In a bustling high school in Seoul, every student has a unique "temperature"-an unseen atmosphere that they carry, shaped by their personalities, friendships, and dreams. For some, it's a cold front of distance and mystery; for others, a warm glow of kindness. But in the fast-moving currents of high school life, these temperatures can shift without warning. Seongwoo Kim, a quiet, observant student who blends into the background, has always been good at reading others' "temperatures." He thinks he has everyone figured out-until he meets Jihoon Park, a transfer student with a frosty exterior but unexpected warmth beneath the surface..
The classroom was filled with laughter and murmurs as students gathered around in small clusters, animatedly sharing weekend plans and catching up on the latest gossip. Seongwoo Kim sat by the window, his gaze drifting past the noisy crowd to the clear autumn sky outside, where the leaves were just beginning to turn shades of amber and gold.
The start of the school year was always the same. New faces, new uniforms, but the same rhythms of high school life. For Seongwoo, it was all about finding his place on the sidelines, watching everything and everyone from a safe distance.
People often said he was good at reading others, as if emotions were written plainly on their faces. And maybe, in some way, he was. He could tell when someone was upset even if they smiled, or when a friend tried to hide excitement by playing it cool.
These subtle shifts-the "Temperature" of people-were something Seongwoo sensed naturally.
But sensing didn't mean understanding. And understanding didn't mean belonging.
It wasn't that he disliked people; he simply preferred observing them from afar. He knew the warmth and light of being close to others could be blinding. Relationships had a way of burning brightly, only to fade out into ashes. It was safer to be on the edges, watching from a distance, unseen but aware.
Seongwoo's quiet reverie was interrupted when a teacher entered, followed by a student with a posture so rigid he looked like he'd rather disappear. The classroom fell silent, curious eyes drawn to the unfamiliar face.
"This is Jihoon Park," the teacher announced. "He's joining us as a transfer student, so please help him feel welcome."
Jihoon stood by the teacher's side, expression unreadable, eyes cast down. Seongwoo noticed the subtle tension in Jihoon's shoulders, the cool distance in his gaze that kept the class at bay.
There was something about him that felt... chilly. Almost as if he'd built a wall no one could cross, an unspoken barrier between himself and everyone else.
The teacher assigned Jihoon the empty seat in the back, right next to Seongwoo. As Jihoon walked past, his eyes briefly met Seongwoo's-a fleeting, guarded look that carried a strange intensity. In that brief glance, Seongwoo felt a flicker of something he couldn't name, something hidden behind the coldness in Jihoon's gaze.
Just as quickly, Jihoon looked away, his face settling back into an indifferent mask. But the feeling lingered, a sense of intrigue warming within Seongwoo, like a single spark igniting in the chilly autumn air.
For the first time, he couldn't quite read someone's "temperature." And for the first time, he wanted to.
Heiress Evelyn Laurent has everything-beauty, wealth, and the world at her feet. But when her father's empire teeters on the brink of collapse, she's forced into an arranged engagement with Sebastian Wycliffe, a brooding heir to one of England's oldest and most secretive dynasties. At first, the arrangement seems like a simple transaction-her charm for his wealth-but Evelyn quickly realizes Sebastian's family is hiding more than their fortune. Cold, calculated, and obsessively drawn to her, Sebastian introduces Evelyn to a world of dark secrets, where love and power intertwine dangerously. As Evelyn becomes entangled in Sebastian's shadowy world, she's forced to confront the price of her gilded life. Will she escape the darkness-or inherit it?
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."