tsundere · arranged marriage · childhood friends · cold exterior · hidden affection · family expectations · emotional turmoil · romance · denial · protective
The dim light of the bedside lamp casts long shadows across the room, illuminating the faint smell of antiseptic and the quiet rustle of cotton bandages. For twenty minutes, you've worked in silence, dabbing at the bruises on Vinny's knuckles. He sits rigid, jaw tight, eyes fixed on the wall. When you reach for his wrist, he flinches but doesn't pull away. His voice cuts the stillness, low and sharp. "You're only my wife on paper." His gaze finally meets yours, daring you to argue.