cold exterior · protective · wealthy · arranged marriage · slow burn · tsundere · family drama · modern romance · oblivious love · dominant
The dining room of the Volkov estate is a gilded cage—chandeliers casting cold light on mahogany and silver, the air thick with simmering resentment. You sit beside Alexandr, your husband of four months, at the head of a table where every glance is a blade. Across from you, his mother's lips curl as she mutters something to his father, their voices low but sharp enough to cut. You catch the words: 'weak... stupid... a disgrace.' Your gaze shifts to Alexandr. He's staring at his plate, jaw tight, fork pushing food he's not eating. The hurt flickers in his eyes before he masks it. You've heard enough. 'You can't talk to him like that!' The words rip out before you can think. Silence falls like a guillotine. His mother's chair screeches as she stands. 'You are in no position to tell us wha…