Chapter 1 — Strangers Under One Roof
Morning sunlight entered the Blackwood mansion through the tall glass windows, illuminating the elegant dining room.
The breakfast table was already prepared. Fresh dishes were arranged neatly, and the aroma of warm food filled the room.
At the head of the table sat Catherine Blackwood.
She wore a midnight-blue blazer, diamond earrings, and her hair was tied into a perfect bun. Her appearance was immaculate, as always. One hand held her phone while the other turned through the stock analysis and business reports of Char Tech.
Her eyes moved quickly across the numbers.
Even during breakfast, her mind was occupied with business.
“Catherine, dear.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Catherine lifted her eyes.
Elizabeth Blackwood, her mother-in-law, stood beside the table with a bowl of abalone congee.
“Have some more. You barely touched your breakfast yesterday morning, too.”
Catherine immediately put her phone aside.
“Thank you, Mother.”
She accepted the bowl with a gentle smile.
The change in her expression was immediate. The seriousness that had occupied her face softened, and she began eating without looking at her phone.
Elizabeth sat beside her, watching her with affection.
“Is the briefing at Char Tech today?”
“Yes, Mother. I have a busy schedule this morning, and there are several matters I need to discuss with the department heads.”
“Then make sure you eat properly before leaving. Work can wait for a few minutes.”
Catherine smiled.
“I will. Don't worry.”
She paused, then looked at Elizabeth more carefully.
“Mother, did you take your blood-pressure medication this morning? And what about your supplements?”
Elizabeth blinked, momentarily surprised by the question.
Then she laughed softly.
“I took them, dear. You remind me every morning as if I were a child.”
“Because you sometimes forget,” Catherine replied warmly. “Please don't skip them just because you're busy with something else.”
“I won't.”
Catherine nodded, satisfied, and returned to her breakfast.
Across the table, William Blackwood watched the exchange with a smile.
“Elizabeth, I think we should be grateful,” he said, picking up his cup. “Our daughter-in-law takes better care of us than our own flesh and blood.”
Elizabeth chuckled.
“William, don't start teasing her so early in the morning.”
“I'm not teasing anyone. I'm stating a fact.”
Catherine lowered her eyes with a small smile.
“Father, you're exaggerating.”
“Am I?” William raised an eyebrow playfully. “Then tell me, who else checks whether we've taken our medicines every morning?”
Catherine couldn't help smiling again.
“You both know how to make me feel embarrassed.”
“Good,” William said. “At least we know you can still be embarrassed.”
The three shared a light laugh.
For a brief moment, the dining room was filled with the comfortable warmth of a family beginning another ordinary day.
Catherine finished her breakfast and gently placed her spoon beside the bowl.
“Mother, I'll probably return late today. The briefing may take longer than expected.”
“That's fine, dear. Just don't forget to eat lunch.”
“I won't.”
“And what about the weekend?” Elizabeth asked. “Will you be free to spend some time with us?”
Catherine considered her schedule.
“I'll try to arrange it, Mother. If I finish the pending work on time, we can spend the weekend together.”
William nodded approvingly.
“Don't worry about everything at once. You work hard enough already.”
Catherine gave him a reassuring smile.
“I know, Father.”
She rose from her chair, adjusted the sleeve of her blazer, and collected her phone and work documents.
“I'm leaving now. Take care of yourselves.”
Elizabeth stood and straightened Catherine's blazer affectionately.
“You take care of yourself, too.”
“I will, Mother.”
Catherine hugged her briefly before turning toward the exit.
William watched her leave with evident satisfaction.
“We're fortunate to have her in our family,” he remarked.
Elizabeth smiled.
“Very fortunate.”
Catherine walked through the hallway toward the entrance.
And then she passed Adrian Blackwood.
Her husband stood near the side of the hallway, dressed in a simple grey sweater. He held a cup of black coffee in one hand.
He looked up as she approached.
For a moment, their eyes could have met.
But Catherine looked away.
Her expression changed.
The warmth she had shown at the breakfast table disappeared, replaced by a distant, unreadable calm. She continued walking without greeting him.
Adrian remained where he was.
He didn't call her name.
He didn't ask whether she was leaving or when she would return.
He simply watched as she passed.
Catherine reached the entrance, handed her documents to the waiting driver, and stepped outside.
She never looked back.
The door closed behind her.
Silence settled over the hallway.
Adrian lowered his gaze to the coffee in his hand. A thin trail of steam rose from the cup.
He took a slow sip.
The coffee was still warm.
He had become accustomed to mornings like this. He knew how to continue his day without demanding anything from her, how to give her space, and how to keep his thoughts to himself.
Yet familiarity didn't make the silence any less noticeable.
A few minutes earlier, he had heard her laughter from the dining room. He had heard the gentle way she addressed his parents and the concern in her voice when she reminded Elizabeth about her medication.
He had witnessed the warmth she carried so naturally around them.
But when she passed him, that warmth vanished.
To his wife, he seemed to be little more than another person living under the same roof.
Adrian looked toward the closed entrance.
His expression remained calm, giving away nothing.
Then he raised his coffee again and took another sip.
When did we become strangers living under the same roof?
