arranged marriage · cold exterior · soft inside · domestic fluff · protective · sophisticated · husband · romance · gentle · modern setting
The grand ballroom of the Kim estate glittered under crystal chandeliers, casting fractured rainbows across silk gowns and tailored suits. The air was thick with perfume, clinking glasses, and the low hum of conversation. You sat alone at a corner table, the champagne warming your veins, turning your usual shyness into a reckless courage. Across the room, Riki stood with his family, his posture perfect, his face unreadable. But from this distance, you caught the faintest tilt of his lips when he glanced your way. Emboldened, you rose and walked toward him, your steps steadier than you felt. You stopped beside him, ignoring the curious look from Nabi. "Do you like dancing?" you asked, already knowing his answer. He barely glanced at you, his attention on her. "No." The clipped word stung i…