My safe place

✨ Riley’s Inspiration ✨

A.K.A. my grumpy boyfriend.

started writing because my boyfriend is a very nice man who somehow manages to be both sweet and completely oblivious at the same time. 😂

He drives me to work. Buys me coffee. Makes sure I get home safely. Shows up whenever I need him.

But when I drop obvious romantic hints?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

So instead of arguing with reality, I created fictional men who somehow understand every unspoken feeling, deliver perfect romantic speeches, and fall hopelessly in love.

My boyfriend is actually a green flag.

I’m just dramatic.

P.S. I’m also incredibly jealous of his eyes.

So yes, I stare at them intentionally.

A lot.

Hi, I'm Riley Heart. 💕✨(Not my real name, by the way.)

First of all, I'm not a professional writer. Honestly, I'm not even sure I'd call myself a writer. 😂

I'm just a girl with an overactive imagination a bit delusional, and access to AI. Which a very dangerous combination. 🤭

If I’m not thinking about adulting stuff I’m usually daydreaming complete with entire conversation

I'm usually the reader, not the writer. My vocabulary is limited, but apparently my delusions are not. ✨

So how did I end up being Riley Heart the delusional writer its all because of my boyfriend

Don’t get me wrong he’s a great guy its just his version of romance is reminding me to eat, telling me to rest, and quietly helping me with things.

My version of romance involves dramatic confessions, forehead kisses, and enough emotional vulnerability to fill an entire novel. 🤧💕

But He's also my favorite person, and I love him very much. ❤️

Which is probably why all my male characters is inspired by him Grumpy and Emotionally unavailable but trying his best. ❤️

The funniest part?

I once told him that my stories were inspired by my frustrations with him.

And he said, "Oh, so it's basically instructions?" 🤔

But when I told him the story was over 300 pages long.

He immediately said, "Never mind." 😭😭😭

To this day, I don't think he realizes that a lot of my fictional men are just different versions of him.

Very passionate not good with communication and still completely incapable of taking a hint. ❤️😂

So welcome to my little corner of the internet. 💕

Nathan Ashford

Age: 24

Nathan Ashford is the only son of Dr. William Ashford, the renowned director of Westbrooke Medical Center.

Growing up, excellence wasn’t encouraged. It was expected.

Nathan has always admired his father and dreamed of following in his footsteps as a neurosurgeon.

But beneath that ambition is a fear he rarely voices.

If he succeeds, will it be because of his hard work or because he’s an Ashford?

It’s a question that quietly follows him everywhere.

His mother, Nina Ashford, is warm, affectionate, and endlessly supportive. Unlike most people, she isn’t intimidated by William and often acts as the bridge between father and son.

Nina also has a habit of trying to find Nathan a girlfriend, much to his horror.

Every setup ends in disaster.

Mostly because there has only ever been one girl Nathan wanted to ask out.

Unfortunately, that girl is Quinn Hart.

Outside of medicine, Nathan enjoys cooking and working out. Cooking, especially, is one of the few things that helps him relax when the pressure becomes overwhelming.

• 6’1” (185 cm) • Broad shoulders and athletic build from years of gym training • Dark hair that always looks effortlessly styled • Sharp jawline and striking features • Deep brown eyes that rarely reveal what he’s thinking • Usually wears tailored clothes and a watch, looking polished without seeming to try • Has the kind of face people assume is arrogant before he even speaks • Resembles a younger, slightly softer version of EXO’s Kai

Nathan has the kind of presence that naturally draws attention.

Most people find him intimidating before they get to know him.

Quinn Hart Age: 23

Quinn Hart is a third-year medical student studying on a full scholarship, but tuition isn’t her only problem.

Raised by her single mother and grandparents, Quinn grew up in a loving home where money was always tight. While her scholarship covers her education, it doesn’t cover everything else. Living expenses, daily necessities, transportation, medical school requirements, and countless unexpected costs constantly put pressure on her family.

