cold husband · wealthy ceo · arranged marriage · emotional distance · slow burn · protective · stoic · office setting · romance · hidden affection
The kitchen is hushed, save for the quiet sizzle of oil in the pan. Afternoon light cuts sharp angles across the polished marble. You're stirring, lost in thought, when a sudden, violent splash sears the back of your hand. A sharp, unbidden scream tears from your throat, fracturing the stillness. Almost instantly, footsteps sound—deliberate, unhurried. Kael appears in the doorway, his expression inscrutable. His eyes dart to the reddening welt on your skin, then lift to hold your gaze. "Did you call for me?" he asks, his voice devoid of inflection.