The sound of thunder echoed outside the massive Adam Rossi mansion as you stood at the entrance, still dressed in heavy wedding jewelry. The marriage had happened too fast- one family agreement , one signature ,and now you belonged to the most feared businessman in the city.

footstep approached slowly.

Adam Rossi.

Tall, intimidating, dressed in the black suite with a cold expression that revealed absolutely nothing, he stopped in front of you and looked you up and down silently.

"So you're the girl they chose for me ."

His deep voice was calm, but commanding enough to make the entire room feel smaller.

"Listen carefully, because i won't repeat myself twice."

"in this house, there are rules. you will respect my family, stay away from my business matters, and never create drama outside these wall."

He adjusted his watch before looking directly into your eyes. Don't test my patience either."

after a brief pause , his tone lowered slightly.

"but as long as you carry my mane, no one in this world will dare to touch you."

I lowered my gaze and forced a small smile. "I understand."

After a moment of silence, I asked quietly, "Then... can I at least hope we'll become friends someday?"

His expression froze for a second at her unexpected question.

"Friends?" he repeated quietly, almost amused by her innocence.

He looked at her for a few moments before speaking. "You're asking too much from a man who never wanted this marriage."

His gaze softened ever so slightly. "Love, friendship, promises... I have nothing to offer you."

He took a step closer and continued, "But I don't break my responsibilities."

"As my wife, you will have my respect, my protection, and everything you deserve. The rest..." He paused briefly. "...don't expect it from me."

He turned to leave before stopping at the door. "And stop looking at me like that."

I blinked in confusion. "Like what?"

"Like I'm a good man." A faint smile appeared on his lips for the first time. "You'll only end up disappointed."

"I understand." A gentle smile curved on her lips as she folded her hands before her.

"Then I won't ask for anything more." Before he could respond, she added softly, "But I do have one request."

His brows furrowed slightly. It was the first time she had asked him for something.

"What is it?"

"Please don't hate me for this marriage."

For the first time in years, he was left speechless.

i smiled bitterly and continued, "I never wanted to become someone's burden or responsibility. This marriage wasn't my choice either."

"So... if someday you grow tired of me, just tell me. I won't make things difficult for you."

There was no anger in her voice. No demands. No tears. Just acceptance.

He had met countless women in his life—women who wanted his wealth, his power, or his affection.

But she was different. She wanted nothing from him. Somehow, that unsettled him.

Later that night...

As I quietly arranged my belongings in his room, I heard his cold voice from behind.

"What are you doing?" I turned around and smiled innocently. "I'm making a line."

"A line?" I pointed toward the bed. "We'll divide it equally. You don't like me, and I'm not comfortable sleeping beside a stranger, so I thought this would be best."

Silence.

The great CEO who could make an entire boardroom tremble was now staring at a pillow placed in the middle of his bed. "You're dividing my bed?" ..."Our bed," I corrected politely. His eyebrows twitched for the first time that day.

"And don't worry," I added cheerfully. "I don't snore."

"......"

"Also, I sleep very quietly."

"......"

"And I promise I won't accidentally hug you while sleeping." He slowly looked at her. "You thought that would be my concern?" She blinked innocently. "Isn't it?"

He sighed and loosened his tie before walking toward her.

"Listen carefully, Mrs. Aria." I straightened immediately.

"Yes?"

He leaned slightly closer and said in his usual cold tone, "If I wanted to sleep beside my wife, I wouldn't need her permission." Her face instantly turned crimson. "B-but you said this isn't a love marriage!"..."And?"

"Aren't you supposed to dislike me?" He looked at her flushed face for a moment before turning away. "Disliking you and letting another man call you his are two completely different things."

He paused at the door before adding quietly, "I don't love you, Aria. But you are my wife." "And I don't share what's mine." For reasons he couldn't understand, the words left his mouth naturally.

He didn't know it yet, but somewhere along the way, his arranged marriage had already begun to become something much more dangerous—

A few hours had passed.

The mansion was wrapped in silence. Moonlight seeped through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting pale shadows across the room. I lay quietly on her side of the bed, staring at the ceiling. No matter how hard she tried, sleep refused to come. It was strange. Just this morning, she was simply Aria. By sunset, she had become Mrs. Sinclair—the wife of the most feared and powerful man in the country.

She smiled bitterly at the thought. How funny life can be...Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching the room.

Click. The door slowly opened. It was him. She immediately sat up. "You're not asleep?" he asked coldly. "I should be asking you the same thing." He loosened the first few buttons of his shirt before replying,

"I had work."

His eyes suddenly fell upon her bare feet touching the marble floor. His expression darkened immediately. "Who told you to walk around barefoot?" I blinked in confusion. "It's just the room." ....."Answer my question."

"No one?"

He let out an annoyed sigh. Without saying another word, he picked her up bridal style. "W-What are you doing? Put me down!"

"Stop moving."...."But—"

"Do you always talk this much?"..."Only when someone kidnaps me in my own room!"

He ignored her protests and placed her gently on the bed before walking toward the closet. Moments later, he returned with a pair of soft house slippers. "Wear them." I looked at him blankly. "Were you worried about me?"

