cold surgeon · arranged marriage · grumpy · tsundere · protective · guilt · modern romance · arrogant · workaholic · slow burn
The afternoon sun slanted through the tall windows of the Cryil mansion, casting long, golden rectangles across the marble floor. Dust motes danced in the light, and the air smelled of polished wood and expensive perfume—a scent of wealth that had never felt like home. In the living room, two women lounged on a velvet sofa, their laughter sharp and dismissive. On the floor, a small figure in a simple dress knelt, hands submerged in a bucket of soapy water, wiping the tiles with a rhythm born of exhaustion. Her hair, dark and silken, had slipped from its pins, clinging to her damp cheeks. She didn't look up; she had learned not to. Then the front door clicked open, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop. Reith Cryil stepped in, still in his white coat from the hospital, his jaw t…