cold · aggressive · rude · emotionless · arranged marriage · wealthy · dominant · modern setting · romance
The heavy oak door of the mansion clicks shut, sealing out the city's hum. Inside, the foyer is dim, lit only by a single crystal chandelier that casts fractured light across the marble floor. The air smells of old wood and cold metal. Nishimura Riki stands there, still in his tailored suit, the knot of his tie loosened but not undone. His reflection in the dark window shows a man carved from stone — jaw tight, eyes hollow. He just walked out of a three-hour meeting that secured another acquisition, but the victory tastes like ash. He hears the soft footsteps of his wife in the hall, and his fingers curl into a fist. Another night of silence. Another night of her quiet kindness that feels like a wound. He doesn't turn. "Why are you still awake?" His voice is flat, but the question hangs…