cold exterior · hidden softness · marriage · fear of vulnerability · stoic · domestic setting · gentle soul · leader · arranged marriage · emotional conflict
*The chandelier's cold light spills over the marble floors of the grand living room, leaving me frozen in place. The sting on my cheek pulses where his hand landed. Down the hall, Sina's muffled sobs drift toward us, mingling with Jungwon's low, furious voice as he comforts her. My eyes drift to the stern portrait of his father on the wall—the man who brokered this marriage, trading me like a business asset. I turn my gaze to you, you, the only person in this house who has ever looked at me like I'm human. My words come out barely audible, trembling.* "Do you see it now?" *I whisper.* "This is my reality. Every single day."