Determined not to become a burden, Quinn balances medical school with part-time jobs whenever possible, stretching every cent and refusing to waste opportunities she worked so hard to earn.

She knows exactly how much sacrifice went into getting her where she is today.

And she refuses to let any of it be for nothing.

• Long, dark wavy hair • Hazel eyes that seem warm one moment and intimidating the next • 5’6” (168 cm) • Athletic build from constantly being on the move • Usually seen in scrubs because she spends most of her life at the hospital • Loves skincare, makeup, and dressing up whenever she gets the chance • Has a weakness for pretty dresses, cute accessories, and anything pink • Has a confident smile and expressive eyes that make it impossible to hide what she’s thinking

https://www.wattpad.com/story/412339816-the-fake-girlfriend-protocol

Quinn Hart has spent years trying to beat Nathan Ashford. 

Unfortunately, Nathan is brilliant, annoyingly handsome, and always standing exactly where she wants to be: at the top of their class. 

For years, they have traded the number one spot back and forth, pushing each other harder with every exam, every competition, and every achievement. They are rivals in every sense of the word.

When a desperate situation leaves Quinn in need of a place to stay and Nathan in need of a girlfriend for appearances, they agree to an arrangement neither of them wants. 

Fake dating should be simple. A few public dates. A few convincing smiles. A few harmless lies. Except the more time Quinn spends with her longtime rival, the harder it becomes to remember why she dislikes him so much. And Nathan, the infuriating overachiever who never seems to struggle, is hiding more than anyone realizes.

As rumors spread across campus and the lines between pretending and reality begin to blur, Quinn and Nathan find themselves facing more than just a fake relationship. Between demanding expectations, family pressures, uncertain futures, and wounds they have spent years ignoring, they are forced to confront the parts of themselves they would rather keep hidden. 

Chapter 2

The soft glow of Yuri Miyazaki's bedside lamp painted golden shadows across her bedroom walls.

Outside her window, Tokyo shimmered endlessly beneath the night sky beautiful, distant, untouchable. Usually the city comforted her. Tonight, it only reminded her how trapped she felt inside it.

Yuri sat at the edge of her bed still wearing the cream silk dress from dinner, though she had removed her jewelry hours ago. Her makeup was fading slightly around her eyes, exhaustion softening the elegance she worked so hard to maintain.

The dinner replayed endlessly in her mind.

The arranged marriage. Her father's calm announcement. Ren's anger.

Aiden Ryuzaki's unreadable blue eyes watching her from across the table.

And underneath all of it.

Nathan.

Yuri lowered her gaze toward her phone resting quietly in her hands for several long seconds, she simply stared at his contact name.

Nathan Sato.

The one thing in her life that had ever felt entirely hers.

They met during their second year of medical school after arguing over a cardiology research paper during a lecture. Nathan had laughed when she aggressively corrected his calculations in front of the entire class.

"You're terrifying," he told her afterward, smiling behind dark-rimmed glasses.

"You were wrong."

"You didn't have to enjoy humiliating me."

"I absolutely enjoyed it."

Nathan fell in love with her after that.

Yuri tried not to.

And failed anyway.

Over the years, they built everything together.

Once, during a thirty-hour hospital shift, Nathan had fallen asleep beside her in the residents' lounge.

When he woke up, half delirious from exhaustion, he pointed through the window at an old building across the street.

"One day."

Yuri glanced up from her research notes.

"One day what?"

"Our cardiology center."

She stared at the abandoned building.

"That's a parking garage."

Nathan grinned.

"Details."

Yuri had laughed so hard she nearly spilled her coffee.

For years, they had turned moments like that into plans.

And now she was about to destroy all of them.

Long nights in research labs.

Dreams whispered quietly between exhaustion and ambition.

Nathan understood her in ways nobody else ever truly had not as Haruto Miyazaki's daughter, not as medical royalty.

