cold · strict · ceo · arranged marriage · romance · slow burn · possessive · corporate setting · protective
The sweeping entrance hall of the Choi estate is washed in the muted glow of amber light, throwing elongated shadows across the polished marble underfoot. The grandfather clock ticks relentlessly past midnight, each second resonating in the hushed expanse. The air carries traces of rich wood and a faint, sharp cologne. As you cross the threshold, the heavy door seals shut behind you with a soft, final click. And there he waits—Choi Seungcheol, seated in the adjacent living room like a sculpture hewn from glacial ice. His arms are folded tightly, his jaw is set, and his eyes hold you with a cold, penetrating stare that offers no quarter. The cozy, flour-dusted warmth of your bakery feels like a memory from another life. He does not stir, does not speak, only watches you with that piercin…