Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime
Chapter 130: Banter

Chapter 130: Banter

The car slowed as it turned into a wide cobbled street lined with glowing lanterns and colorful banners that fluttered in the breeze.

A crowd of people buzzed around food stalls, game booths, and dance performances. Lights twinkled above like constellations caught in a net.

Zephany pressed her face slightly against the car window and blinked.

"Wow... this is... something," she whispered.

Kendrick looked out as well, then gave a soft chuckle. "I thought Cassius said it was a small local event."

Zephany turned to him with a puzzled look. "This looks like a national holiday."

The driver parked and stepped out to open the door for them. Kendrick got out first, then turned to offer his hand to Zephany like a true gentleman. She hesitated for a second but took it. Their hands touched briefly, warm and unfamiliar.

They both stood outside the venue for a moment, taking in the view. Music floated through the air, a mix of cheerful instrumentals and the occasional pop beat. People in traditional and modern clothes walked by, couples and families laughing together.

Kendrick reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

"We should take a photo. Proof for Cassius."

Zephany raised an eyebrow. "Of course. Because he will definitely want that."

"You know him. He might frame it."

They posed by a lantern archway, Kendrick adjusting the angle of his phone. "Smile, Mrs. Montclair."

Zephany made a face but smiled anyway. Click. Another angle. Click. A silly one. Click. Kendrick lowered the phone.

"There. That should satisfy our dear boss."

They walked together through the festival, the crowd parting around them. It didn’t take long before they reached a ring toss game. Kendrick tilted his head toward it. "Want to try?"

Zephany hesitated. "I’m not that good."

"Perfect. I’ll win for both of us."

That earned a small laugh. "Cocky. Alright, let’s see."

He tossed his first ring. Miss. Second. Miss again. Zephany held in her giggle.

"Let me try."

She picked up the ring, tossed it gently... and it landed perfectly.

Kendrick blinked. "Beginner’s luck."

She did it again. Another perfect toss.

"Okay, suspicious."

They went on to a shooting gallery, fishing game, balloon darts. By the end of the hour, Zephany had an arm full of plushies. Kendrick carried none.

He looked at her with narrowed eyes. "You’re cheating."

"How do you even cheat at balloon darts?"

"You tell me, champion."

Zephany burst out laughing. Her shy demeanor slipped for a second, and Kendrick caught a glimpse of someone brighter behind the surface. He smiled.

They sat on a bench near the firelight dance circle, the soft glow of lanterns warming their faces.

Zephany looked at him. "It’s easy to forget."

"Forget what?"

"That this is all pretend."

He didn’t answer right away. Then he said quietly, "Yeah. It is."

They sat in silence, the festival carrying on around them. But for a moment, everything was still.

Neither noticed Sophia’s quiet camera drone hovering at a distance.

Mission: progressing.

---

Cassius and Sophia sat side by side in the surveillance room, watching the screens showing different angles of the bustling festival. One screen in particular caught their attention—Kendrick and Zephany laughing as they tried their luck at a dart-throwing booth.

Sophia raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. "It’s happening."

Cassius leaned back in his chair, a rare smirk tugging at his lips. "Took them long enough."

Sophia gave him a side glance. "You practically forced them into this mission."

"I nudged," he corrected lightly. "Besides, those two need a push. At this rate, they’ll still be dancing around each other until their contract ends."

"They’re starting to forget it’s a contract," Sophia said, her voice quieter. "You can see it in how they look at each other now."

Cassius folded his hands beneath his chin, staring at the screen. "That’s the point."

---

The warm buzz of laughter echoed around the festival grounds. Colored lanterns swayed gently overhead, bathing the crowd in a soft, golden glow.

Music drifted from a nearby stage, just loud enough to set the rhythm for the evening but not so loud it drowned conversation.

Zephany adjusted the oversized penguin plushie in her arms, struggling to keep the smaller stuffed duck from sliding off. She had won both within twenty minutes of arriving, and Kendrick had made no secret of his suspicions.

"You’re definitely hiding something," Kendrick said, glancing at her sideways as they strolled past a line of food stalls. "No one just lands seven bullseyes in a row. Not unless they’ve got a cheat code."

Zephany gave a small smile, tilting her head in faux innocence. "Maybe I’m just naturally skilled. You ever consider that, husband?"

