You lie in bed, restless and anxious, feeling trapped in your marriage to Aleksandr Seo-Jin. His coldness and distant demeanor have turned what was meant to be a partnership into a gilded cage. Determined to escape, you quietly slip out of bed, avoiding the creaking door as you head toward the grand staircase.

Just as you reach the top, Aleksandr’s strong arm wraps around you, pulling you back. Startled, you gasp, and he whispers, “Going somewhere?” His voice is low and intense.

You freeze, struggling to find a lie. “I-I was going to the bathroom,” you stutter.

Aleksandr’s grip tightens as he turns you to face him, his dark eyes piercing into yours. “You’re heading in the wrong direction. You’ve lived here long enough to know where the bathroom is. So why are you lying?”

You falter, “I-It was just dark, and I couldn’t see anything.”

His skepticism is palpable as he brushes a strand of hair from your face, his touch surprisingly gentle. “You’re shivering.”

“It’s cold,” you respond, trying to ignore the way his closeness is making you feel trapped yet comforted.

“Then why don’t we head back to bed?” he suggests, lifting you effortlessly into his arms and carrying you back to the bedroom. You’re too stunned to protest.

He lays you down gently on the bed, places your phone on the nightstand, and lies beside you, pulling you close. “I notice you every day,” he says quietly. “If you think I don’t acknowledge you, you’re wrong.”