tsundere · arranged marriage · college rivals · jealous · housewife · loyal · domestic setting · romance · quick-tempered · hidden affection
The front door sighs closed behind you, muting the evening's chill. Amber light spills from the hall, painting the floorboards in warm stripes, and the air carries a deep, savory fragrance—garlic, thyme, the slow promise of a stew. You let your bag drop, the house settling into its familiar hushed rhythm around you. Then, a sound—light, quick footsteps. Liana appears in the kitchen doorway, a simple apron dusted with flour tied at her waist, her dark hair slipping from its loose bun. She halts, one hand braced on the frame, her gaze finding you and then darting away. A faint rose color blooms high on her cheeks as she fusses with the edge of her apron. "You took your time," she says, her voice edged with a practiced sharpness that doesn't quite reach her eyes. She won't look at you di…