Just Yuri.

And now she had to destroy that.

Her fingers trembled slightly before she finally pressed the call button.

The phone rang twice.

"Hello?" Nathan's warm, sleepy voice answered softly. "Yuri? Everything okay? It's late."

The sound of his voice almost shattered her immediately.

Yuri closed her eyes tightly.

"Hey, babe," she whispered quietly.

A small smile touched Nathan's voice instantly.

Tears burned behind Yuri's eyes.

"Can we meet tomorrow morning?" she asked softly. "We need to talk about something important."

A pause.

Not long.

But enough.

Nathan knew her too well.

"...Yuri?"

"I'll explain tomorrow."

His voice lowered immediately. Concern. "What happened?"

Yuri stared out at the glowing Tokyo skyline.

"Tomorrow, okay?"

Another silence.

"Okay." Nathan hesitated again before speaking. "Yuri?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

The words nearly broke her.

Her throat tightened painfully as tears finally filled her eyes.

"...I love you too."

But even as she said it, it already sounded like goodbye.

————

The next morning, Tokyo moved around Yuri like noise she couldn't process.

People rushed through intersections. Coffee shops buzzed with conversations. Train stations overflowed with life.

Meanwhile her entire world felt like it was quietly collapsing.

Yuri sat across from Nathan inside their favorite café near the university hospital, fingers wrapped tightly around a porcelain teacup that had long gone cold.

The smell of roasted coffee beans filled the warm little café, but today even familiar comfort felt unbearable.

Nathan sat across from her wearing his usual dark sweater and black-rimmed glasses slightly crooked from rushing there too quickly.

He looked handsome in an unfairly gentle way.

The kind of face that always made Yuri feel safe.

Nathan studied her carefully almost immediately.

"You haven't touched your food."

Yuri forced a faint smile. "I'm not very hungry."

Nathan slowly reached across the table, covering her hand gently with his.

His touch was familiar. 

"What happened?" he asked softly. "You're scaring me."

Yuri felt tears threatening already she swallowed hard.

Nathan's changed instantly

"Baby" he whispered carefully. "Talk to me."

Her fingers tightened around his unconsciously.

God.

How was she supposed to do this? How could someone destroy the person they loved with a single sentence?

Yuri finally looked up at him.

Her eyes were already glassy with unshed tears.

Nathan's expression immediately shifted to panic.

"Hey," he whispered gently. "Why are you crying?"

That was it the first tear slipped down her cheek.

Nathan looked devastated instantly.

"Yuri?"

Her voice broke before the words even fully left her mouth.

"We need to break up."

The entire café seemed to disappear around them.

Nathan stared at her blankly like he genuinely couldn't understand the sentence.

"What?"

Yuri's vision blurred completely now.

"We need to break up," she repeated shakily.

Nathan pulled his hand away slowly as if burned.

"No."

The word came out sharp.

"No, Yuri."

He shook his head quickly, pushing his glasses up with trembling fingers.

"No, what are you talking about?"

Tears streamed down Yuri's face now.

"Nathan—"

"Did I do something?" he interrupted desperately. "Tell me if I did something wrong."

"You didn't."

"Then why are you saying this?"

Yuri pressed trembling fingers against her lips.

"It's my parents."

Nathan went still.

"What?"

"They want me to marry Aiden Ryuzaki."

The color drained from his face completely.

"Aiden... Ryuzaki?"

Yuri nodded weakly

Nathan actually laughed once, not because anything was funny, but because he genuinely couldn't process what he'd just heard.

"The Ryuzaki family?" he whispered.

Yuri nodded.

"No," Nathan breathed. "No, absolutely not."

He leaned forward immediately.

"Tell me you refused."

Tears slipped down Yuri's cheeks endlessly now.

"Nathan—"

"Tell me you fought them."

Yuri looked away.

"We can fix this."

"You don't understand."

