Two months had passed.
In those two months, the ice inside the mansion had not completely melted, but cracks had certainly appeared. After the balcony incident, Zain's anger had not cooled, yet an unusual silence had settled within him. Anya no longer trembled in front of Zain; she had learned that somewhere inside this "icy monster," a human being was sleeping.
Chapter: Innocence Behind the Masks
Part 1: An Evening of Calm
After office hours, Anya returned home on her scooter. She was no longer as tense about the strict 7:30 rule, because Zain had unspokenly loosened his grip a little. The house was quiet. When she called Zain, he replied curtly that he was busy.
Anya let out a breath of relief.
"At least today, I can live on my own terms."
Part 2: Pajamas, Glasses, and a Domestic Version
After removing her formal office shirt and tight skirt, Anya revealed her true self. She slipped into her favorite candy-colored cartoon pajamas and an oversized T-shirt. Removing her contact lenses, she put on her thick-framed glasses. She tied her hair into a messy little bun and marched into the kitchen as if taking charge of a battlefield.
She hummed a Korean song while chopping vegetables. At that moment, she was not "Designer Anya Lu," but a small girl living in her dream world. She put the soup on the stove and picked up a broom to clean the living room.
Part 3: When Time Stood Still
Suddenly, the sound of the main door opening echoed—clack.
Anya thought she might have imagined it, but then heavy footsteps moved toward the kitchen. Zain was home. He looked exhausted, his coat draped over his shoulder, the top buttons of his shirt undone.
The moment Zain stopped at the kitchen doorway, his gaze froze.
Anya stood there holding a large soup ladle, her glasses slipping slightly down her nose, a tiny cartoon printed on her pajamas.
A blast went off in Zain's mind.
He had seen Anya in every form—professional Anya at the office, Anya dressed in wedding attire, and Anya crying in helpless despair. But this domestic Anya? She looked so innocent and adorable that the fire of hatred burning in his chest extinguished in an instant. His heartbeat lost its rhythm for a moment.
Part 4: An Unspoken Realization
Anya panicked badly. She hurriedly adjusted her glasses.
"You… you said you were busy! I thought you'd come late, so I wore this…" She glanced at her pajamas in embarrassment.
Zain turned his eyes away to hide his turmoil.
"Work ended early," he said in a heavy voice.
There was silence at the dinner table, but it wasn't frightening. Zain quietly drank the soup, yet his eyes kept drifting toward Anya's innocent face. Unadorned, fearless—she felt like a breath of fresh air to him.
"The soup is good," Zain said suddenly.
A smile appeared on Anya's face—one that created yet another crack in Zain's stone heart.
"Really? Thank you, Mr. Zain!"
Zain picked up his medicines and stood up. Inside, he warned himself:
Be careful, Zain Yan. This girl is slowly turning this cold palace into a home. And if you begin to call it home, you will forget your revenge.
After dinner, Zain went to his room, but his mind remained stuck on that "pajama version" in the kitchen. He tossed off his shirt, lay down on the bed, and picked up a glass of water.
On the other side, Anya finished her chores and quietly made her way to the living room.
In the silence of the night, her favorite K-drama played on the massive home theater screen.
Scene: Midnight Romance and Zain's Doom
Anya sat curled up on the sofa, glasses perched on her nose, completely absorbed in the screen. The drama had reached its most romantic moment—rain falling, soft music playing, the hero and heroine standing dangerously close.
Anya (whispering eagerly at the screen):
"Yes… now just do it! Kiss already! You've been torturing us for ten episodes!"
At that moment, Zain came out of his room to drink water. Slowly descending the stairs, the hall was dark, lit only by the glow of the television reflecting on Anya's face.
On screen, the hero suddenly pulled the heroine into his arms and an intense kiss scene began.
Anya (jumping on the sofa in excitement):
"Yesss! Finally! This scene killed me! What a kiss! OMG!"
"Pfffff—!!!!"
At that exact moment, water sprayed from Zain's mouth. He froze on the stairs, water stuck in his throat, coughing violently.
"Cough—cough… damn it!"
Anya spun around in shock. Seeing Zain coughing helplessly, her hands and feet went numb. She rushed to him.
Anya (panicking, patting his back):
"Mr. Zain! Are you okay? Did the water go down the wrong pipe? Relax… take a deep breath!"
Zain motioned for her to stop. His face was flushed from coughing and embarrassment. He glanced at the TV—where the scene was still playing—then at Anya, still in her innocent pajamas and glasses.
Zain (steadying his voice, throat still rough):
"What… what are you watching? What is this nonsense on the screen?"
