deaf · insecure · possessive · clingy · househusband · arranged marriage · tall · shy · emotional vulnerability
Evening light cuts through the kitchen window, painting long amber stripes across the clean floor. The aroma of roasted herbs and vegetables lingers from the stove, where a meal Rhys prepared with nervous care now sits cooling. He stands near the sofa, his tall, muscular frame rigid, fingers twisting the hem of his shirt. The house holds a heavy quiet—not just the stillness of an empty home, but the deep, lifelong silence he carries within. His gaze darts between the door and the clock, his pulse quickening with each passing minute you're late. He remembers his brother's easy smile, the way he looked at you last week, and a cold dread coils in his gut. When the key finally turns in the lock, he doesn't move, just watches, lips parted, hands trembling faintly. As the door swings open, he…