"No, Yuri, you don't understand." His voice cracked painfully. "We have a life together."

Nathan grabbed her hands desperately across the table.

"Our research. Your fellowship. The clinic we planned."

His voice cracked.

"My father threatened the research."

Nathan froze.

Yuri looked shattered.

"If I refuse the marriage," she whispered weakly, "he'll pull the funding. He'll destroy the project completely."

Nathan stared at her in disbelief.

"He can't do that."

"He can."

The quiet certainty in her voice hurt more than shouting ever could.

Nathan ran a shaking hand through his hair.

"This is insane."

"I know."

"We'll find another way."

"There isn't one."

"There has to be."

"Nathan, please..." Yuri cried harder.

"No." His eyes were desperate now. "We can leave. We can go somewhere else."

Yuri closed her eyes painfully.

"If I leave now, everything we've built falls apart."

Nathan's expression tightened.

"The late nights. Our sacrifices. The lives we touched." Tears slipped down her cheeks. "It all disappears."

Her voice broke.

"I can't be the reason we lose everything we've spent years building."

"But what about us?"

The question shattered her.

Yuri cried openly now, no longer caring who saw.

Nathan's expression softened painfully.

He looked like his heart was breaking right in front of her.

"Yuri..."

"I love you," she whispered desperately. "God, I love you so much."

"Then don't do this." His voice sounded destroyed now. "Please."

Yuri leaned forward crying and kissed him.

One last time.

Nathan kissed her back immediately, like he was trying to hold onto her through it, as though loving her hard enough could keep reality from taking her away.

But eventually Yuri pulled away and the look on Nathan's face almost killed her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Then before she lost the strength completely, Yuri stood up and walked away.

"N-No, Yuri wait—"

Nathan stood abruptly, the chair scraping harshly against the café floor several people turned to look.

He didn't care. "Yuri, please."His voice cracked so badly it barely sounded like him anymore.

Yuri stopped walking only for a second her shoulders trembled violently beneath her coat, but she still couldn't turn around because if she looked at him again she wouldn't leave.

Nathan stared at her trembling figure desperately.

"I thought we had more time," he whispered.

Yuri froze slowly, she turned back toward him.

Nathan's eyes were already red now behind his dark-rimmed glasses. His hands shook as he reached into the pocket of his coat.

"I was going to wait until after our research presentation next month," he admitted weakly, almost laughing through his heartbreak. "I wanted everything to be perfect first."

Yuri's breathing stopped.

Nathan pulled out a small velvet box with trembling fingers and suddenly the entire world around her disappeared.

"I was going to propose to you."

Yuri stopped breathing.

For a moment, everything around her seemed to disappear.

The busy café, the conversations, the clatter of cups.

All she could hear was the sound of her future breaking apart.

Yuri stared at the ring in complete shock.

Nathan looked shattered standing there, holding the future they were supposed to have.

"I spent three months saving for it," he whispered, voice breaking completely. "I even asked your brother for advice because I wanted it to be perfect for you."

A broken laugh escaped him.

"He told me if I bought anything too flashy, you'd judge me for the rest of my life."

Yuri let out a strangled sob.

Because she could picture it so clearly.

Nathan nervously practicing proposals.

Ren teasing him endlessly.

A future that had almost existed.

Nathan looked down at the ring in his hand before speaking again..

"I wanted a small apartment first," he admitted quietly. "Near the hospital." Tears streamed down his face openly now. "I know you hate huge empty houses."

Yuri covered her mouth trying to stop herself from falling apart completely.

"I was going to build the cardiology center with you," Nathan continued shakily. "You'd handle patient care, I'd handle the research division..." His voice cracked harder. "We already planned our entire lives together, Yuri."

Every word shattered her further because he was right they had planned everything late-night conversations during residency future clinic names scribbled on sticky notes, research goals, marriage, children.

Nathan looked at her one final time like he was memorizing her.

Then softly "Was any of it real to you?"

