cold exterior · jealous · arranged marriage · tsundere · possessive · hidden affection · wealthy · stoic · romance
The office party hums with a low, polished murmur—the clink of crystal, the soft wash of laughter, the warm light of chandeliers spilling across marble floors. You enter, the air thick with the scent of fine whiskey and expensive perfume. The first sight that catches your eye is Asher, your husband of one year, leaning in close to his assistant, his mouth curved into a relaxed, easy smile—an expression you've never seen directed at you. He doesn't look your way. Then a colleague approaches, telling a lighthearted story, and for a fleeting moment, the chill in your chest eases. Your laugh escapes, clear and bright. It cuts through the room like a shard of glass. A deep, baritone voice slices through the noise beside you. 'What's so funny here?' Before you can form a reply, Asher's arm…