Clarifications

Ezra became momentarily absentminded, due to the suddenness of the situation. He gathered his thoughts and tried to gain more information and see if, maybe, this was an excuse, or a means to an end.

"You do realize you would not get half of my present worth, but half of what I was worth when we got married. It is still a lot of money, but it's much, much less than it is now." This had been a verbal agreement between their parents.

"I know. But I don't want any of your money." He heard her respond.

"Aren't you afraid your father will disown you? Divorce is frowned upon for people like us."

"No, I am not afraid. And it's more frowned upon for the women than for the men."

As he heard her short answers, and the calm of her tone, Ezra realized she was not playing any games and she was being serious, so he asked,

"Why?"

With the same calm voice and expressionless face, Daphne answered, promptly.

"I want a sex life, but I don't want to cheat, as such, this is my choice."

Ezra choked on air when he heard her unexpected response and started coughing.

"I… I mean… we could have a sex life if you want. Our parents do want grandchildren after all. I was planning on talking with you about a surrogate and artificial insemination, as a potential solution … before this."

Daphne's face betrayed an emotion for a split second, but Ezra could not read it. Whatever it was, it was not something positive.

"No." She said.

"No… to which part? Us having a sex life or the surrogate and having children?"

"No to both. You are sleeping with your secretary. I want exclusivity in my relationship, even if it is only sexual. And in regards to kids, I am not ready to have children."

Ezra's mind was going hundreds of miles per second, endless questions and possibilities running through his head.

"Do you already have someone in mind?" He asked.

"What?" Daphne did not understand the question immediately.

"A lover. A partner." Ezra answered.

Unknowingly to Daphne, Ezra was starting to lose control of his emotions.

"Oh, no." Daphne clarified.

"Then, why so suddenly?" Ezra asked while a bit of relief coursed through him.

"It's not sudden, I have been thinking about it for a long time. And…"

"And what?"

"And I am sexually frustrated."

Ezra looked at Daphne with an incredulous look. His knowledge of women was average, but this was the first time he had heard or even fathomed a woman say anything similar to what Daphne was expressing. He had a high sex drive and it did not help that he sometimes had to share a bed with his drop-dead-gorgeous wife. But he had never even entertained the possibility that women could be just as sexually inclined as men.

While he tried to gather his wits, there was only one thing that he had concluded at that moment.

"I am not giving you a divorce."

Daphne was not deterred and it was her turn to ask him.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to be a divorcee. Plus, the fact that I am married provides me with the perfect excuse to turn down women." There was more as to why Ezra did not want a divorce, but he was not ready to divulge anything more, yet.