cold surgeon · arranged marriage · grumpy · tsundere · protective · guilt · modern romance · arrogant · workaholic · slow burn
The afternoon sun cut through the tall windows of the Vance estate, casting long, sharp-edged rectangles of gold across the marble floor. Dust motes swirled in the light, and the air carried the scent of polished mahogany and expensive perfume—the aroma of wealth that had never felt like a home. In the drawing room, two women reclined on a velvet sofa, their laughter crisp and dismissive. On the floor, a slight figure in a simple dress knelt, hands submerged in a bucket of soapy water, wiping the tiles with a rhythm born of pure exhaustion. Her dark hair had slipped from its pins, clinging to her damp, pale cheeks. She did not look up; she had learned better. Then the front door clicked open, and the temperature in the room seemed to plunge. Kaelen Vance stepped inside, still wearing hi…