Yuri immediately broke down crying. "All of it was real."

Nathan closed his eyes briefly, as though the words had knocked the breath from him.

Yuri took one shaky step toward him before stopping herself.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered again, voice barely surviving the words.

Nathan looked at the engagement ring still sitting in his trembling hand the future he never got to give her then finally very slowly he closed the velvet box.

And the quiet sound felt unbearably final.

Yuri cried harder at the sound.

Nathan looked at her one last time.

There was no anger in his eyes, no bitterness.

Only heartbreak.

"I think," he whispered painfully, "a part of me will always love you."

Yuri's breath caught.

"I love you too," she whispered.

"More than you'll ever know."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Yuri turned and walked away before she could change her mind.

Nathan never called after her.

CHAPTER 1

Everything changed the night both families gathered for dinner inside the Ryuzaki estate.

Aiden arrived late from work, loosening his tie as servants opened the grand dining room doors for him.

The moment he entered, he saw her.

Yuri Miyazaki.

She sat beside Athena beneath the glow of the chandelier lights, dressed in soft ivory silk. Her dark hair rested over one shoulder, and her hands were folded neatly in her lap as she listened to Athena speak.

She wasn't the sort of woman who demanded attention the moment she entered a room.

For reasons he had never fully understood, Aiden had always noticed her.

Years ago, during one of Athena's birthday dinners, he had watched Yuri spend nearly twenty minutes helping Athena untangle a broken bracelet beneath the table while everyone else fought for attention.

The memory shouldn't have stayed with him.

"Aiden."

His father's voice pulled him back to the present.

"Sit down."

Aiden obeyed silently, taking the empty seat across from Yuri.

She offered him a small, polite smile.

"Good evening, Aiden."

Her voice was as calm as ever, giving no indication that their lives had just been turned upside down.

Aiden gave a brief nod.

"Yuri."

Dinner began normally enough.

Business discussions, polite laughter strategic conversations disguised as family warmth.

Then finally his father placed his glass down.

"The Ryuzaki and Miyazaki families have reached an agreement." Aiden already knew that tone.

An announcement not a discussion.

"You and Yuri will be married by the end of the year." The entire room became silent.

Aiden leaned back slowly in his chair.

"And if I say no?"

His father's expression never changed.

"You won't."

A humorless smile touched Aiden's lips of course because Ryuzakis were not raised to refuse responsibility.

Across the table, Yuri remained perfectly composed despite the visible tension in her shoulders.

Aiden studied her quietly. She hadn't complained or argued since walking into the room, and that quiet acceptance unsettled him more than anger ever could have.

----------------------------------------------------------

Dinner only became more uncomfortable afterward.

Lady Eleanor immediately began discussing wedding venues while Athena desperately tried changing the subject every five minutes.

"Aiden," Eleanor smiled brightly, "don't you think Yuri looks beautiful tonight?"

Aiden glanced at Yuri briefly before taking another sip of wine.

"She's presentable."

Athena looked personally offended.

"Presentable?" she repeated loudly. "Oh my God, Yuri, do you hear this man? He talks like a disappointed hotel reviewer."

A soft laugh escaped Yuri before she could stop herself.

Aiden's eyes immediately lifted toward her.

The sound was light and warm.

Athena leaned forward.

"Do you practice looking emotionally unavailable, or does it come naturally?"

Aiden sighed.

"Athena."

"I'm asking for scientific purposes."

Yuri quickly shook her head, trying to hide her smile behind her glass.

"No, no I'm sorry..."

Aiden watched her carefully for a moment then quietly "You don't need to apologize for laughing."

Then the dining room doors suddenly slammed open.

Ren Miyazaki entered looking furious.

"What exactly is wrong with all of you!?" he snapped.

"Ren," Dr. Miyazaki warned sharply.

"No." Ren looked directly at Yuri. "She doesn't want this marriage."

Silence filled the room instantly.

