Chapter 7 - THE MARRIAGE THEY WANTED TO ERASE|
Evelyn arrived at my apartment before sunrise.
She carried a folder thick enough to make my stomach sink.
“Nathan sent me the filing,” she said.
I opened it.
The petition claimed that my marriage to Alexander had been entered into under false pretenses. It alleged that I had concealed material information about my identity and finances, and that Alexander had never knowingly consented to a legally binding union.
I read the first page twice.
“They're trying to say we were never married.”
“They're trying to make the court question the validity of the marriage before your divorce is finalized.”
“Why?”
Evelyn placed another document on the table.
“Because if they can invalidate the marriage, Sophia can claim she has no reason to be considered a third party in any dispute involving Alexander's marital assets.”
I stared at her.
“They want to make her his wife.”
“Possibly. But there's another reason. Your marriage gives you legal standing in certain financial matters. If they erase it, they can make it harder for you to challenge transactions connected to his businesses.”
I felt sick.
My marriage had been hidden when it was convenient for Alexander. Now someone wanted it erased because it had become inconvenient.
“Can they do this?”
“They can try. We can defend it.”
Evelyn opened a second folder.
“Do you still have the original photographs from your wedding?”
I nodded.
Our ceremony had been small. A judge, two witnesses, and a quiet room at the courthouse. Alexander had insisted that no photographs be shared or published.
I had kept the pictures in a box beneath my bed.
“I have them.”
“Bring them to me. We need evidence that the marriage was real and that both parties entered it willingly.”
I went into the bedroom and pulled the box from the closet.
Inside were the photographs, the marriage certificate, and the card Alexander had given me afterward.
Five years. Fifty years. Every lifetime I get, I want you in it.
I sat on the edge of the bed.
The words seemed cruel now.
When I returned to the kitchen, Evelyn was speaking on the phone.
She ended the call and looked at me.
“There's a hearing scheduled for Friday.”
“Already?”
“They requested an expedited review.”
“Who requested it?”
“Northbridge Development.”
I handed her the photographs.
She studied the first one.
“You look happy.”
“I was.”
She didn't offer comfort. I was grateful.
That afternoon, I received an unexpected visitor.
Alexander stood outside my apartment holding a paper bag from the bakery I used to love.
I didn't open the door fully.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you.”
“You could have called.”
“You don't answer.”
“That's usually what happens when someone stops wanting to speak.”
He looked tired. His suit was wrinkled, and there were shadows beneath his eyes.
“I saw the filing,” he said.
“Your company filed it.”
“I didn't authorize that petition.”
“You authorized the property review.”
“I know.”
“You signed the papers.”
“I didn't know what they were going to do.”
I stared at him.
“You always know enough to get what you want, Alexander. You just never seem to know enough to protect me.”
He lowered the bakery bag.
“I'll stop the petition.”
“You don't get to decide whether my marriage exists.”
“I'm trying to fix this.”
“You should have tried five years ago.”
His eyes moved toward my stomach.
“May I ask how the baby is?”
I almost told him about the appointment, the heartbeat, the tiny movements that had become familiar.
Then I remembered the six months he had missed.
“Fine.”
“Claire, I want to be there.”
“Being there starts with respecting the person carrying the baby.”
He nodded slowly.
Then his phone rang.
The screen displayed Sophia's name.
He rejected the call.
I looked at him.
“You should answer. She might have another document for you to sign.”
He flinched.
And for the first time, I saw something in his expression that looked like shame.
But before he could speak, my phone vibrated.
May you like
A message from Evelyn.
The court received another filing. This one includes a statement claiming you were paid to marry Alexander.
