Bound by a Contract

na

y fingers hover over my phone screen as I stare at the notif

ngton Spotted Leaving Hotel

d I click it even though ever

ven years old, wife to one of New York's most

apparently the most path

rrington in all his six-foot-two glory, walking out of Th

esture he uses with me at public events except this time it'

he t

s I scroll throu

ways knew that m

d her for appearances and now he do

right here at this breakfast table in this

e, the photos are everywhere,

something he said and that's what kills me most bec

for four years and I still fe

arning, our wedding day, I w

father had offered me a lifeline wrapped in a contract: Marry Alexander for five years, play

ncial security and a ch

hen, just five yea

lian came into the world, before everything go

ra Wang gown, feeling like a fraud as hu

rove me to his father's office where we signed the real papers, the contract tha

ed at me, he'd just signed

ave been my f

o the driveway makes my heart

up and returns long after I've gone to bed, but today of all day

nto the kitchen, his dark curls bouncing, those gra

I'm h

e-down on the table

by, what do you w

d climbs onto the chair b

ht up," I say but my voice sou

o through the marble hallway, each step feels

reath catches because it's not fair that h

ot a hair out of place, his sharp jaw clean-

ible bachelor until I came along, over six feet of controlled power and calculated

nd scrambles off his cha

tens for exactly two secon

n, have you been go

riously, "Mama's maki

there's nothing in them, no guilt, no expla

ke a weapon, "Julian, sweetheart, why don't you g

of Alexander's arms and ru

that falls i

acing him, the photo of him

o expla

s to the coffee maker and pours himself a cu

e everything y

repeat and my voi

photos from multiple angles, you were wi

is coffee, "It was

can hear the hysteria creepin

iness requires a h

your concern," his tone i

y Gala tonight, be ready by seven, wear the e

t's it, that's all y

ee cup and finally looks at me, really looks at me, and I s

clear Elena, don't make this mor

I am to him, an arrangemen

wife," I

d each word is a bullet, "a very wel

only to call out, "Julian,

ouches down, kisses his forehead with

I'll see

dy," Jul

ind him, leaving me standing in this kit

amond that means nothing, then I think about t

rst time in four years I think maybe it's time t

ulian tugs

, panc

t leave, the contract isn

ile for divorce before the seven-year ter

ever leave him, not without l

ed and he