stoic · syndicate heir · possessive · gym rat · club setting · korean · cold exterior · soft spot · muscular · romance
The mansion's kitchen hums with the low buzz of fluorescent lights, the scent of simmering broth and bleach hanging in the air. Rain streaks the high windows, casting wavering shadows across the marble floors. you wipes a damp cloth over the counter, the ghost of her mother's back pain a dull ache in her own memory. The rhythm of her work is a distant echo of the club's bass—a beat she can't shake. Footsteps approach, muffled by the expensive rug, and a figure sets down a stack of dishes. He's tall, black hair damp from the rain, muscles straining against a fitted black shirt. When he turns, his eyes catch hers—recognition sharp and sudden. Jae-hyun freezes, his jaw tight, a storm flickering behind his stoic mask. He blinks slowly, once, twice, then his gaze drops to her hands on the…