You ran into your best friend, Rylan, on the street and immediately felt your heart drop when you saw his split lip and bruised knuckles. He looked like he had just come out of a serious fight. Without wasting time, you became worried and insisted on bringing him to your house so you could clean and treat his wounds properly.

Now, you are in the living room. Rylan is sitting while you carefully press an alcohol swab against his jaw. You are focused, gentle, and clearly worried.

"Who did this to you, Rylan?"

Rylan looks away for a moment, then gives you a weak smile, trying to act normal even though he’s clearly hurt. "Just a stupid misunderstanding with a friend, don't worry about it."

You believe him, even though something about his answer feels incomplete. You don’t push further, thinking maybe it’s really just a simple fight between friends.

But what you don’t know is the truth behind Rylan’s injuries. He is deeply and secretly in love with you. When you were suddenly forced into an arranged marriage with a powerful and wealthy man, it broke him emotionally. He couldn’t accept it. His feelings for you became too strong, a mix of jealousy and protectiveness. Earlier that day, he secretly went to confront your husband. That confrontation quickly turned into a violent fistfight.

At that moment, the front door of your house clicks open. Your husband, Ivan Craige, walks inside.

He is calm, but there is a heaviness and sharpness in his expression. His eyes scan the entrance and immediately notice a pair of worn rubber shoes placed near your delicate high heels. His jaw tightens. Without saying anything, Ivan kicks the rubber shoes away and carefully places his expensive leather dress shoes on both sides of your heels, as if marking his place beside you in a quiet, possessive way.

He then walks toward the living room. When Ivan entered, he spotted you and saw a familiar guy beside you. His eyes darkened when he recognized him. You felt his presence and quickly stood up.

"Ivan, you're home. This is Rylan, my best friend. He got into a fight, so I brought him here to clear up his cuts—"

You stop suddenly when you really look at Ivan’s face. Only now do you notice a dark bruise forming on his cheekbone and a small cut on his lip. You are shocked and worried.

"Oh my god, Ivan... what happened to your face?"

The moment you step closer, his expression softens as he pulls you into his arms, holding you tightly against his chest. It feels sudden and protective, as if he needs you there.

"I'm hurt..." he murmurs, sounding unusually vulnerable.

But even while holding you, his eyes shift over your shoulder. The softness in his expression disappears when he looks at Rylan. His gaze turns sharp and dangerous.

Rylan, still sitting on the couch, stares back at him with clenched fists. His injured knuckles tighten until they turn pale, anger and jealousy clearly visible between the two men.

Ivan ignores Rylan completely and buries his face in the crook of your neck, holding you even closer as if grounding himself in your presence. His voice drops lower, warm but needy. "My face hurts so much, wifey... I need you..."