Chapter 126 - Prenup

I stared at my text hoping for a miracle but none would come. I thought with Celeste D'Angelo out of the picture life would be easier for me but instead it got worse somehow. 

After the wedding Felix made the executive decision to move me into his family home. I was hesitant at first but his thought process was that by moving in, outsiders get the perception that things are well and we are en route to marriage, and on the flip side it forces his mother to accept me. He wanted the world to know that by moving in I was not some temporary fling, I was here to stay. But I knew it would backfire quickly.

The day we moved in his mother glared at me and never left her bedroom, not even for dinner. That night when 'I went to sleep' Felix left to talk with his mother. They argued for hours on end. She called him all kinds of names under the sun. She would prefer her son to never marry if it was not Celeste D'Angelo.

"Old witch. Just what about her is better than me? Her last name?" Everything about me was better than Celeste save for our finances. She beat me there.

By morning with nothing resolved and her son adamant that I stay, she decided it was her personal mission to make life hell for me. It all started small, she would make snide remarks about my body calling me fat and pudgy. Even though I considered myself fit. Then I was too manly for being tall.

Initially I would argue back but Felix asked me to be nice and not make it more difficult so I would ignore her. This of course made her escalate. None of the foods in the house were anything I liked and she ensured it would stay that way. Anytime I bought my favorite snacks she would toss them.

"My house, my rules." She snarled at just about everything 'wrong' I did.

My clothes were all taken from me and replaced with what she felt was appropriate. If I was a nun maybe it would be nice but everything was matronly and out of style. If I did not wear it, I was 'ungrateful'. "Don't you know how much those clothes cost. Any other girl would be appreciative her mother in law is buying her expensive clothes."

"Felix I can't stand this my clothes were all thrown away, you can't tell me the clothes she bought are my style. You need to help me." I cried to him hoping for a change but he just handed me a card and a key. "Here go buy some clothes and place them in the closet with the door that has the lock. She can't touch those. I will try but no promises."

That was code for 'Sorry but just deal with it.'. I was not sure how Celeste did it. Even with her family name I could see that Toni did not really like her either, so how did she keep her in check. However it all came to a head when finally discussions about a wedding cropped up.

His father was the one to bring it up. "So when do you kids expect to get married." I figured he only said it because he wanted us out of the house. To bring back some peace. Surprisingly his wife stayed quiet. "Ideally soon, maybe next month in November?"

From the weddings I have seen others have, planning took at least a year. There was no way we could have the wedding of my dreams in just under a few months. August just ended, so that would only leave two months to plan. I shot Felix a glance but he just squeezed my hand under the table.

"That would be good. We would need to send the invites soon to get a head count." However at that moment Toni spoke up. "Leave the invites to me I can get them sent out as soon as next week. Sol I would need your family contacts as I do not know them."

She spit out that last phrase alluding to the fact that my family is not influential for her to know. I was not sure how to interpret what was going on after the whole war she raged against me. "That... would be nice I will try to get them to you soon. With work picking up it might take a minute."

The careful balance of peace tilted. "Oh that reminds me, put in your resignation. As a Carter you are to not work as raising a family will be of high priority. I expect a grandchild soon." It took all the willpower in me to not roll my eyes. While such an outdated philosophy I actually did not mind putting my resignation at the moment.

Work was awful. Thomas has not forgiven me for my last mistake with Celeste and everyone has been icing me. I needed some place that would not treat me that way. "I will put that in." I squeezed Felix's hand hoping that was the end but she finally brought in the killer move I bet she was itching to tell me.

"When you do, come back so we can get the prenup signed and notarized."

I don't think I heard anything else from the conversation. There was a ringing in my ears and I felt my blood pressure rise. Prenups are not necessarily a bad thing, but for the dynamic between myself and Felix, I knew I was not protected.

I don't even recall finishing dinner. I just went up to our room a shell of a person. Dead inside and defeated. For her to be that excited it meant she would make it so her son benefits and I don't. 

None of my friends would know what to do. So I called the one person I met the night of the Cortez Gala who may be of some assistance, Frankie Rhodes. She picked up after the third ring. "Hello?" She sounded confused, and that was when I glanced at the clock and saw it was close to midnight. 

"Hey it is me Sol Banks, sorry to call so late but I need help." I rushed out my story, the lifeline I needed being clutched close to my chest. 

"Yeah that sounds about right. Those old money families are ruthless. I hate to tell you this but what exactly do you want me to do?" Her words were like an ice bucket being dumped down my head. "I hoped you knew more than I did?"

She sighed and I heard some rumbling as she sifted through something. "Here. I am texting you Celestes number, who knows if she changed it but give it a try. Supposedly they also had a prenup but obviously hers was more strict than his considering her assets. She could help, she also knows how Mrs. Carter is. She may have some pointers."