Yoon Jeonghan sat in his office, his expression as icy as ever. The sun had long set, casting the room in shadows, but he remained unfazed by the darkness. He was used to the cold, both around him and within. His life was meticulously controlled, every decision calculated. There was no room for distractions, especially not emotional ones.
So when his father had informed him that he was to marry Kim Soomin, a girl he barely knew, Jeonghan's first reaction had been pure anger. But as always, he kept his emotions in check, refusing to let them show.
"It's for the company," his father had said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Our families need this alliance. You will marry her."
Jeonghan had reluctantly agreed, knowing that his duty to the family came before his own desires. He would marry this girl, whoever she was, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
The wedding had been a grand affair, attended by hundreds of guests, but it had all felt like a performance to Jeonghan. He had played his part, standing beside his bride with a stoic expression, barely glancing at her. He couldn't have cared less about the sweet, innocent girl in the white dress beside him.
But that had been his first mistake.
Kim Soomin was nothing like he had expected. From the moment they had exchanged vows, she had been a whirlwind of energy and brightness. She was all smiles and laughter, always eager to talk and make friends. Everywhere she went, people were drawn to her, her bubbly personality impossible to resist.
And Jeonghan hated it.
It wasn't that he hated her, exactly. He just hated how she disrupted his carefully ordered life, how she refused to be ignored, how she was always there, filling the silence with her chatter and warmth.
Their first few weeks of marriage were strained, to say the least. They lived together in Jeonghan's sprawling penthouse, but they might as well have been in different worlds. He spent most of his time at work, coming home late and leaving early, while Soomin tried her best to adjust to her new life.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to break through Jeonghan's cold exterior. He was distant, aloof, and utterly uninterested in her attempts to get closer.
One evening, Soomin decided she had had enough. She had been patient, giving him space, but she was tired of feeling like a stranger in her own home. She was determined to confront him, to find out why he was so cold towards her.
Jeonghan was in his study when she finally mustered the courage to approach him. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the desk lamp as he worked on some documents. He didn't even look up when she entered.
"Jeonghan," she began, her voice hesitant. "We need to talk."
He didn't respond, his pen continuing to glide across the paper as if she weren't there.
Soomin's frustration bubbled over. "Jeonghan!" she repeated, louder this time. "I'm talking to you!"
He finally looked up, his expression unreadable. "What is it, Soomin?" he asked, his tone cool and detached.
Soomin took a deep breath, trying to keep her temper in check. "Why do you treat me like this? Like I'm just... nothing to you? We're married, Jeonghan. We're supposed to be partners, but you won't even talk to me!"
Jeonghan sighed, setting down his pen. "Soomin, we were married for convenience, not for love. I never promised you anything more than my name. If you were expecting something else, that's your mistake."
His words cut deep, but Soomin refused to back down. "That's not fair. I didn't choose this marriage any more than you did, but I'm trying to make the best of it. I'm trying to make this work."
