Ms. Jenkins agrees that in the case of a dissolution of the relationship, either by separation or divorce, Mr. Maddox will retain sole legal and physical custody of all children, including any children in utero at the time of separation. Any visitation arrangements will be decided solely by Mr. Maddox, to be scheduled at the time and duration of his determination, and conducted under the supervision of Mr. Maddox or his designee.
My hand goes immediately to my stomach. “I didn’t know,” I gasp. “He can’t do this.”
Drake’s eyes darken with what seems like anger on my behalf. “It’s a highly unusual clause and unlikely to stand up in court. But—”
“But?”
“Your husband is a Maddox. I am going to be frank here, and this is between you and me, attorney and client. Between all four brothers, the Maddoxes have a finger in every pie in this city, legal . . . and illegal. I don’t think you’re going to find a judge who will side with Cora Anne Jenkins over any Maddox. Nicolet and Burgess will drown me in motions and discovery and appeals on interim rulings, and whichever judge we get, he’ll let it happen. Your kids will be eighteen before we even get our day in court.”
The air in the office is getting thin. My lungs don’t work. Or are they working too hard? I’m huddled in this seat, but I’m also levitating like the ghost of a cartoon character just crushed by a falling piano. No. I can’t afford to lose it now. I lean forward and grip the edge of the desk.
“What do I do?”
I can’t lose my babies. Iwon’t. They’re the good thing that made everything in the past worthwhile.
“We will figure it out together, Cora. I promise you. You’re not alone in this anymore.”
I blink at him. He’s reached a hand out on the desk, not to take mine, but as a gesture of comfort. He looks so sincere. His face is so open. So unlike Adrian.
“I have to ask—are you in any danger at home, Cora?”
“No, of course not,” I answer immediately.I have to ask Cara—have you had thoughts of harming yourself or wishing you were dead? Have you had thoughts of wanting to hurt someone else?
I shake my head to clear it, and an even worse thought occurs to me. “What happens if he leaves me?”
Drake’s mouth flattens in a grim line. “In all scenarios, Mr. Maddox retains physical and legal custody of any children.”
Sheer panic begins to claw its way up my throat.
Drake seems to notice because his voice softens. “But the way this agreement is written, I truly believe that Mr. Maddox’s goal is for the marriage to be successful.” He seems to rethink his wording. “Or rather, for you to remain with the family until the children reach their majority. I read the annual payout scaling up so significantly over time as perhaps a concession that you may find remaining in the marriage less desirable as the years go by, and he wanted to incentivize you to stay.”
Drake Chambers seems to understand my husband’s mind better than me.
“What do I do?” I ask again.
“For now, while I go through this again with a fine-tooth comb, I recommend that you maintain the status quo if you’re able.”
“The status quo?” Blindly love my husband like a dummy while he uses other women’s pussies to jerk himself off when the mood strikes him?
He grimaces apologetically. “I know you came here hoping for a different outcome, and I’m not saying we have no path forward, just that I need some time to figure out how we’re going to fight this.”
“How much time?” I can’t go back to normal. There is no normal anymore.
“I can’t say, but I want you to know that I’ll be working on this twenty-four-seven from here on out. If anything changes, even the slightest thing, I need you to call me immediately. Any time. Day or night.” He takes a card fromhis drawer, scrawls a number on the back, and slides it across his desk. “That’s my personal number. I’m serious, Cora. Day or night.”
I take the card with trembling hands. I’m holding on, but barely. I feel like I’m fighting a vacuum, sucking me into space.
Drake pulls the prenup back toward him and frowns. “This really does read like a surrogacy contract. May I ask—did you have any debt that Adrian discharged when you married?”
I shake my head. My credit was nonexistent. I couldn’t get myself into debt.
“And you don’t have any family living?”
“I grew up in foster care. When I aged out, I came to New York.”
“And you were twenty-one when you met your husband?”
I nod.
