The Marriage Act(52)

‘Like what?’

‘A serious deception like drug or gambling addiction, an untreatable STI he’s passed on, prison, a degenerative neurological condition . . . or if you accused him of being violent towards you. There are safeguarding measures in place in cases of spousal abuse that will Level you straight up to a Family Court. If the magistrates side with you, your marriage could be over within a fortnight.’

‘But Mitchell has never been aggressive towards me.’

‘But they don’t know that.’

Corrine shook her head. ‘I can’t lie.’

‘Did Mitchell listen to his conscience when he misled you into divorcing and marrying him again? Why should there be one rule for him and another for you?’

‘No, it wouldn’t be right to abuse a law designed to protect vulnerable people.’

‘I did say it was unethical,’ Yan added.

Corrine picked her phone from her pocket and flicked through a photo album. She found a selfie from when she had slipped on ice and bruised her arms and shoulders last winter. And more recently, there was a picture of the bruising around her mouth and swollen lips following the altercation at MP Eleanor Harrison’s apartment. She closed the screen and shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, it’s just not me.’

‘I understand,’ said Yan. ‘But if I was asking you for advice, what would you tell me to do?’

‘Whatever you can to leave that marriage.’

‘Exactly. So I guess it depends on just how much you hate your husband.’

Corrine hated her husband. And she hated him a lot.





40


Jeffrey




‘When do you think your relationship began to veer off-course?’ asked Jeffrey.

‘It hasn’t,’ groaned Noah and poured himself and Luca another coffee from the machine. He didn’t offer Jeffrey one. ‘And I don’t know why you keep saying it has.’

‘For argument’s sake, let’s say that your Audite has picked up on issues the two of you may not realize you have. I want to get to the bottom of what made it come to that conclusion. You received your Level One warning three months ago, is that correct?’

‘Yes,’ they said together.

‘You moved into this house a week after you married. So minus the six-month newlyweds’ grace period, it’s likely problems came to a head after you came here. So perhaps the house has come at your relationship’s expense?’

‘We couldn’t have afforded it if we hadn’t got married,’ said Noah. ‘A junior doctor’s salary isn’t going to make me rich and Luca is hardly going to earn his fortune in events catering.’

Jeffrey noted Luca flinch at the dismissal.

‘But our relationship is fine,’ Noah continued, oblivious. ‘You said it yourself the day you met us, it was probably the system misunderstanding the nature of how we are with one another.’

Jeffrey remained silent, which clearly riled Noah.

Are you saying that’s no longer the case?’

Luca squeezed Noah’s right thigh as if urging him to be less confrontational.

‘And I don’t blame the house for all this,’ added Noah. ‘I blame that stupid bloody Audite.’

‘That’s the same Audite that you trusted when you signed up to the Marriage Act a year ago and which allowed you to buy your dream home. Luca, are you happy here?’

‘It’s nice.’

‘But are you happy ?’

‘Why do you keep asking him that?’ interrupted Noah.

‘I suppose I’m trying to find a reason for why your husband has been prescribed antidepressant medication.’

‘How . . . how do you know that?’ asked Luca.

‘It was in your medical notes,’ Jeffrey said, but he had actually found the box containing patches in their bathroom cabinet.

‘Like millions of others, he uses them occasionally to help with a chemical imbalance,’ said Noah, ‘not because he’s unhappy with the house or our relationship.’

‘Most couples like to believe their relationship is an equal partnership,’ said Jeffrey. ‘But often there’s one who speaks for both of you even when a question isn’t directed at them. Is it fair to say that’s you, Noah?’

‘Maybe, I guess.’

‘In my experience, that person needs to be reminded that they’re appreciated for the extra work they do, or the decisions they make to push you both forward. Do you need more affirmation than Luca offers?’

‘No.’

‘Have you considered that this elevated position you’ve put yourself in might emasculate Luca?’

‘Where’s this coming from? He’s never accused me of any of that.’

‘Could he have told you in his behaviour, but you haven’t seen the signs? It’s easier to ignore your partner’s needs than to confront a difference of opinion.’

‘I’m not ignoring anything . . .’

‘You ignored Luca’s emotional call for support by walking out of the house when your surrogate put a hold on your agreement; you dismissed his unwillingness to participate in threesomes by claiming they’re only on hold. You debased your marriage by allowing him to believe you married only for love and not the financial benefits.’