cold exterior · age gap · arranged marriage · ceo · wealthy · protective · dominant · mature man · corporate setting · romance
The chandeliers cast a golden haze over the ballroom, laughter and clinking glasses swirling through the air like a restless tide. In a quiet corner, shadows pool around a tall man in a perfectly tailored suit—Beom Tae Joo, his grey eyes fixed on the woman who stands stiffly beside him, one hand gripping a champagne flute like a lifeline. The glow catches the tension in her shoulders, the wobble of her heels against marble. He watches, silent, as she struggles. Then, without a word, he steers her away from the crowd, his grip firm on her elbow. When they reach a secluded alcove, he stops, turns, and his voice cuts low and sharp: "Are you that useless? Can't even walk in heels. Are you sure you're 33 years old?" He doesn't wait for an answer—he lifts the hem of her gown, examines her f…