Chapter 1
I lost the baby.
Now I’m stuck in this hospital bed while my doctor keeps saying I need to “take it easy.”
When my husband finally shows up, he’s not carrying flowers or soup. He’s got paperwork.
He pulls up a chair and goes,
“So according to our prenup-section 4.1.3-if pregnancy complications happen because of one spouse’s health issues, that person covers all the extra medical and care costs.”
Then he adds, “But hey, I’ll still help out. Just gonna charge you my consulting rate. Twenty percent off though.”
This man I’ve loved for five years, been married to for three, suddenly feels like a complete stranger. Like some legal robot.
Something inside me just breaks. Like that procedure scraped out my heart too.
Derek Martinez is this hotshot family lawyer.
His thing is writing bulletproof contracts that eliminate every marriage risk-for himself.
Property, income, chores, whose family we visit for Christmas, how much we spend on gifts-he’s got legal clauses for everything.
‘This is how smart couples do it, Jessica,” he used to say. “Clean, fair, no unnecessary drama.”
And I believed him.
I thought it was just lawyer paranoia. Maybe even romantic in a weird way-like he cared so much he wanted
everything protected.
‘You handle the home stuff, I’ll pay you twenty percent of my monthly income,” he’d explained. “Guaranteed salary
for housework.”
I thought this was his way of loving me-using his legal expertise to give me security.
But lying here now, I finally get it.
This isn’t security. This is a cold, one-sided contract.
And me? I’M just the employee who screwed up and now has to pay for the damages.
Another wave of pain rips through my stomach, reminding me I just lost our baby.
Chapter 1
And here’s the father, sitting here crunching numbers on my medical bills.
Every word out of his mouth sounds like he’s doing me some huge favor.
I don’t cry. Don’t even flinch. Because I know guys like Derek-emotions are just noise to them.
All they care about are contracts and numbers.
I push myself up and hold out my hand.
“Give me the pen.”
Derek actually looks surprised. Guess he thought I’d put up more of a fight.
He slides this Mont Blanc out of his briefcase and hands it over.
I sign at the bottom-Jessica Blake-making each letter crystal clear.
The ink bleeds into the paper like dried blood.
“You know what, Derek?” I look him straight in the eye. “You’re absolutely right. Everything should go by the book.”
His face lights up with this smug grin as he tucks the contract away, like he just closed the deal of the century.
But here’s what this brilliant lawyer doesn’t realize-from now on, contracts are all we’ve got.
And I’m about to get way better at his own game than he is.
10 10
I’m on the Operating Table and You Venmo-Request HALF21 Die Mad Brot
Chapter!