"No." ...."Then why—" ...."Because if my wife falls sick because of something so stupid, people will say I don't know how to take care of what's mine."....She couldn't help but laugh softly. He's surprisingly easy to understand.

He says one thing, but does another.

Before I could thank him, his phone suddenly rang. The moment he answered it, the warmth in his expression disappeared. "Speak." The voice from the other side trembled in fear. "Sir! We've caught him." His expression darkened instantly.

"Good."

"What should we do with him?" He glanced briefly at Aria before walking toward the balcony. "Break both his hands."

I froze.

"Sir?"

"I believe my orders were clear." The call disconnected. For the first time, she realized that the man standing before her wasn't merely a wealthy CEO. He was dangerous. Ruthless. Feared by everyone. He returned to the room as if nothing had happened. Seeing her pale face, he frowned slightly. "What's wrong?" ..."A-Are you a bad person?" Silence filled the room. No one had ever dared ask him such a question before. He slowly sat beside her and asked, "Are you afraid?" ...She remained silent for a few seconds before slowly shaking her head. "No." This time, he was surprised.

"Why?"

She smiled softly before replying, "Because bad people don't carry their wives when they're barefoot."....."Bad people don't remember to bring slippers either."

His eyes widened slightly...."And..." she continued with an innocent smile, "I don't think your eyes look scary when you're looking at me." For the first time in twenty-nine years, Damien Sinclair was rendered speechless by a single sentence. Everyone feared him. But his wife? She looked at him as if he were simply...human.

And perhaps, that frightened him more than anything else.

That night, neither of them could sleep. I quietly lay on my  side of the bed while Adam sat on the couch near the window, working on his laptop. The soft glow from the screen reflected on his sharp features. Unable to hold back my curiosity, I stole glances at him every now and then.

"How can someone look this handsome and this scary at the same time?" I wondered. Suddenly, Adam spoke without looking up from his work.

"If you're going to stare at me, at least do it openly." I immediately hid my face under the blanket. "I wasn't staring!"

"Then?.

"I was merely observing my husband." He paused for a second before continuing his work. "There's no difference."

A few moments later, silence once again filled the room. Then—

Grrr....

A strange sound echoed through the room. Adam stopped typing. I froze. my face immediately turned red. Please don't let him hear that.

Grrr....

Too late. Adam slowly lifted his eyes towards me. "Was that your stomach?" ..."NO!" .."The walls must be hungry then."

"......"

"Or perhaps the couch?"

I covered my face in embarrassment. "It's midnight! Human beings get hungry at midnight too!" He glanced at the untouched dinner on the table. "You didn't eat?"

"I wasn't hungry earlier." That was a lie. I simply felt uncomfortable eating in front of so many people during dinner. Adam quietly closed his laptop before standing up.

"Where are you going?"

"The kitchen."

"Why?"

He looked at me as though I had asked the world's stupidest question. "Because unlike my wife, I can recognize when someone is hungry." A few minutes later...I sat quietly on the kitchen counter watching him cook. "You can cook?"..."I'm capable of doing many things."..."Like threatening people over phone calls?"..He looked at me for a few seconds before laughing softly. It was the first time I had heard him laugh.

It was beautiful. "Yes," he replied casually.

"And cooking?"

"And cooking."

He placed a bowl of ramen in front of her before speaking.

"Eat."

Her eyes sparkled immediately. "For me?" ......."No. For the ghost living in this mansion."..."I knew it! You're secretly nice!"..."I'm not."......"You're making me food at one in the morning."......."That's because I don't want my wife fainting from hunger tomorrow."

I smiled softly. "Thank you, Adam."

He stopped moving for a second. This was the first time I had called him by his name. For some reason, hearing his name leave her lips didn't sound unpleasant at all. After finishing my meal, I looked at him shyly.

"Can I ask you something?"

"No."

"You didn't even let me ask the question!"...."And my answer remains the same."...."You're impossible!"......."I've been told that before." I laughed softly before asking,...."What kind of person were you before all of this?"

For the first time, silence filled the room. His expression suddenly became unreadable. "Someone you'll never have to become."

"Were you lonely?" His hands froze. No one had ever asked him that question before. Not his business partners.

Not his friends. Not even his family. Only her. "Why would you ask that?.  I smiled gently. "Because lonely people are usually the ones who pretend they don't need anyone." He looked at me quietly for what felt like forever.

"You shouldn't try to understand me, Aria."

"Why?" .."Because you'll only get hurt. "I shook my head before smiling innocently. "Then I'll just understand you slowly."

"......"

"After all, we have our whole lives ahead of us, don't we?"

For the first time since their marriage, Adam Rossi found himself unable to look away from her smile. And for the very first time—He wished this arranged marriage wasn't merely a responsibility.

Unknown to them, someone was watching the lights of the ROSSI Mansion from afar. A man stood in the darkness while holding a photograph of Aria. "So she's Adam Rossi weakness now."

A sinister smile appeared on his face. "Let's see how long he can protect her."