Page 75 of Modern Romance December 2025 5-8

She started to feel hot all over, trapped again.‘What if I don’t like the “particulars” in this contract?’

‘Since that’s what we’re going to discuss now, I don’t foresee that being a problem. Now, the contract will state that we will remain married for a minimum of five years and then divorce at some point of our choosing after that, at which time we will share custody of our son or daughter equally and move forwards co-parenting.’

‘Share custody?’ Serena repeated, her hand settling protectively over her stomach.

‘Unless you would like me to take primary custody.’

‘No. If anyone should have primary custody, it would be me, the mother.’ She had already lost one child and felt similar pain slicing through her at being separated from this one.

‘But as already stated, I refuse to be apart from my child, and since you seem to feel the same, shared custody is the only option. Now, in terms of where we’ll live as a family, I assume you won’t want to leave London.’

‘Of course not. Kit and Alexis are there.’

‘Which I fully anticipated, and that suits me fine. With the European expansion, I had planned on relocating to Europe, and London is an ideal base. I’ve had my team researching properties and I feel this is the best. I’m sure it will be to your liking too.’

He held out the tablet for her to view the images of the chosen property, and although recognising that he’d shown a certain consideration in selecting London as their base because of her family ties, Serena still frowned at his instinctive autocratic ways. He said they’d bediscussingthings—only he didn’t seem to know the meaning of the word!

‘What do you think?’

‘It’s fine, but…’

‘Very good,’ he said, lifting the device from her hands and not letting her finish before continuing on with his agenda. ‘As I mentioned, I’ll travel often for business. The majority of the time I’ll go alone, but on occasion you will be required to accompany me—and it goes without saying, play the role of loving wife. For example, the opening of the beach club here in a few weeks. You’ll be by my side. There will be other events that you’ll attend too—banquets, charity galas, social parties. My assistant will coordinate your calendar so you’ll know in advance when and where you’ll be required. Obviously, we’ll take into account the pregnancy, especially as it progresses. No one is expecting you to exert yourself.’

No, just to pass over control of her calendar, as well as the next five years of her life to him, apparently. The disquiet spiking her blood grew hotter, and her head started to spin, overwhelmed by his high-handedness. ‘Have you forgotten that I work full time?’ she reminded him, determined to be heard this time. ‘I can’t be taking time off to travel and attend parties whenever you summon me.’

He looked back at her, untroubled. ‘I’m sure we can work it out. You don’t even need to keep working if you don’t want to.’

‘You expect me to give up my job?’

‘No. But it’s an option. I’ll be providing for you financially now.’

‘Caleb, that’s generous, but I’m not sure I’m comfortable giving up that aspect of my independence. It’s important to me that I’m able to take care of myself.’

‘Even once the baby is born?’ he queried. It made Serena wary to look that far ahead, not when there was so much time for things to go wrong. ‘Because I don’t love the idea of our child being raised by an army of nannies.’

Serena couldn’t clamp down her annoyance at his he-who-shall-be-obeyed tone. ‘So, youdoexpect me to stop working?’ she demanded, reeling. ‘Why did you say you wanted todiscussall of this, when you seemed to have made all of the decisions already, without so much as a conversation with me?’

‘We’re having a conversation now,’ he responded, his coolness only making her feel worse because she was so overwhelmed. ‘And I haven’t made any decisions, I’m only expressing…’

‘You’re telling mehowit will be,’ she interrupted hotly, feeling like she was eighteen again and back in her bedroom, being told by her stepmother the rules and behaviours she was expected to adhere to, her world narrowing with each passing second. ‘WhatI will do andwhenI’ll do it.’

Her frustration burned so hotly that her heart battered against her ribs as she saw her future unfold without her having any voice or autonomy in it. Again.

For a brief moment it had actually been within her power to write her own future, but now this.

Him.

She couldn’t help but think of all of the things she’d lost and missed out on as her life had been steered by another hand, and her throat thickened as that feeling of powerlessness descended again. Truthfully, she didn’t want a nanny raising her child either, but she wanted that to beherdecision. Or an actual discussion between them. Not a law laid down that she was expected to obediently follow.

But he was so…domineering. She couldn’t even loathe him for it, because he had used that resolute power to subdue her stepmother. Without him being the way he was, who he was, she would still be stuck in that hell of yesterday. She fought to remain calm, to stabilise the punching of her heart, but emotion was building, stacking higher and higher until there was only panic.

‘Serena…’

‘No. Stop talking. Please.’

But it didn’t help. She pushed herself to her feet.

‘Where are you going?’ he demanded.