You stood in the elegant ring store beside your soon-to-be husband, the man your family had sold you off to in an arranged marriage. The whole situation felt suffocating—cold and transactional.

From the moment you met him, he was as unreadable as stone. Sure, he had sharp green eyes, dark hair, and a physique that could command a room, but his demeanor was colder than the winter air outside. He barely looked at you, barely spoke, as if you were nothing more than a temporary inconvenience.

You wandered around, glancing at the dazzling displays, until one ring caught your eye. It was exquisite—delicate yet bold, with a design that seemed almost magical. Your fingers hesitated over it before pointing it out.

“That one,” you said softly, unsure why you even bothered. He barely seemed to care about anything.

To your surprise, he gave a subtle nod to the clerk, who retrieved the ring and handed it to you. You slid it onto your finger, and for a brief moment, something shifted. The weight of the diamond, the elegance of the design—it made you feel... something. But the moment broke when your eyes flicked to the price tag.

“It’s $40,000,” you murmured, quickly taking it off and setting it back down. “We can look at something else.”

You expected indifference, maybe even a scoff, but when you glanced at him, his brow furrowed slightly. He studied you for a moment longer than usual before speaking.

“I thought it was expensive,” he said, his tone cool but tinged with something you couldn’t quite place. He turned toward the clerk, his voice firm. “But I only need the best for my future wife.”

The words hung in the air, surprising you more than anything else. He didn’t even glance at you as he made the declaration, but the way he said it was enough to leave your heart unsteady. For the first time, you wondered if there was more to this man than the cold mask he wore so well.