Time: 10:50 PM on the wedding night.
Setting: The bridal suite in the Sterling Manor.
Characters: Alexander Sterling and Evelyn Vance, newlyweds.
Evelyn stood before Alexander, her hands clasped behind her back.
She clutched the post-marriage agreement she had spent hours drafting.
She still hesitated, unsure how to begin.
After all, they had just gotten married today.
But some things were better said tonight.
If she waited, it would only get harder.
Alexander lifted his eyes and studied her.
“What is it?”
“Are you free later?” Evelyn asked, her voice uncertain.
“Just say it,” he said flatly.
“Maybe... we can talk when you’re free?” She hesitated, then shrank back.
She turned and walked toward the bathroom.
“That’s the bathroom,” Alexander reminded her.
“Oh... I need to pee first,” she muttered, embarrassed.
She stepped inside and closed the door.
She covered her face with both hands.
She wished she could just forget this whole moment.
After a few minutes, she came out.
She lifted her head and met his gaze.
Her cheeks flushed red.
“If you have something to say, just say it,” Alexander said, frowning slightly.
“Are you free?” she asked cautiously.
He didn’t answer.
He just waited for her to continue.
He had already answered that question.
He didn’t want to repeat himself.
“Well... I drafted a marriage agreement. Could you take a look?”
“If there’s anything that needs changing or adding, we can discuss it.” Evelyn took a deep breath and held out the paper.
“Read it to me. I’ll listen,” Alexander said, not taking it.
“Oh.” Evelyn nodded, picked up the agreement, and began reading.
“Post-marriage agreement. Party A—”
“Skip to the main points,” he interrupted.
“The main points are the rules after marriage.
One: We will live peacefully and respect each other in front of family and relatives.
Two: You cannot force me to do anything I don’t want to do.
Three: In bed, no crossing the line.
Four: If we meet on the street, we pretend not to know each other.
Five: Give me a monthly allowance. Not too much. Just enough to eat until I graduate and find a job.
Six: ...
Do you have any comments? You can add your own opinions.
If there are no objections, we’ll both sign and follow them.” Evelyn finished reading quickly and looked up at him.
She waited nervously.
Alexander reached out his hand.
She handed him the agreement, thinking he was about to sign.
Instead, he took a pen and started marking it up.
When he handed it back, she saw changes on every line.
Wrong punctuation. Awkward phrasing. Loose wording. Format errors.
And no penalty clause for breaking the rules.
His final verdict: “Are you kidding me?”
Evelyn’s face burned.
“I can revise it and bring it back for you to sign.”
“Evelyn, I don’t have time to play games with you.
You’re twenty years old. Not two.
Besides, I didn’t get married planning to divorce.
That means you are my only wife.
If we ever separate, it will be because one of us dies. Not because we divorce.
Make sure you understand that.
I can agree to three of your rules: one, four, and five.
The rest don’t need to be listed.
I’m a normal man. Can’t I exercise my legal rights as a husband?” Alexander stared at her, his face expressionless.
“But... aren’t you gay?” Evelyn blurted out.
Then there was nothing but silence.