Madeline’s grip on the pen tightened abruptly.

Suppressing the wave of emotions roiling within her, she began writing, word by deliberate word, on the pristine sheet of paper before her:

“In light of the fact that Party A and Party B are in a lawful marital relationship and share a common goal—namely, the conception of a child—the two parties have, through mutual negotiation, reached the following agreement:

1. Party A and Party B agree to ...