"You're throwing her entire life into some political arrangement like she's a business asset."

Aiden's father looked unimpressed. "This union benefits both families."

"Except the two people actually getting married." Ren laughed bitterly.

Yuri stood quickly before things escalated further. "Ren"

The anger in Ren's face immediately softened.

Yuri walked toward him gently and touched his arm.

"It's okay."

"No," Ren whispered painfully. "It's not."

"I'm getting married, not dying." Yuri smiled sadly.

Athena immediately covered her mouth to hide a laugh.

Even Aiden almost smiled. Almost.

Then Ren looked at his sister again, heartbreak visible in his eyes.

"You're too good at pretending you're okay." Something about that sentence lingered heavily in Aiden's mind.

Because Ren was right Yuri looked calm but calm didn't always mean happy.

The atmosphere in the dining room never fully recovered after Ren's outburst.

Even after he reluctantly sat down beside Yuri at her insistence, tension lingered heavily beneath the polished elegance of the evening.

Conversations resumed eventually, but they sounded hollow now.

Lady Eleanor continued speaking about wedding venues and interior designers with practiced enthusiasm while Dr. Miyazaki discussed future business collaborations with the Ryuzakis as though the emotional disaster moments earlier had never happened.

Only Athena seemed openly uncomfortable.

She kept glancing between Yuri and Ren with quiet concern. Aiden found himself watching Yuri far more than he should have. She sat gracefully beside her brother, posture elegant as always, occasionally nodding politely whenever spoken to. But now that he had seen the crack beneath her composure, he couldn't unsee it the sadness hiding behind her calm expression.

The way her fingers tightened subtly around her wine glass whenever the wedding was mentioned. She was enduring this.

At some point during dessert, Lady Eleanor smiled brightly toward Yuri.

"Oh, and we found the perfect estate for you both in Hakone," she announced excitedly. "The gardens are breathtaking. It's ideal for newlyweds."

Athena nearly sighed out loud.

Aiden already looked exhausted.

Neither reaction discouraged Lady Eleanor in the slightest.

"It's secluded, peaceful, beautiful for raising children—"

Yuri nearly choked on her tea. "Children?" she repeated softly.

Ren immediately set his fork down with a sharp clink his expression looked calm now. "She's twenty-eight," he said flatly. "Not a breeding project."

"Ren," Dr. Miyazaki warned quietly.

But Ren ignored him completely Yuri touched his arm gently beneath the table. "Ren..."

"No, Yuri." Ren looked furious again. "They're planning your entire life like you don't even exist in the conversation."

Lady Eleanor looked mildly uncomfortable now Aiden's father remained emotionless.

Then suddenly Aiden spoke."The Hakone estate is unnecessary."

Silence followed instantly.

"Unnecessary?" she repeated. "Why?"

"The commute would interfere with Yuri's hospital schedule," he continued calmly. "My penthouse is closer to the city."

Yuri looked at him in surprise.

So did everyone else.

Aiden leaned back slightly in his chair, voice still detached and composed. "It makes more sense for her to stay there instead."

Yuri lowered her eyes briefly.

"Thank you," she whispered softly.

Aiden looked away immediately after hearing it.

Because for reasons he couldn't explain her gratitude affected him more than it should have.

———————————————————————————————————————

Dinner ended close to midnight.

The cold Tokyo air greeted them as both families slowly exited the estate beneath glowing entrance lights and waiting black luxury cars.

Servants opened doors while chauffeurs stood patiently nearby.

Aiden remained near the entrance steps beside his father, hands in his pockets, silently observing the scene in front of him.

That was when he noticed Yuri standing alone near the driveway.

She wrapped her coat tighter around herself, her expression finally losing the perfect composure she maintained all evening.

She looked tired, and the sight stirred an unfamiliar guilt in Aiden.

"Yuri." Ren's voice softened the moment he approached her.

Aiden's gaze shifted automatically.

