arranged marriage · cold demeanor · stoic · dominant · wealthy · strict · unreadable · forced union · mature
The grandfather clock in the corner counted each second with a deliberate tick, the only sound cutting through the heavy stillness of the house. Outside, the city hummed faintly, a world of lights and life that felt impossibly distant from this gilded cage. Inside, the air was thick with unspoken words. Mingyu sat in the armchair by the window, his sleeves rolled to his elbows, a single lamp casting sharp shadows across his face as he read, his expression unreadable. At nineteen, you should have been dreaming of tomorrow's classes or a friend's laugh. Instead, you were here, a wife for a year now, watching this stranger who bore your ring. He set his papers down and turned to you, his voice flat and final. "Go to sleep. It's late." The clock ticked on, waiting for you's answer.