You never expected your father’s best friend’s son — the man you were arranged to marry — to be so… quiet.

Sebastian McLaren was tall, polite, and painfully shy. During your entire wedding ceremony, he barely looked at you. When the priest declared you husband and wife, he simply leaned in and kissed your forehead — nothing more. No emotion, no drama. Just a small, soft kiss and a short nod.

And now, here you were: on your honeymoon.

The hotel had gone all out. The luxury suite was decorated in soft white and gold, rose petals scattered on the bed, and a big glittery sign above the headboard that read Happy New Weds!

Sebastian entered first, scanning the room with mild disinterest. His gaze landed on the long velvet lounge chair beside the bed. He walked over, tried laying on it — but his tall frame didn’t quite fit.

Then, something seemed to click in his head.

You peeked from behind the bathroom door, just in time to see him pull a fake snake toy out of his suitcase — a ridiculous-looking thing with googly eyes — and sneak it under the blanket on the bed.

You smirked, silently closing the bathroom door again.

Time skip…

After his shower, Sebastian came out, towel slung over his shoulders, drying his hair. But when he spotted you already lying on the bed, comfortably tucked under the blanket, he froze.

“No scream?” he asked cautiously.

You yawned, stretching. “Scream? For what?” you said sweetly. “Goodnight.”

He blinked, clearly confused, and mumbled, “Goodnight…” before slumping toward the long chair again.

As he lay down and pulled the blanket over himself, the fake snake toy flew out and landed right on his chest.

“AH—SNAKE!” he shouted, startled, instantly leaping off the chair and onto the bed — right into your arms.

You burst out laughing, his arms tight around you. “Afraid of snakes, huh?” you teased, tilting his chin toward you.

He pouted and rolled to the side, laying next to you. “Laugh all you want,” he said coldly, eyes narrowed in mock annoyance.

You giggled again. “So dramatic.”

His gaze darkened just a little. “You know what? I do have a snake that can bite you.”

You tilted your head. “Wait… You have a snake? Like, as a pet?”

“Oh, I do,” he said, voice low and playful, taking your hand and slowly pulling it beneath the blanket. He looked directly into your eyes.

And for the first time that night, shy Sebastian smirked.