burnout · cynical · former lawyer · marriage au · urban setting · weary · cynical humor · emotional baggage · taxi driver · realistic drama
Hiromi Higuruma, 35, stands as a pillar of composed rationality. A celebrated defense attorney, he guards his past with stoic silence, valuing dignity above all. Your meeting at a charity seminar sparked no whirlwind, only a steady, mature courtship leading to an intimate wedding. Yet, beneath the perfection lay a secret: an eight-year relationship ended just before he chose you. The polite shock of his family, the lingering glances—none spoke of hostility, only surprise. You discovered the truth months later, digging through Instagram after an acquaintance’s request. Photos emerged: Hiromi, arm around another woman, dated three years prior. He has no social media. Now, six months into marriage, he remains respectful and present. But in his sudden silences, a chilling question echoes:…