Chapter 9: Unbothered, But Watched
1062 Words
Planning a wedding between two of the country’s most influential families was no small event — and surprisingly, Zenobia and Jared were not the most excited about it.
That title belonged to their mothers.
Mrs. Cortez and Mrs. King had formed an unofficial “Wedding Council,” complete with mood boards, venue hunting schedules, and regular Zoom calls with luxury designers from Italy, Spain, and Paris.
“We need two gowns,” Mrs. Cortez said seriously, flipping through a magazine. “One for the ceremony, and one for the reception.”
“I was thinking three,” Mrs. King countered. “Let’s not forget the press conference gown.”
“The what now?” Zenobia blinked, suddenly regretting sitting down with them.
“You’re marrying a King, hija,” her mom said with a teasing smile. “The media will want a statement.”
“And a dress,” Mrs. King added.
Meanwhile, Jared had taken the chaos in stride.
“I think I lost track of how many guest lists we have,” he muttered one night while they were going over catering options.
“Four,” Zenobia replied. “One from each parent.”
“Why does your family have two?”
“One is for people they actually like. The other is for people they can’t afford to not invite.”
Jared laughed, the sound oddly comforting in the middle of a planning warzone.
Despite all the pressure, things were moving — dresses were being fitted, venues secured, and their engagement video had gone viral within an hour.
It was all becoming real.
But just as everything seemed to be falling into place…
Someone walked back in.
Margot de Vera didn’t like to be replaced — especially not quietly.
The moment she saw the headline flash on her screen — “King Group CEO Jared King Officially Engaged to Cortez Heiress Zenobia Cortez” — something inside her snapped.
It wasn’t just jealousy.
It was humiliation.
He never even announced our engagement.
He didn’t even want to post a photo.
And yet here he was — smiling at the camera, holding Zenobia’s hand, looking... genuinely happy.
It made her sick.
Margot’s heels clicked furiously on the marble floor of the hotel where she knew Zenobia was staying temporarily while the wedding plans were being finalized.
She found her easily — sitting in the lobby lounge, sipping coffee and flipping through a guest list printout, hair tied up in a messy bun, face calm.
Too calm.
Margot didn’t even sit. She just stood there, arms crossed.
“You must be Zenobia.”
Zenobia looked up.
No surprise. No wide eyes. No tension.
Just one slow blink.
“And you are?”
“Margot,” she said, with practiced sweetness. “Margot de Vera. Jared’s ex-fiancée.”
Zenobia raised an eyebrow. “Ah. The one before me.”
Margot’s smile twitched.
“I just thought we should talk. Woman to woman.”
“Sounds dramatic,” Zenobia said, not looking up from her list.
Margot’s hands clenched slightly. “I saw your engagement announcement. You must feel... proud.”
“Not really. I wasn’t the one who posted it.”
Margot narrowed her eyes. “You know, Jared never wanted a public engagement when we were together.”
Zenobia finally looked at her, head tilted. “Maybe he just needed the right woman.”
That hit.
Margot’s polite tone cracked. “Don’t think for one second you’re special. Jared and I go way back. You’re just… convenient. Temporary.”
“Great,” Zenobia said, standing up and grabbing her coffee. “Then you won’t mind if I enjoy being temporary in peace.”
“You think I won’t fight for him?”
Zenobia shrugged, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Go ahead. If he wants you, he’ll go back to you. I won’t beg.”
Margot stared at her like she’d just spoken in a different language.
“You’re really not going to cry? Scream? Call me names?”
Zenobia blinked. “You’re not worth the energy.”
And with that, she walked away — calm, unfazed, and completely uninterested.
Margot stood there, stunned.
What just happened?
This wasn’t the reaction she was expecting.
She came prepared for drama. A catfight. Jealousy. Insecurity.
Instead… she got a woman who acted like Margot didn’t even matter.
And worst of all — for the first time — she felt disposable.
Later that night, Jared found Zenobia in the rooftop lounge of the hotel, sipping wine, staring up at the stars.
“Long day?” he asked, sitting beside her.
“You have no idea.”
“Did my mother request five wedding cakes again?”
“No,” Zenobia smirked. “Worse. Your ex came to visit me.”
Jared blinked. “Wait—what? Margot?”
“Yep. The very same.”
He frowned. “What did she say?”
Zenobia took a long sip before replying, “That I’m disposable. That you were hers first. The usual drama.”
His jaw clenched. “I didn’t even know she—”
“Relax,” she cut him off. “I told her if you want her back, she’s welcome to try.”
His head snapped toward her. “You said what?”
“I’m not here to compete for affection, Jared,” she said simply. “You either want to be with me or you don’t. I’m not going to break down because some ex still has feelings for you.”
There was silence for a moment.
Then Jared leaned back in his seat, letting out a breath.
“God, you’re really something else,” he muttered.
“Is that a compliment?”
“It’s whatever you want it to be.”
She smiled slightly, but didn’t reply.
He turned to face her more directly. “For the record… there’s no one else. There hasn’t been anyone else since the day you walked into that restaurant and played that piano like you were healing something only you could hear.”
She stilled.
Jared meant it.
Every word.
But Zenobia only looked away, the stars reflected in her glass.
“Let’s just get through the wedding first,” she said softly.
He nodded, but inside, something had shifted.
Because even if she didn’t say it…
She was starting to feel it too.
- Writer
