11. Signed
Faith
The following day, we met with Cassius’s physician. Another pregnancy test and an examination confirmed that I was, in fact, pregnant.
The physician smiled at us. “It’s very early,” the doctor said. “But these tests are incredibly accurate. So long as everything progresses and nature takes its course, you should plan accordingly. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, doctor.” Cassius shook his hand, then turned to me. “See? I told you. I knew you were pregnant.”
I nodded, and he kissed my cheek. “I’ll let you get dressed. Come and meet me in the conference room when you’re ready.”
“Okay.” I forced a smile, but I didn’t feel particularly congratulatory. I felt scared.
This is real.Three positive pregnancy tests were actual proof that in nine months, I’d be having a baby. After the men left and I dressed, I briefly rubbed my stomach. I’m sorry, I thought at it. I hope I don’t fuck you up like my mom did to me.
It was strange, but I felt a little better after I did that. My mom had never apologized to me for anything, so I was already doing better than her. Not that she’s set the bar high, but still. It was something.
Sighing, I went to find Cassius in the conference room. We were supposed to review and sign the pre-nuptial agreement. It seemed awfully soon to me, but apparently billionaires got shit done. Cassius informed me that his legal team had prepared such an agreement years ago in anticipation of the Blackwood brothers someday getting married. They’d updated the agreement to reflect our current situation; I was required to read it, review it, and sign.
I stepped into the conference room and almost turned around and ran right out again. There were over a dozen attorneys spread out around the enormous table. They were dressed in suits, barking into cell phones, clacking away on laptops, and red-lining documents. Several of the attorneys, particularly the female ones, eyed me with interest. Their billionaire bachelor client was finally getting married.
I felt woefully out of place in my simple sundress. Also, I was by far the youngest person in the room—Cassius Blackwood’s child bride.
“Faith, darling, come here.” Cassius strode over, pulling out a chair for me. “Please, sit. We’ll have a draft for you to review in a moment. Your attorney should be here soon.”
“I have an attorney?” I asked.
“Of course,” he said smoothly. “We have to do this properly. Your interests need to be protected.”
“Mr. Blackwood?” chirped an attorney from the other side of the room. “Can you please review the revised section Three-F? I made the changes you requested.”
“Certainly.” Cassius squeezed me on the shoulder and returned to his team. The door opened, and Gina and another young woman walked in. When they saw me, they came to my side.
“Good morning, Faith.” Gina smiled at me. She looked tired—probably the news of Cassius Blackwood’s impending marriage was spreading like wildfire throughout the club. I immediately felt guilty that I hadn’t had a chance to tell Macy or Tate about it, let alone my brother. But there was little I could do.
Gina motioned to the young woman next to her, who had a sleek black bob, a bright blue dress, and trendy-looking glasses. “This is your attorney, Akira Zhang. She’s represented numerous Accommodating employees in contract matters.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Akira.” I didn’t bother with a fake smile—I decided I was done with them for one morning.
“Faith.” The attorney nodded at me, all business. She sat down and opened an enormous laptop. Pulling a document on the screen, she asked, “Have you read this thing yet?”
I shook my head.
“It’s fucked up. I’m going to tear it apart.” Akira’s fingers flew over the keypad.
“It is?” I asked. “You are?”
She arched an eyebrow. “Of course it is, and of course I am. He’s a billionaire, and you’re twenty. The contract is written completely in his favor.”
“Oh.” I felt like she’d punched me in the gut. Was Cassius trying to take advantage of me?
“Don’t take it personally—it’s business. That’s just how it works. If he didn’t try to leverage his situation and protect his assets, he’d be an idiot, and Cassius Blackwood is not an idiot.” Akira smiled. “And neither are you. We’ll do this together. I’m here to help you. You’re my client, and I don’t let people fuck with my clients.”
I gaped at her. Having a lawyer seemed pretty awesome.
Akira Zhang adjusted her glasses. She took a sip of water. She cracked her knuckles. “Let’s get started, shall we?”
Seven hours later,both Cassius and I had signed the pre-nuptial agreement. He’d offered me a ten-million-dollar payout if we divorced, but I declined. Instead, I asked to retain control over my own money, taking it with me if the marriage dissolved. Also, I asked him to pay for Lucas’s medical expenses and care for the rest of his life. Cassius agreed to set up a trust in my brother’s name.
Lucas was safe. Lucas would always be safe.
I felt like even that was greedy, but Cassius wanted to give me more. Akira wanted me to take more. But in the end, I believed I’d already been compensated fairly. I had enough money to care for myself. If we divorced, Cassius would still pay for our child.
If my child was fine, and Lucas was fine, I would be fine.
More importantly, I would still be me. I wouldn’t be taking anything that didn’t belong to me.
And at the end of the negotiations, after hours of discussions about trusts, heirs, and inheritances—but no mention of love, loyalty, or forever—that felt more important than ever.