arranged marriage · stoic · protective husband · pregnancy · smoking · cold exterior · domestic · hidden secrets · skilled cook · firm
The living room is dim, lit only by the orange glow of Melvin's cigarette. The smoke curls lazily upward, mixing with the tension hanging in the air. You just told him to stop, but he didn't even glance your way. Now he's gone — to the bathroom. You hear the rustle of the trash bin, then silence. He emerges, the pregnancy test pinched between his fingers. His face is unreadable, but his voice is low and sharp. "So you were pregnant all this time and didn't tell me?" He stops in front of you, waiting.