Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime
Chapter 140: Unspoken Distance

Chapter 140: Unspoken Distance

The moment the front door swung open, Levy was already at the threshold, eyes wide and arms open.

"Levy! We’re back!" Kendrick called out as soon as he saw her.

"My pretty sis, I missed you!" she exclaimed, breezing right past Kendrick and throwing her arms around Zephany without hesitation.

Zephany barely had time to react before she was enveloped in the hug. She let out a soft laugh, wrapping her arms around Levy. "I missed you too, Levy."

"I wasn’t talking to you, big brother," Levy added playfully over her shoulder as Kendrick stepped inside, dragging the last of the overnight bags.

"Yeah, I figured," Kendrick muttered with a small chuckle, watching the two girls squeal and sway in place like they hadn’t seen each other in years.

Levy linked her arm with Zephany’s, already tugging her towards the kitchen. "Come on, come on! Mom’s been waiting for you since this morning. She cooked a feast!"

Zephany smiled, letting herself be led. She glanced over her shoulder at Kendrick, who just raised both hands in mock surrender and followed behind.

As they entered the warm kitchen, the savory aroma of braised beef, garlic butter shrimp, and freshly cooked rice hit them all at once. Christy was at the counter, setting down a tray of steamed vegetables when she turned and beamed.

"Zeph! Come here!" Christy called.

Zephany barely had time to blink before the older woman wrapped her in a warm, tight embrace. It was the kind of hug that felt like home—firm, safe, and filled with something deeper than just politeness.

"Sit down, sweetheart," Christy said, ushering her to a seat at the table. "Eat to your heart’s content. I hope Kenny’s not starving you."

Zephany opened her mouth to respond but paused, her throat tightening. The warmth of the kitchen, the smell of food, the genuine concern in Christy’s voice—it all hit her at once. Her vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes.

Christy, who was mid-scooping rice onto a plate, paused and turned. "What’s wrong, sweetheart?" She hurried over and gently cupped Zephany’s face, brushing her thumb under her eyes. "Did Kendrick bully you?"

Levy narrowed her eyes and immediately joined her mother’s side, staring down her brother. "What did you do this time?" she said in her usual accusatory tone.

Kendrick stood frozen, a spoon of adobo in hand, looking genuinely panicked. "What? I haven’t done anything. I swear!" He glanced at Zephany with wide eyes. "Why do you all assume I’m the villain here?"

Zephany wiped her eyes quickly, shaking her head with a soft chuckle. "No, no, Mom. Ken’s been good to me. Really. I’m just..." She paused again, voice thick. "I’m just happy. You’re all too kind to me. It’s overwhelming sometimes."

Christy softened, her hand brushing Zephany’s hair back behind her ear. "Oh, honey," she said gently. "You deserve kindness. You deserve a home."

Levy, now behind Zephany’s chair, leaned down to give her a quick hug from behind. "You’re part of the family now, pretty sis. We don’t do halfway kindness here."

Kendrick cleared his throat, awkwardly setting the spoon down. "Glad we’ve established I’m innocent."

"No one said you were innocent," Levy muttered with a smirk as she took her seat.

Christy gave him a light smack on the arm as she moved to grab utensils. "Stop being dramatic and sit. Let’s eat."

The meal that followed was filled with laughter and stories.

At one point, Levy beamed as she announced, "My first day of class is tomorrow!"

Kendrick looked up from his plate and raised a brow. "Do you want me to drive you there?"

Levy quickly shook her head, grinning. "No need. My roommate’s coming to fetch me later. We’ll go together. I’ll be staying at the dorm starting tonight."

"Oh, you’ve already made friends with your roommates. That’s good," Kendrick said, nodding. "If I remember from the last time we visited, which one was it?"

"It was Dana," Levy replied, her eyes lighting up. "The one who’s in Creative Writing."

Zephany didn’t say much. She simply smiled, ate, and let their voices wash over her like music. It wasn’t loud or chaotic. It was warm. Real. She belonged here—even if only for now. And that alone actually scared her. But she couldn’t help being drawn to Kendrick’s family.

