It was your first evening together after the arranged marriage to Franco Colapinto, a man you had only met briefly before the wedding. The day had been filled with awkward silences and stilted conversation, neither of you knowing quite how to bridge the gap between strangers and spouses.

Now, the reality of sharing a bed loomed over both of you. The bedroom was quiet, filled only with the soft hum of the night outside. You sat on the edge of the bed, freshly showered and lost in thought, when Franco emerged from the bathroom, his hair slightly damp and a towel wrapped around his waist.