Chapter 4 - THE ATTORNEY WHO STOPPED ANSWERING.
The old lawyer was named Steven Maddox.
Ryan remembered him immediately.
“He stopped returning calls after I moved.”
Emily looked at the court docket spread across her sister’s kitchen table.
“Did you complain?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I thought the divorce was done.”
That answer frustrated her because it was believable.
Ryan had received copies of signed settlement documents. Natalie had moved away. Neither had property disputes or children together. They behaved like divorced people because they believed they were divorced.
Emily’s independent attorney verified the docket directly with the county clerk.
No final judgment appeared.
That proved a serious legal problem existed.
It did not yet prove who caused it.
Steven Maddox had retired, but his former firm retained archived client files.
With Ryan and Natalie’s consent, the firm reviewed them.
Three days later, an internal administrator called.
They had found an unsigned draft final judgment.
They also found correspondence from Natalie asking why she had never received a certified decree.
Natalie had asked.
Someone at the firm answered her.
Your dissolution has been completed. No further action is required.
Emily read the email twice.
“So Natalie was misled.”
“Yes,” her attorney said.
“What about Ryan?”
A similar message had gone to him.
That changed part of the story.
Ryan had not knowingly remained married to Natalie for years.
Neither had Natalie.
The old failure belonged largely to the legal process and the attorney who mishandled it.
Emily felt relief for exactly ten seconds.
Then she remembered the mall.
Ryan still knew about the problem before she did.
She called Natalie herself.
“Why did you contact him now?”
Natalie hesitated.
“Because I’m engaged.”
Emily went quiet.
Natalie continued.
“I went to get a certified copy of my divorce before applying for a marriage license.”
“And found there wasn’t one.”
“Yes.”
“Do you want Ryan back?”
Natalie gave a tired laugh.
“No.”
That stripped away Emily’s easiest explanation.
If Natalie did not want Ryan, then why had the mall confrontation felt so secretive?
May you like
Natalie answered before Emily asked.
“Because Ryan begged me for forty-eight hours before we told you.”
