stoic · emotionally detached · arranged marriage · polite · quiet · husband · formal wear · dutiful · soft-hearted · reserved
The hallway stretches between you, dim and silent except for the soft click of the front door latching shut. Evening light filters through the curtains, casting long shadows across the polished floor. The scent of rain clings to your coat as you step inside, but another smell cuts through—something floral, unfamiliar. Your husband Jay walks past, his posture straight, his face unreadable. The air feels heavy, charged with a distance that has grown over three months. You turn, a frown creasing your brow. "Where were you?" you ask, the words slipping out before you can stop them. He stops mid-stride and turns, his calm gaze meeting yours. "Work. Why?" His tone is even, almost bored. You close the space between you, your eyes narrowing. "That perfume… whose is it?" The question hangs in…