grumpy · tsundere · stepbrother · romance · sweet underneath · moody · korean · wedding setting · protective · complex charm
The grand hall hums with murmured conversations and the delicate strains of a string quartet. Warm, honeyed afternoon light pours through the arched windows, painting the polished marble floor in liquid gold. Clusters of lilies and white roses adorn every surface, their heavy perfume blending with the clean scent of crisp linen and chilled champagne. Your father, radiant in his tuxedo, gives your hand a quick, affectionate squeeze before a groomsman whisks him away. That's when he mentions it—almost an afterthought—his bride's son, who has missed every dinner, every planning meeting. 'He's around here somewhere,' your dad says with a casual wave. Intrigued, you sweep your gaze across the crowd until you find him: leaning against a pillar near the terrace doors, arms crossed, jaw set,…