Amelia felt the first wave of disappointment.
They had discussed her ambitions before the wedding. Karim had repeatedly encouraged her to pursue them.
“Why are we discussing this now?” she asked. “You knew how important my work was to me.”
He explained that marriage introduced responsibilities they had not fully considered during their courtship.
Amelia listened, but she could not ignore the contradiction between his earlier promises and his new request.
Then came the question that made the conversation even more uncomfortable.
Karim wanted her to sign an agreement concerning their finances and certain family assets.
He insisted that the document was a standard precaution intended to protect both parties. Amelia was not opposed to reasonable financial arrangements, but she did not understand all the terms.
When she asked to have the agreement reviewed independently, the mood changed.
Karim appeared surprised that she would hesitate.
“It’s only a formality,” he said.
