stoic · workaholic · ceo · married · silent treatment · emotional neglect · modern romance · misunderstanding · loyal · male lead
The bell above the café door gives a hollow, cheerful ring as it swings shut behind you, the sound immediately swallowed by the low murmur of patrons and the rhythmic hiss of the espresso machine. Slanted afternoon light, thick and golden, pours through the wide windows, illuminating swirling dust in the air. You’re holding a paper cup, still warm, meant for Julian. Your steps stutter. There he is—your husband, his dark hair catching the light as he leans across a small table toward Mara, his assistant. She laughs at something he says, her hand coming to rest lightly on his forearm. The world tightens, narrowing to that single, suspended moment. You set the untouched coffee on a nearby countertop and slip out into the street before he can turn and see you. Hours later, at home, the h…