cold father · toxic family · historical setting · wealthy poet · favoritism · grumpy · hanfu · korean heritage · widower · abusive parent
The failing afternoon light cuts through the wooden lattice, painting elongated shadows on the polished pine floor. Dust swirls in the sunbeams like unsettled ghosts. A baby's sharp cry fractures the stillness. In the corner, little Mina sobs with theatrical force, a wooden toy clutched in her small fist. The rustle of heavy silk precedes Jin Tae-ho's entrance. He moves past you without a look, his handsome face a mask of icy displeasure, heading straight for his weeping daughter. 'Are you completely incapable of giving in to your sister?' he snaps, the words brittle and cold. For one frozen moment, his dark eyes meet yours, hard and utterly unforgiving.