Kendrick raised an eyebrow. "Husband? Now who’s skipping pages in the script?"

Zephany’s face turned pink, and she looked down, hugging the plush tighter. "You started calling me that."

"Only because you’re bad at staying in character, wife." He gave her a playful nudge with his shoulder. "I had to commit for both of us."

"I’m not that bad."

"You introduced yourself to that booth guy as "Zee"—barely remembered your cover name. Because you know how famous your real name is... What if your fans suddenly circled us?

"I panicked, alright?" she said softly, her cheeks warming again. "He asked too fast. And for your info, isn’t your name famous too? Right, Mr. Champion?"

Kendrick smirked. "Come on, musical prodigy. I’m good at being low-key." Then he laughed gently. "You’re lucky you’re cute when you’re nervous."

Zephany shot him a glance, lips twitching like she wanted to say something back but couldn’t settle on what. Instead, she looked ahead at the next booth. It was a ring toss surrounded by kids yelling and cheering. Her eyes lit up, even though she already had too many toys.

"You wanna try?" Kendrick asked.

"No. I’ll let the losing streak rest for now."

"You mean you’ll let me save face."

She giggled softly. "Something like that."

They continued walking, falling into a companionable silence. The kind that didn’t feel awkward but warm. Familiar. The type that made Zephany’s chest feel strangely light, even as her hands stayed busy juggling the ridiculous stuffed animals she’d insisted weren’t heavy.

"You sure you don’t want me to carry one?" Kendrick asked, slowing his pace to match hers.

"No, I’m fine."

"You’re walking like a penguin."

"I’m carrying a penguin."

"Still counts."

Zephany laughed under her breath. "Stop it, you’re gonna make me drop this duck."

Kendrick chuckled but didn’t press. He let the silence come again, this time watching her face more than the path ahead.

The wind picked up slightly, making the hanging lanterns sway. They reached a quieter stretch of the festival where the crowd thinned out. A small string-lit path curved toward a lake at the edge of the park, away from the noise. Zephany hesitated as they approached it, then looked at him.

"Wanna walk down there?"

Kendrick nodded. "Yeah. It’s quieter."

They turned down the path, the ground beneath their feet shifting from gravel to soft grass. The lake reflected the glowing string lights like a canvas of gold ripples. Zephany’s steps slowed. So did Kendrick’s.

She let out a soft sigh. "You know... this doesn’t feel like a mission from Cassius."

Kendrick glanced at her. "No. It doesn’t."

She hugged the plush closer, her voice quieter now. "It’s a bit weird."

"In a good way?"

"I think so."

Kendrick shoved his hands in his pockets. "You’re not cold, are you?"

She shook her head. "Just nervous."

That made him pause. "Why?"

Zephany didn’t answer immediately. She looked out at the water, her hair gently stirred by the wind. Kendrick followed her gaze, his jaw tightening slightly before he finally spoke.

"Can I say something? Like, off the record?"

Zephany blinked. "Aren’t we always off the record? I’m not exactly... reporting any of this."

"I mean off the mission. Just... between you and me."

She turned toward him, now clearly more guarded. "Okay."

He took a breath. "This might sound stupid, but... I’ve been trying to figure out when it stopped feeling like an assignment. And when it started feeling... like something else."

She didn’t speak, eyes fixed on his, waiting.

Kendrick continued, slower now. "I like being around you, Zeph. Not because we’re playing a role. Not because it’s in some plan Cassius made up. I just... like you."

Zephany opened her mouth but said nothing. Her brows furrowed slightly, like her brain was scrambling to translate what he just said into something that made sense.

"I’m not saying it to make this weird," he added quickly. "I just thought you should know. In case... you felt the same."

Zephany looked down at the penguin in her arms, then back at him. Her voice was soft. "I thought you were just being nice."

"I am nice," he said, smiling a little. "But that’s not the point."

She let out a small laugh, breath catching. "Why me?"

Kendrick shrugged. "You hum when you think no one’s listening. You care about people even when you act like you don’t. You get flustered and pretend you’re fine, but I can always tell."

She shook her head slowly, cheeks glowing. "You notice a lot."

"I’m observant," he said. "Spy instincts."

Zephany laughed again, quieter this time. She was so focused on her emotions that she didn’t even notice what he said. She hugged the penguin tighter. "So... are we still pretending to be married, or is that starting to blur now?"