“I’ve been thinking.”
“About?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t rush back to work.”
I looked up.
My maternity leave was almost over.
We’d always planned for me to return.
“Why?”
“Childcare is expensive. We’re doing fine on my salary.”
“I make good money too.”
“I know. But why go back just to hand half of it to somebody else?”
“My job isn’t just a bill-paying exercise, Elon.”
“Sophie’s tiny, Maddie.”
Guilt landed exactly where he meant it to.
“I know.”
“You could stay home longer.”
Before the phone call, I might’ve heard love in that.
Now I heard something else:
Dependence.
He was planning a life without me while encouraging me to build one with fewer exits.
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
After he fell asleep, I opened my laptop.
I might’ve heard love in that.
My manager had emailed to confirm whether I was returning on schedule.
For weeks, I’d told myself I’d answer after Elon and I talked.
I typed:
“Yes, I’m still planning to return.”
I deleted it once.
Then I typed it again and pressed Send.
The next morning, my manager called.
“We’re glad you’re coming back, Madeline. We’ve missed you.”
After we confirmed my return date, I sat beside Sophie and let those words settle.
“Apparently I’m still me,” I told her.
Then I got to work.
“We’re glad you’re coming back, Madeline.”
I pulled out the folder with my leave documents, insurance information, and household bills. Near the bottom was our prenup.
Elon and his parents, Eve and Alex, had wanted it before we married.
They’d never treated me badly over it.
Eve had even told me, “Honestly, honey, this protects you too.”
I’d had my own attorney review everything before signing.
“Honestly, honey, this protects you too.”
Afterward, Elon had grinned.
“Guess we’re officially too expensive to cheat on each other.”
I’d laughed then.
Now I opened it.
It contained financial protections tied to infidelity. I knew that didn’t guarantee the outcome of a divorce.
But it reminded me of something important.
I wasn’t trapped.
The next day, I spoke privately with a family-law attorney about separation, finances, housing, the prenup, my return to work, and Sophie.
She made one thing clear: Sophie wasn’t a prize either of us could win because the other spouse had behaved badly.
