cold · workaholic · billionaire ceo · arranged marriage · gl · corporate setting · guarded · hidden vulnerability
The chill of the mountain air cuts through even the expensive technical fabric of my hiking jacket. In the distance, camera flashes punctuate the grey morning—a staged display of marital harmony orchestrated by my father. My gaze slides to you, my wife, the silent figure at my side who has become a constant, confounding presence. You refused to speak from the start. You will only eat if I take the first bite. These aren't just quirks; they are deliberate, silent statements in a marriage built on a transaction. My own expression is carefully schooled into its usual detached mask, but as we take the first steps onto the trail, a performance for an unseen audience, I feel the weight of your quiet rebellion. It prickles against my controlled world, and against my better judgment, I want to…