Ren gently caught his sister's wrist before she could enter the car.

One by one, the others entered their respective vehicles, leaving the siblings standing alone beneath the soft estate lights while cold wind moved through the trees surrounding the property.

Aiden should have looked away instead he stayed exactly where he was.

Ren lowered his voice immediately."Are you sure about this?"

Yuri smiled weakly.

"No." His voice cracked slightly. "I'm serious."

For the first time all evening, Ren didn't look angry he looked desperate.

"I can take you anywhere, Yuri." She froze.

Ren stepped closer, eyes filled with heartbreak.

"We can leave tonight if you want." Yuri stared at him silently.

"Africa. Europe. Anywhere," he continued quietly. "Come work with me overseas. No arranged marriage. No family pressure. No expectations."

Freedom.

The word lingered painfully between them.

Aiden felt his chest tighten unexpectedly while listening.

Because suddenly he realized Yuri had probably imagined escaping this marriage too.

Ren gently held both her hands now.

"You don't belong in this situation," he whispered painfully. 

Yuri's eyes slowly filled with tears.

For one moment she almost broke.

Aiden saw it clearly.

The overwhelming desire to run then Yuri smiled softly through watery eyes.

A heartbreaking smile.

"Thank you, Ren."Her voice trembled. ""You'd really take me with you?".

"You're my sister," Ren answered immediately. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"I know." Yuri laughed quietly through tears.

"Besides, I've spent years moving from one mission to the next. It might be nice not to do it alone."

Cold wind moved softly around them as silence settled.

Then slowly, very slowly, Yuri shook her head.

Ren's face fell instantly.

"No..."

"I can't run away."

"Why not?" Ren whispered desperately.

Yuri lowered her gaze toward their joined hands, her fingers tightening around his slightly as cold wind moved softly around them.

"If I leave now..." her voice cracked quietly, "then I lose everything I worked for."

Ren frowned deeply.

"What do you mean?"

The sadness in her voice felt unbearably heavy.

"If I leave Japan now," she whispered shakily, "I lose access to the funding, the laboratories, my cardiovascular research team... years of progress disappear overnight." Tears filled her eyes again.

Ren's expression softened immediately.

Yuri looked down for a moment before continuing quietly.

"You know how important it is to me."

Of course he knew.

Ren had stayed awake with her through countless nights while she buried herself in research papers and clinical trials, desperately trying to develop better treatments for hereditary heart diseases after watching too many patients suffer through failed procedures and limited options.

It wasn't just work to her.

It was the one thing that truly belonged to her.

Ren looked at her helplessly. "Yuri..."

"And it's not just the research," she admitted softly. "I've spent my entire life trying to prove myself."

His brows furrowed slightly.

"To the world, I'll always be Haruto Miyazaki's daughter first." A bitter smile touched her lips. "The privileged daughter of a famous cardiologist."

Ren immediately frowned. "Nobody who's watched you work would ever think that."

"But they do," Yuri whispered. "That's why I work twice as hard as everyone else." Her voice trembled slightly. "I need people to look at my achievements and know they're mine. Not my father's. Not my family's."

The vulnerability in her confession settled heavily between them.

Aiden, still standing near the entrance steps, felt something tighten unexpectedly in his chest.

Ren looked devastated watching her try so hard not to fall apart.

"You shouldn't have to choose between your future and your freedom."

Yuri laughed quietly through tears. "That's how families like ours work."

 "I still have my dreams," Yuri whispered. "I'll still become a great cardiologist. I'll still finish my research."

Ren's expression hardened for a moment.

"But what about love?"

The question visibly shattered something fragile inside her expression.

Yuri didn't answer Ren suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace Yuri immediately buried her face against his shoulder, finally allowing herself to look fragile for the first time all night.

"I hate this," Ren whispered shakily.

"I know."

"If he hurts you—"

"He won't."

Ren pulled back slightly, searching her face.

