Chapter 3: Breaking the Chains

The sound of the paper rustling filled the otherwise silent room as Venessa’s eyes flicked across the contract. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to read it all at once—too much of the weight was too heavy. The parts that had already seemed unreasonable enough had left her with a tight knot in her chest, but now, her eyes froze at the next set of clauses, which seemed to mock her very existence.

The ridiculousness of some of the provisions made her stomach twist in disgust. She hadn’t wanted to believe it could get worse, but here it was, laid out before her in cold, unyielding terms. She read them again, her mind struggling to process the absurdity.

Clause 32: Sexual Obligations and Freedom of Choice

Party B (the Wife) agrees to make herself available at any time for Party A’s (the Husband’s) sexual satisfaction. Should Party A desire intimacy, Party B must comply immediately, regardless of Party B’s personal feelings, state of health, or time of day. Failure to meet Party A’s demands will result in consequences as determined by party A.

The ink on the page blurred for a moment as Venessa’s vision wavered. She stared at the clause, feeling her heart sink. This was no longer just a marriage—it was a blatant subjugation of her personhood, a demand for compliance, without room for hesitation, for dignity, for basic human decency. She felt sick.

And it didn’t stop there. She flipped the page, her pulse hammering in her ears as she continued reading, hoping there was some mistake. But the next clause hit her like a punch to the gut:

Clause 35: Party A’s Freedom of Relationships

Party A retains the absolute right to pursue sexual relations with any other party or parties without prior consent or approval from Party B. Party B is prohibited from questioning or challenging these relationships, and may not seek any form of compensation or retribution. Any attempt to interfere with Party A’s freedom of relationships will be considered a breach of contract, resulting in consequences as may be determined by Party A.

She felt the weight of those words press down on her chest, constricting her breath. Alex was free to do as he pleased, with no repercussions, while she was bound by the strictest, most degrading terms imaginable. It was a power imbalance so extreme, it was beyond anything she’d ever feared.

The next section was almost as painful to read:

Clause 38: Separation of rooms and Physical Contact Restrictions

Party A and Party B will reside in separate rooms.Party B shall not enter Party A’s room without explicit permission from Party A but Party A can do so without permission. Any physical contact initiated by Party B must be approved in advance by Party A, and any unapproved contact will be grounds for immediate consequences but Part A has free access to initiate physical contact.

Venessa’s hands shook as she read the final clause. The words blurred before her eyes as the weight of the contract crushed down on her chest. She had felt trapped before, but this… this was something else entirely. Every line felt like a noose tightening around her neck, suffocating any last vestiges of hope she might have had for a future of her own.

She closed her eyes, fighting the wave of nausea that rose in her throat. No. I can’t. I won’t. The thought burned through her like fire, and for the first time in hours, her body seemed to wake from its numb submission.

With trembling hands, she slammed the contract shut, the sound reverberating in the quiet room like the final, defiant clap of thunder. Her breath came in quick bursts, heart pounding in her chest. For a moment, she just stood there, feeling the weight of her decision.

She couldn’t breathe under the suffocating rules, the control, the complete and utter disregard for her dignity. The anger rose like a tidal wave, and for the first time in years, Venessa allowed herself to feel something other than resignation.

To hell with Mr Graystone, she thought, her voice rising in her mind. To hell with the company. I’m not signing this. Never