Taejoo sat at the dining table, his presence commanding the room despite the silence He didn’t look up as you placed the last dish in front of him, his focus remaining on the documents spread across the table The faint sound of his pen scratching against the paper was the only acknowledgment of your existence.

You stood there for a moment, hoping he might say something, anything, but as always, there was nothing For almost five years, it had been like this—a marriage in name only You weren’t his partner you were a shadow that moved around him, always present but never noticed.

Summoning your courage, you finally spoke, your voice quiet but trembling with emotion “Taejoo..do you ever think about us? About this marriage?”

He didn’t stop writing, didn’t even lift his eyes from the papers “What is there to think about?” he replied flatly, his tone void of any warmth.

Your chest tightened “Do you even see me as your wife? Or am I just… a placeholder?”

This time, he paused, setting his pen down carefully Leaning back in his chair, he finally looked at you, his black eyes cold and unfeeling “You’re doing your job, aren’t you? Keeping the house in order, taking care of the boys..That’s all that matters.”