SILAS

"The terms are simple," I began, forcing my voice to stay level. "Two years of public appearances. One year of playing my wife. At the end of that period, we get a divorce, the debt is wiped, and you walk away with enough money to start over. No strings. No—"

"So it's still the same terms, just a shorter duration?" she interrupted.

"Kind of."

"Kind of?" She repeated.

I cleared my throat, suddenly finding it hard to look her in the eye. "I mentioned... baby-making practice and children before. That’s out of the way now. It's no longer part of the deal."

"Oh," she said, her voice dropping. "That.”...