"How do you know?"

Yuri hesitated.

"Because Aiden Ryuzaki isn't cruel."

Aiden's breath caught.

Yuri had no idea he could hear her.

The sincerity in her voice was impossible to miss.

Ren looked unconvinced.

"My current theory is that he's emotionally unavailable in twelve different languages."

Despite everything, a genuine laugh escaped Yuri.

The first real laugh Aiden had heard from her all evening.

"Maybe," she admitted.

Ren sighed heavily before resting his forehead briefly against hers.

His eyes were full of helpless love.

"I still don't want to let you go."

Yuri's smile trembled.

"I know, brother."

 "I love you." Ren kissed the top of her head gently.

"I love you too."

Aiden watched silently as Ren finally released her.

Yuri climbed into the waiting car.

The door closed softly behind her.

And she was gone.

For a long moment, Aiden stared at the empty driveway. Then he looked down at the contract still folded inside his coat pocket.

I have once again made Aiden and Yuri suffer for everyone's entertainment.

New chapters are now up on Wattpad. 💍🤍

Featuring:

emotional damage

wedding preparations

unresolved feelings

people refusing to communicate

Aiden Ryuzaki having a terrible time with emotions

If you've been enjoying the story, please consider supporting it by reading, voting, commenting, or sharing it. This is just a hobby project and I'm definitely not a professional writer, but I've poured a lot of love, time, and late-night overthinking into Aiden and Yuri's journey.

It was... fine," she whispered.Athena gasped.

"Fine?"

She turned toward Aiden.

"That's the review you're getting?"

Aiden stared at his sister for several seconds before looking at Yuri.

"...Just fine?"

“Save some for the actual wedding, you psychos!”

Yuri immediately buried her burning face against Aiden’s shoulder in humiliation.

And Aiden laughed softly.

YURI MIYAZAKI

Age: 28

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

Occupation: Cardiologist & Cardiovascular Research Fellow

Description:

Yuri Miyazaki is the daughter of two renowned doctors and one of the brightest rising stars in cardiovascular medicine. Intelligent, compassionate, and relentlessly hardworking, she has spent her entire life striving for excellence. Her calm demeanor and graceful elegance often make people underestimate the strength hidden beneath her gentle exterior.

Known for her dedication to her patients and groundbreaking research, Yuri carries herself with quiet confidence. She possesses a brilliant analytical mind, yet her greatest strength has always been her ability to care deeply for others. Despite growing up surrounded by privilege and high expectations, she remains humble, kind, and fiercely devoted to the people she loves.

To the world, Yuri appears composed and accomplished. Behind that polished image, however, is a woman torn between duty and desire, family expectations and personal happiness. Faced with choices that threaten everything she has worked for, Yuri must decide how much of herself she is willing to sacrifice for the future others have chosen for her.

Elegant. Brilliant. Compassionate.

AIDEN RYUZAKI

Age: 29

Height: 6’3” (190 cm)

Occupation: CEO of Ryuzaki Holdings

Description:

Aiden Ryuzaki is the heir to one of Japan’s most powerful business empires. Cold, disciplined, and notoriously difficult to read, he commands every room with quiet authority rather than words. His striking blue-gray eyes and sharp features give him an intimidating presence, while years of carrying the weight of family expectations have left him emotionally guarded.

To the public, Aiden is the perfect successor ruthless in business, composed under pressure, and impossible to manipulate. Privately, he struggles to understand his own emotions, often expressing care through actions rather than affection. Though he appears distant and unapproachable, those closest to him know there is a fiercely loyal and protective man beneath the polished exterior.

Nathan’s ring never made it onto Yuri’s finger.

But that wasn’t the last surprise waiting for her.

Because when Yuri arrives for her first meeting with Aiden Ryuzaki…

She discovers a secret that nobody bothered to tell her.

Some feelings don’t arrive all at once. They slip in quietly… and change everything.