Anya (innocently turning toward the TV):
"Oh! This isn't nonsense. This is the most iconic scene of the whole drama! I've waited ten episodes for this!"
Zain grabbed his forehead.
Until now, he had considered Anya a naïve, innocent doll, someone unaware of the world. But what he had just witnessed shattered all his assumptions.
Zain's inner thoughts:
What a fool I am. I've been protecting her, thinking she's innocent—and here she is, cheering at midnight while watching people kiss on TV! Girls who watch K-dramas are never innocent. Their minds are running an entire library of romance.
Zain (angry and flustered):
"Anya! A respectable girl doesn't shout for people to kiss like this. Is this what you've learned from those poster boys?"
Anya (pushing her glasses up, fearless):
"Mr. Zain, you're talking as if you've never watched a movie in your life. This is just an expression of love. And by the way, what are you doing here so late? Don't tell me you were secretly watching my drama too?"
Zain (flustered):
"I—I came to drink water! And from now on, if you want to watch such things, keep the volume down. Your 'hobby' could be fatal to my health."
He stomped back upstairs, but his heart was still racing. Anya watched him leave, a mischievous smile on her face.
Anya (murmuring):
"Looks like Mr. Villain is allergic to the word 'romance.'"
But the air that night carried a strange restlessness. Zain had turned to go back upstairs, yet Anya's mischievous smile and bold words kept pricking him. Feeling victorious, Anya decided to tease him further.
Scene: From Mischief to Heartbeats
Part 1: Anya's Teasing
Anya stood up from the sofa and called out loudly toward the stairs, watching Zain's back.
"Mr. Zain! Stop for a moment… if you're so scared of romance, why don't you just close your eyes? Anyway, in real life, all you know how to do is get angry, right?"
Zain stopped. His shoulders stiffened. Slowly, he turned around. Anya stood with her hands on her waist, glasses perched on her nose, proudly provoking him. Her eyes held a spark that challenged Zain's restraint.
Part 2: Zain's Counterattack
Without a word, Zain placed the glass on the railing and slowly descended the stairs. His eyes no longer held icy anger, but a predator-like intensity.
Anya's smile faded. As Zain approached, she stepped backward until her back hit the wall. Zain placed both hands on either side of her head, trapping her within his arms.
Zain (low, deep voice):
"Do you think I'm afraid of romance? Or do you think I only know how to command people on paper?"
Part 3: The Noise of Heartbeats
Anya's breath caught. Zain was so close she could feel the warmth of his face. Her pajamas and glasses made her look even more innocent, while Zain's open shirt and masculine scent made the air heavy.
Zain slowly lowered his head, his gaze fixed on Anya's trembling lips. Her heart pounded so loudly she thought he might hear it. He leaned closer, as if about to kiss her.
Anya closed her eyes unconsciously, her lashes trembling. She realized she had been waiting for this moment.
Part 4: Distance and Fear
At that exact moment, flashes of the past two months—humiliation, Zain's anger, the imprisoned life—struck her mind. A sudden fear rose within her. If she gave in now, she would become weak again.
As she felt the faintest brush of Zain's lips, Anya gathered all her strength and pushed him hard in the chest.
Anya (trembling voice, rapid breaths):
"No! What… what are you doing? You hate me, remember? You're just a villain—not my hero!"
Zain stepped back, his face still filled with emotion. He took a deep breath and adjusted his shirt. He felt regret over his own action, and pain at being called a "villain."
Zain (hardening his face):
"Yes, I remember. And remember this too—villains never tolerate anyone else laying claim to what belongs to them."
Anya sank to the floor, her hand pressed to her chest, her heart refusing to calm down. His heart was pounding just as violently as hers.
For a moment, a deep silence enveloped them.
Zain composed himself, turned away without a word, and walked quickly toward his room.
Loneliness and Old Memories
Inside his room, Zain shut the door and leaned against it. With trembling fingers, he touched his lips.
Two moments flashed through his mind like lightning:
The first time—when he had forcibly kissed Anya to show her to the world.
The second time—on their wedding day, when he was merely completing a ritual.
But today? Today was not an act. Today, a desire had risen within him that terrified him.
Zain's inner thoughts:
What is happening to me? I brought her here to hate her, to use her… so why do I want to get closer to her? My heart—why is it pounding so violently, as if it's no longer under my control?
In anger, he grabbed the glass of water beside him and drained it in one breath. Yet the scent of Anya and the warmth of that moment still lingered on his lips.
— End of Chapter