Later that evening, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, Kendrick and Zephany packed up and headed home.

The car ride was mostly quiet, the gentle hum of tires on asphalt filling the space between them. The sky outside turned shades of amber and lavender, casting long shadows through the windows.

When they finally reached the apartment and stepped inside, Kendrick glanced at her as he closed the door behind them.

"Hmm. Are you okay?" he asked softly. "You’ve been quiet the whole ride."

Zephany paused by the hallway, hands wrapped around her bag’s strap. "Yeah, I’m fine." She turned slightly, offering a small smile. "Thanks for bringing me there."

Kendrick leaned against the wall, watching her. "It was Mom who invited you," he said gently. "But... you’re always welcome there, Zeph. They really love having you around."

Zephany’s eyes met his for a moment. Something unspoken passed between them: gratitude, warmth, and something else. Something she was afraid to admit.

"Goodnight," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned and walked toward her room.

Kendrick watched her go, his fingers twitching slightly before he pushed off the wall and headed to his own room.

Inside her room, Zephany set down her bag and slowly sat on the edge of her bed. She stared at the floor for a long moment, heart full and heavy all at once.

"How long will this happiness last?" she murmured to herself. Her voice cracked ever so slightly. "This feeling of having a home."

She didn’t have an answer. But with that thought lingering in her chest, she lay back against the pillows and closed her eyes, letting the comfort of today carry her into sleep.

---

[108 Days Left to Live]

Kendrick stirred earlier than usual, blinking sleep from his eyes as he sat up in bed. The sky outside the window was still soft and blue-grey, the sun barely peeking through. For a moment, he simply sat there, staring at the ceiling, the quiet hum of the apartment filling his ears.

Then he turned and glanced in the direction of Zephany’s room.

He didn’t know what time she usually woke up, but today he didn’t want to take chances. He swung his legs off the bed, stood, and stretched quietly before walking toward the kitchen. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth when he saw the lights still off.

"She’s still asleep," he murmured with a soft chuckle, relieved.

He tied an apron around his waist and began preparing breakfast. He moved around the kitchen with practiced familiarity, whisking eggs, slicing tomatoes, and heating the pan with gentle care.

The smell of frying garlic filled the air as he hummed under his breath. Maybe if he cooked early enough, he could lighten the mood. She’d seemed quiet last night. He hadn’t asked, but he could feel something shift.

The sound of a door opening drew his attention. Kendrick glanced up just as Zephany entered the kitchen, her eyes still looking drowsy but already dressed for work. She offered a faint nod in greeting.

"Good morning, Zeph," he said gently, plating the eggs with a small smile. "Eat first before you go to work."

She nodded again and pulled out a chair at the dining table, sitting down without a word. Her expression was unreadable, and Kendrick couldn’t tell if she was still half-asleep or just avoiding conversation.

Silence stretched between them as they ate. Forks clinked lightly against plates, the occasional scrape of a chair or the shifting of a napkin the only sounds filling the room.

Kendrick glanced at her a few times, but she kept her eyes on her plate. No small talk. No questions. No usual soft hum of gratitude she sometimes whispered when he made breakfast.

He chewed slower than usual, distracted.

By the time Zephany stood from her seat and reached for her bag, Kendrick had barely touched his coffee. She mumbled a soft "Thank you," almost inaudible, and walked toward the door.

"I’ll be going ahead," she said, not turning back.

Kendrick watched her leave, the soft click of the door shutting sounding louder than it should. He sat still for a moment, the faint steam from his coffee curling up before vanishing into the still air.

His brows drew together, and he leaned back against his chair, frowning slightly.

"Did I do something wrong?" he muttered to himself.

He tried to go over the past few days in his mind. He hadn’t raised his voice. He hadn’t forgotten anything important. Was it because of the way he confessed his feelings the other night? Or maybe it was... that night.

His throat tightened.

"She didn’t look mad," he whispered, "but... she didn’t look happy either."

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling more unsettled the longer he sat there. "Is it about my confession? Did she really not like me? Or is it because of that thing happened between us? Is she mad at me?"

His voice sounded strange in the empty apartment.