!
Jay: Thank you everyone. I love you all. Even Percy.
Percy: "EVEN PERCY"?? I'M THE BEST ONE
Aries: You're really not.
Percy: I'M THE FUN ONE. THAT COUNTS.
Keifer: Thank you all. For everything. For her. For us. We're lucky to have you.
Grandfather (Watson): Finally. I can die happy.
Keifer: Grandpa, no.
Grandfather: Kidding. I want to see the wedding first.
Jay set her phone aside.
Curled into Keifer's side.
"Today was perfect," she murmured.
"Tomorrow will be too."
"How do you know?"
"Because I'll be with you." He kissed her hair. "Every tomorrow. Forever."
She smiled.
Closed her eyes.
And slept, safe in his arms.
Engaged.
Loved.
Home.