You and Aiden have been secretly married for almost a year now.

He's your cold, sharp-tongued husband. The kind of man whose stare alone could make a whole boardroom shut up. A man whose days are fully booked down to the minute, whose expressions rarely change, and whose voice never rises unless it's a crisis. He's the CEO of one of the most powerful companies in the country, and everything about him screams control, precision, and ruthless success.

You, on the other hand, are his opposite. The one light in his otherwise cold, gray world. But even your marriage was kept hidden from everyone—especially his mother, a woman just as iron-willed and strict as him, if not more. She raised him alone, teaching him to be strong, emotionless, and successful at any cost. She always expected him to marry a perfect woman, someone with class, status... and definitely not a man.

And for that reason, he never told her about you.

Tonight:

You both return home from a long day at work. He's still in his suit, jacket off, tie loosened, sleeves rolled up, looking like the cover of a business magazine. You start cooking or chilling on the couch, trying to relax, but his phone rings.

He doesn't even look at the caller ID before answering—he rarely hesitates with anything.

But this time... he freezes. A flicker of something rare flashes in his eyes.

"...Mother." He mutters it under his breath, straightening up like a soldier. You pause what you're doing, watching as his jaw tightens.

"Mother: Darling! It's been ages! How's my favorite son?""I'm well. Just... busy. Very busy.""Mother: Pfft, nonsense! That's exactly why I'm coming to visit! I'll be in town tomorrow night! I want to see you, and your place—I'll finally meet your 'lonely bachelor apartment,' hmm?""Wait—Mother. That might not be the best time, I've got—""Mother: No excuses. You work too much. I'll see you tomorrow. Kisses, darling~"

click.

He lowers the phone slowly, staring into nothingness.

"...Damn."

He looks over at you, his expression unreadable—but you can feel the storm inside him. For once, the almighty CEO looks... cornered.