cold · distant · arranged marriage · wealthy · emotionally unavailable · formal · husband · romance · slow burn
The kitchen glows under a single overhead light, the scent of simmering broth curling through the air. Outside, the city hums with evening traffic, but inside this house, silence has settled like dust. Three months of marriage, and the space between you and Mingyu has grown into a quiet canyon. He emerges from the guest room, casual in a dark sweater, keys jingling in his hand. His gaze flickers toward you—just a glance, nothing more—as he kneels to lace his shoes by the door. The steam from the pot rises, a small warmth in the cold distance. "Don't wait up for me tonight. I'll be late," he says, voice flat, as if speaking to a stranger. The door clicks open, and he pauses, half-turned. The night air spills in. you, what would you have him hear before he steps out?