After I married into a rich family as my older sister's stand-in, my powerful husband didn't touch me for six months.

Then I overheard his friend.

"You chased her ten years just to marry her, and you still won't touch her?"

He looked down, smiling bitter. "I have a problem... I'm scared I'd scare her off."

That night I stormed into his room and slapped the divorce papers on the nightstand. "Two choices—sleep with me or sign."

He ripped the papers apart and pinned me to the wall, something wild breaking loose in his eyes.

"Third choice... I make sure you can't get out of bed tomorrow."

Late night.

I grabbed the thin dress I'd set aside and went to Leon Lowell's door.

After the wedding, he said he didn't want to mess with my sleep and moved to the next room.

Sounds sweet. Reality? Two weeks married and we hadn't even held hands.

I pushed the door open.

He'd just showered—his hair still dripping, a towel at the back of his neck. He stopped when he saw me on the bed.

"What are you doing here?"

Flat. Always flat.

I didn't answer. Just watched him.

The robe hung loose—chest half-covered, faint abs, sharp nose, long fingers, clean lines.

A face like that shouldn't disappoint anyone.

Yet six months in, our marriage felt like a display case. Pretty. Empty.

Not tonight.

I was done waiting.

"I'm here to sleep," I said. "You there, me here—what's the point of being married?"

I wanted an answer.

He paused. His eyes moved over my dress. Two seconds.

"Fine."

'That's it?'

Now I was the one thrown off.

He walked over. Calm, steady—but the air tightened anyway.

Only a dim night-light. He lay down. Cool damp skin brushed my face.

My heartbeat stumbled.

I wrapped my arms around his waist.

His entire body locked.

He lowered his head, voice rough. "Do you want me to... help you?"

Before finishing, he opened the drawer like muscle memory.

I already knew.

Yep. A finger cot.

Heat shot straight to my chest. I snatched it and threw it at his face.

"Help me? That's what you think this is? We've been married six months! Are you ever gonna stop hiding and actually be my husband?"

My voice cracked sharp.

Too dark to see his face, but I felt his stare—heavy, impossible to read.

The more I thought about it, the worse it got.

"Leon, if you can't, just say it! You think you're the only guy alive? Like nobody else would want me?"

We were married. Why did I always sound like I was begging while he acted like he was doing charity work?

His throat tightened. "That's not... what I meant."

But he still didn't come closer.

Even when he finally leaned down to kiss me—hand on my cheek—third time, fourth time...

I was ready.

He still stopped.

Every time he pulled back like there was a line he refused to cross.

My heart went cold.

I grabbed my clothes, stood, and slammed the door hard enough to shake the hallway.

I went straight to my bestie's place.

My phone kept buzzing. Ignored.

Suki glanced at it. "You're not even gonna check?"

I tipped my head back, swallowed a mouthful of alcohol, then lit a Kablon. The burn scraped my throat raw.

I powered my phone off.

"Why'd you even buy these?" I muttered. "One drag and I'm dead."

She grinned, playing with the pack. "They're cute."

A few more drinks in and my walls just... dropped.

I wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.

One question kept looping.

'Why won't Leon touch me? Don't tell me... he's not into women?'

I shook my head.

Back in high school, he dated. Rejected girls too.

Cold—not clueless.

A thought hit me.

I narrowed my eyes. 'He's not... waiting for my sister to come back, is he?'

The sister who ran off overseas with some artist. Gentle. Quiet. The "perfect daughter" everyone praised growing up. There were rumors Leon liked her once.

And me?

Backup bride. She ran. I filled the slot.

Leon had been polite these six months. Never refused me—except this.

Even when I was turned on, his eyes stayed calm. No heat. Just restraint. Like he was completing a task. Like I was a stranger.

Did he think I was dirty?

The idea exploded in my head.

The hurt surged back. I slammed the table, knocking over the glass. "I've decided!"

Suki jumped. "What?"

"Divorce!"

A husband who wouldn't sleep with his wife—even a good-looking one—was a no. Especially if he loved someone else.

I wasn't that desperate.

"Alright, alright, stop drinking." She assumed I was wasted and dragged me to shower.

Her new manicure wasn't even dry, and she still wrestled me all night. Next morning my neck was full of red marks.

The second my phone turned on, messages flooded in.

All Leon.

When I got home, I didn't expect him there.

The place smelled like smoke. The ashtray overflowed.

He leaned on the couch and looked up, sharp enough to sting.

"You're back?" His voice was rough.

His eyes dropped to my neck. Pupils tightened, then dimmed like a dying flame.

I barely slept at Suki's. Smoked too much. My throat hurt too much to talk.

Didn't feel like dealing with him.

He was about to speak when I waved him off, voice dry. "I'm exhausted from last night. Going upstairs to sleep."

Not a lie.

I'd really decided—

We were done.

A sexless marriage wasn't a marriage.

