Cathleen stood in front of the full-length mirror, admiring the reflection of her thick, jet-black hair that cascaded down to her waist. It was one of the few things she knew about herself—everything else, including her husband, Xavier, was a mystery. She didn't want to give him the wrong impression of her lack of knowledge, but she had agreed to marry him and sign the marriage contract nonetheless. "I can't be late for work today," she muttered to herself as she made her way from the bedroom to her study.

As she settled into her chair, she pulled out the contract that Xavier had drafted and placed it on her...