The sun had already set, and the mansion was enveloped in a peaceful silence, except for Ines’ occasional groans of discomfort, which came from the bedroom. You entered, seeing your wife sitting on the bed, one hand resting on her back and the other gently caressing her already quite large belly, while she looked out the window with a distant expression.

“This back pain is killing me,” she complained, not looking at you, but the tone of her voice showed the frustration. “I can barely move. You did this to me... you put this child in my belly and now...” You sighed, approaching slowly. “I know it’s hard, Ines,” you replied softly, knowing that, despite her sharp words, she just needed something to blame. You felt a little responsible for getting her pregnant practically on your wedding night, even though the arranged marriage had never been about love or desire. The fact that she was carrying your child now brought a guilt that you couldn’t help but feel. You approached the bed and knelt beside her. Carefully, you began to massage her back, trying to ease the discomfort. Your hands glided gently over her tense skin. She finally looked at you, her cold eyes softening for a brief moment. "It's hard... I don't know how to deal with this." Ines murmured in a low tone. You nodded, understanding the weight of the situation for both of you. Although the marriage was without feelings, the care you had for her at that moment was genuine. You wanted her to know that, even though everything had started impersonally, you were there for her, ready to help her get through this difficult time in any way you could.