***

That night, I got a fever.

My body felt heavy. My head foggy.

The door opened.

Leon had just showered. Mint scent drifted over.

I frowned and pushed him away. "Don't bother."

He stilled. "Then who should?"

His voice lowered, gentle but restrained. "Be good. Take the medicine. You'll feel better."

His fingertip brushed my lips. His other hand clenched at his side.

He stared at my mouth, breathing heavier.

I lost patience, rolled over. "Alright, go out."

Half asleep, I heard the bathroom water run.

***

When I woke again, I was in his arms.

Something pressed against my thigh.

He'd just woken and touched my forehead. "Still a little hot. Fever's not down yet."

'Yeah, because of you.'

I tried to push him away, but he held my waist.

His thumb brushed lightly. A muffled sound slipped out.

"Winona." His voice dropped, rough and low. "Should we try?"

"I can't handle it."

His face went pale. His breathing shook as he slowly pulled back.

After a moment, he stared at me and gave a bitter smile. "My fault. I don't blame you."

I snorted. "Then don't push it next time. Fevers suck."

He lowered his head, hiding his face, and went to the closet.

He only had a towel on, his waist tight and toned.

My heartbeat picked up—just a little.

He handed me clothes. I changed right in front of him.

Like always, he turned away.

After I left, he went into my bathroom.

***

A few days later, I noticed clothes missing.

Ignored it... until the lace set Suki gave me vanished too.

No cameras in the house. No way to check.

At dinner I said, "We've got a thief."

Leon was buttering bread and paused.

Didn't look up. "What's missing?"

"Underwear."

I said it casually, but his movement slipped. The knife brushed the small mole on his hand and smeared butter over it.

I narrowed my eyes. "Why nervous? Don't tell me you stole them."

Leon went quiet for a few seconds, then laughed softly. His long eyes fixed on me.

"What do you think?"

Before work he always dressed perfectly. His nearsightedness wasn't bad, but he still wore gold-rim glasses that sharpened his features.

Behind the thin lenses, his dark pupils looked colder than daylight.

I scoffed.

What did I think?

Leon—stiff, boring, permanently serious.

And why would he steal my underwear anyway?

I dropped it. "What time are you back tonight? I've got something..."

The divorce papers were ready.

He handed me the bread. "Whenever you want me back, I'll come back early."

He answered so fast I forgot where I was even going with that.

His phone rang.

The assistant waiting by the gate held a briefcase and called for him.

Leon didn't look back. He just left.

I stood there pressing my chest. My heart skipped. My ears burned.

So annoying.

He could've just said it—why stand that close? Messing with my head.

With nothing to do after the meal, I went to a clinic.

The doctor pushed up his glasses. Hormone imbalance. Suggested spending more time around men.

The second Suki heard, she lost it. Slapped her thigh and offered two "walking hormones" from her company—an eight-pack model and a bodyguard with ridiculous pecs—free for my use.

I was curled up in AC, sketching a comic character, figuring out how to make the eyes look more seductive.

I waved her off.

She added calmly, "Your chin breaking out lately?"

My chest tightened. I almost choked.

Leon got cursed out in my head again.

Not one—two extra pimples. Right in the most obvious spot.

"What's so special about family leftovers? You're about to split anyway. Not tempted to try something new?"

She sounded like she was recommending groceries.

I stopped my pen and tilted my head. My male side character didn't have a final face yet.

"Look only. No touching."

Just hormones. After the divorce, I'd handle it properly. Seventy or eighty rounds if needed.

Not now.

I wasn't scared—I had standards. No random guys before the right time.

Suki laughed so hard she slapped her leg. Zero faith in my self-control.

I was confident too. Thought I was solid as a rock.

Then the dream wrecked me.

I was tangled with someone, lips locked, impossible to pull apart.

Hot breath brushed my skin. Water sounds mixed with low gasps, dragging me under.

Teased senseless. Tension rising. Couldn't breathe.

Couldn't stop.

Until that familiar face moved close —

Leon.

I jolted awake. Heart racing, back soaked in cold sweat like I'd been dragged out of water.

My legs were weak. Half-dazed, I went for water.

Near the stairs, voices drifted from the living room.

"Some people got insane urges but play abstinent so their wife won't get scared. Not naming names."

Several guys sprawled on the couch with drinks, grinning.

"Women love temptation. Leon, keep holding back and Winona'll get stolen—you'll just watch."

They talked like he wasn't even there.

Leon only sipped his drink, calm.

He said something. The group burst out laughing.

But something felt off.

They mentioned he had a secret social account.

And he posted a lot.

Curiosity kicked in. I searched the username from memory.

Same avatar as his main.

I opened it. First thing—a pinned post.

I expected bragging.

Instead, I froze.

[Finally married the person I love, but there's a side of me she doesn't know about. How do I not scare her away?]

I scrolled.

The second post was recent.