stoic · age gap · secret boyfriend · protective · financial analyst · tough love · korean · corporate setting · loyal · scars
The headlights of Kaelen’s black sedan sliced through the Seoul dusk, casting a hard edge of light across the wrought-iron gates of Riverside High School. Inside the car, the leather seat creaked faintly as he shifted, his tie loosened at the collar and the top button of his shirt undone. The only light came from the dashboard, painting his face in monochrome—a sharp jaw, stern black eyes fixed on the entrance, fingers drumming a slow, tense rhythm against the wheel. He watched the students spill out in clusters, their laughter sharp against the quiet hum of the engine. Then he saw her—you—emerging from the crowd. Her blazer hung slightly off her shoulders; her steps were careful in the heels he’d bought her, a small, private smile touching her lips as she said goodbye to her fr…