The Marriage Act Novels & Stories

But for now, I set the thought aside and continued reading. Living arrangements. Public appearances and duties—mainly maintaining the image of a real couple when required. A strict confidentiality clause not to disclose the contractual nature of the marriage. A non-interference clause ensuring no involvement in each other’s private lives beyond what was necessary. A clear boundary: no romantic or physical involvement. An exclusivity clause dictating no dating or relationships outside the marriage. And detailed penalties for breaching the contract or violating any clause. It was thorough. Almost airtight. More than that, it covered things I hadn’t even considered.

“Ma’am, please move faster. Let’s not miss the auspicious timing.” The clerk shook her head helplessly. She picked up my ID and swiped it through the reader. Then, she looked up, slid the card back across the counter, and said flatly to Aileen, “This can’t be processed.” Aileen’s smile froze. “Why not? Is the system down? Does he have a criminal record? I don’t mind!” The clerk pointed at my ID, then at Aileen. “According to the marriage law, marriage requires one man and one woman. You’re both female. This marriage can't be registered.”

Augustus turned to look Lisa and said. Hearing this, Lisa stared at him incredulously and then lowered her head and started to read it. First: During the existence of the marriage, Party A bears all the expenses of Party B. Second: Party B is not allowed to disclose the marriage in front of anyone until Party A gave her permission to reveal it. Third: Party B is not allowed to interfere with Party A’s private life. Forth: During the existence of the marriage, Party B is not allowed to have an intimate relationship with a male.

He just pointed to a thick stack of papers on the coffee table. Read it. Sign it. My lawyer has already notarized my portion. Aara walked over and sat on the edge of the sofa. Her eyes blurred as she scanned the legal jargon. Rule 1: The marriage shall remain private except for authorized public appearances. Rule 2: The parties shall reside in the same residence for three hundred and sixty-five days. Rule 3: There shall be no romantic involvement with third parties. And then she saw it. Rule 4: The husband retains the right to request the wife’s presence at any time, for any reason.

"Come on in. I hope you don't mind the heat. The A/C is broken, and no one has come to fix it yet." She didn’t say anything, just gave a stiff nod before pulling out a sleek leather folder and opening it on the chipped coffee table. “This is the marriage contract. Mr. Knight has instructed us to walk you through its key provisions. It outlines the six-month marriage arrangement.” I sat down slowly, my fingers twitching in my lap. I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. The document looked like a small novel. She started reading. “The marriage will be dissolved at the conclusion of the six months. Mr. Knight will provide you with the agreed-upon sum of one million dollars upon successfully comple

In 1886 a most stringent Canon upon this relation was proposed and although it failed of adoption, a similar effort was made at the recent triennial convention in New York the fall of 1889. The Rev. George Z. Gray, dean of the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Mass., is author of a book in which he asserts, referring to scripture as authority, that marriage is not a contract between equals, but an appropriation of the woman by the man, the wife becoming merged in him and owing him obedience, the right of divorce lying alone with the husband, the wife not an independent being possessing independent rights, but a veritable slave of the husband. Not alone the Episcopalians, but Congreg

"Without a word. Without an explanation. Do you have any idea what that did to me? To us?" Her eyes didn't budge. "There was no 'us,' Kai. There never was." The words hit me like a perfectly placed slap, but I wasn't backing down. "You expect me to believe that? After everything we shared, everything we- "Don't romanticize it," she cut in, her razor-sharp voice slicing into my thoughts. "Our marriage was a contract. Nothing more." I felt a cold shiver run down my spine, and I straightened in my chair. "A contract?"

“You okay?” Amara considered that. “She thinks I’m a pawn.” “You’re not.” “She said the board is watching you. That this marriage is a bluff.” He didn’t reply right away. Instead, he walked to the window and stared out at the endless stretch of manicured lawn and glittering fences. “It is a bluff,” he said finally. “But it’s also real. Once you sign, we get married. Legally. Publicly. For one year.” Amara walked over to him. “Why did she say this wouldn’t be enough?”

He nods. " Go ahead. " I clear my throat, adjust myself on the chair, and take out the envelope and the notes. " I made some notes on clauses 15, 23, 28, and 30. They need to be modified. " I cut to the chase, and he arches his eyebrows, opening his copy of the contract. " Let's see. Clause 15 states that we'll share the same room. What's wrong with that, Dixon?" " This isn't a real marriage, D’Angelo. So, I don't see why we should sleep in the same room and share the same bed. " He cracks a mischievous smile.

Good. “Well, now that is sorted,” Mr. Marshall says as he bends to pick up a black briefcase I didn't notice until now. He opens it and pulls out a brown folder. “This is the contract. It has rules that could work in both of your favors, and if you disagree, you can make amendments.” He hands one to me and one to the dickhead next to me. “Read through it carefully.” I flip the sheet open and read through the paper. It says here that we're to be married for one and a half years; we're to live together and be seen at events. I almost scoff at that.