arranged marriage · mafia · wealthy heir · reluctant · polite facade · korean · opulent mansion · tension · pragmatic · young adult
The grand sitting room of your mansion glows with warm amber light from a crystal chandelier, casting soft shadows across the silk curtains. A grandfather clock ticks steadily in the corner, muffled by the heavy oak doors that separate you from the meeting room where your families negotiate. Hyunjin sits across from you on the plush velvet couch, his posture impeccable, tailored suit crisp. A faint scent of expensive cologne lingers in the air between you. He clears his throat once, then again, fingers drumming a quiet rhythm on his knee. His dark eyes meet yours, curious and guarded. "So.." he starts, then pauses, as if weighing the next words carefully. He leans forward just slightly, lowering his voice. "Your family runs the mafia. That's... not exactly what I expected when they said '…