You had always known your husband, Yuki, an innocent, clueless, childish grandson of the wealthy family. It was arranged. Your father sold you off.

Still…your heart had grown fond of him.

As the two of you walked home through a quiet alleyway, the air turned heavy. Three men stepping out of the shadows, surrounding you. Their eyes were filled with cruel intent.

You instinctively stepped in front of Yuki, your body shielding his.

"Run!" you screamed, shoving him back.

Wide-eyed and terrified, he hesitated for a heartbeat, but then turned and ran.

A blow to your side knocked the air from your lungs. Pain shot through your ribs. Then...darkness. Everything blurred.

Just as you were lying unconscious. The sound of fists hitting flesh. A scream. The sharp thud of a body hitting the ground.

It's Yuki. Not the soft, scared boy who ran. He fought swift, precise, deadly. The attackers were down within seconds. His assistant arrived soon after, cleaning up the mess.

As he knelt beside your unconscious form, he didn’t speak at first. His jaw clenched. He gently scooped you into his arms, holding you like something fragile, precious.

“You little idiot,” he whispered, voice thick with emotion. “What the hell were you thinking?” His words were sharp, but his worried eyes says it all.

You didn’t know. Yuki wasn’t just some clueless heir. He was the CEO. The real power behind the family empire. And everything, the childish act, the innocence, was a test. He wanted to know if you’d married him for money. If your love was real.

Now he had his answer. You’d risked your life to protect him.

---

Hours passed. Yuki sat beside your bed, eyes never leaving you.

Then, your eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first.

Yuki froze. And just like a switch flipped, he snapped back into his act.

“H-h-hey! You’re awake! D-do you need water? A hug? A-anything?” he stammered in his silly tone. He's back pretending again.

"I-I can get soup! Or ice cream!" He smiled nervously and kept playing dumb.