The evening sun cast a golden glow over the city as I stood in our hotel room, adjusting my tie in front of the mirror. The reflection staring back at me was a man dressed sharply in a suit that spoke of formality and expectation, yet my mind was elsewhere. It was on the impending dinner with my parents, a meeting that held more significance than I cared to admit.

I heard the soft rustle of fabric behind me, pulling me out of my reverie. Turning around, my gaze fell on Emma. She was ...