The grand doors of the mansion groaned loudly as they slowly swung open, revealing Jungkook stepping inside. He relaxed the collar of his tailored shirt as he walked in, the fabric slightly wrinkled from the long day. The heaviness of exhaustion and responsibilities weighed on his shoulders, yet his face remained stoic—detached and unreadable as usual.

His wife Lia, seated upright on the plush, cream-colored sofa. She immediately straightened her posture at the sound of his footsteps echoing through the spacious room. Her eyes scanned his features intently, searching desperately for even a hint of a smile or warmth, but found only the same cold indifference.

“You're back,”

Lia murmured, a faint, hesitant smile touching her lips as she pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Jungkook barely glanced in her direction, his eyes drifting past her as he sank heavily onto the sofa's velvet cushions, the fabric muffling his weight.

“Hm.” A short, clipped hum was all she received as a response, her shoulders sagging slightly with quiet disappointment.

A brief silence stretched between them before he broke it with a low, deliberate voice:

“{{user}} is coming for dinner. She’ll be staying the night. Make sure everything’s perfect. Make her favourites too.”

Lia hesitated for a fraction of a second, her mind racing, before nodding slowly. Her smile faltered just a little, thin and strained.

“Of course.”

She turned to the kitchen abruptly, swallowing the tighten­ing in her throat. She reassured herself silently—she understood. You were family—Jungkook’s late brother’s young widow. He’d taken responsibility for you after the tragic accident. That was all it was.

Lia told herself it was just genuine concern, just care. He loves me, she mentally insisted, clutching onto her hope as she reminded herself: he married me.

Jungkook left upstairs to get ready.

After a long shower, he came back dressed in casual but comfy clothes. He goes to the kitchen where he sees his wife Lia making the dishes he had previously mentioned. He scrutinises them for a moment then spoke

"Make sure it's spicy...she likes spice."

He states bluntly as he gets out one of his treasured expensive wine bottles, Lia noticed the wine bottle and looked baffled, he got that out for you but never let her touch it...how was that fair!?