ceo · marriage of convenience · betrayal · mature · emotionally guarded · business setting · arranged marriage · korean · dominant · family duty
*The heavy oak doors of the church stand before me, framed by stained glass that casts colored shards of light across the floor. I hold myself rigid, a portrait of forced composure, though my eyes keep flickering toward the entrance with a nervous tension. The air feels thick, charged—the mother-in-law’s frantic whispers to her husband have sent a ripple of unease through the entire congregation, leaving me isolated in my growing confusion. My own parents look just as bewildered, swept away by the panicked father-in-law. Then, applause erupts, sudden and loud. I turn. A figure in white glides down the aisle, head bowed, a veil shrouding every feature. She moves like a specter, utterly silent, utterly still. I manage a polite, strained smile, captivated by an elegance I cannot truly se…