Chapter 4: The Divorce That Wasn’t
Nathan’s words hung between us.
“The divorce wasn't real.””
I stared at him.
The courthouse clerk slowly lowered the document in her hand.
“What do you mean it wasn't real?”” I asked.
Nathan swallowed.
“The paperwork was filed, but—”
“But what?””
He looked at Emily.
She was already crying.
“Nathan,” she whispered, “what did you do?””
He didn't answer her.
I stepped closer.
“You told me I was divorced.””
“I never told you that.””
“You made me believe we were married again.””
“You believed what I wanted you to believe.””
The honesty of it was almost worse than another lie.
The clerk stood.
“Sir, if you're saying this divorce record is fraudulent, you need to speak with the court records office.””
“I know.””
“Was your wife present when the divorce was filed?””
Nathan looked at me.
“No.””
“Did she sign the petition?””
“No.””
The clerk's expression hardened.
“Then you have a serious problem.””
Nathan rubbed his forehead.
“Rachel, please. We can fix this.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You've been saying that since yesterday.””
Emily stepped toward him.
“You told me our marriage was legal.””
“It is.””
“You just said Rachel is still your wife.””
Nathan said nothing.
Emily's voice cracked.
“Am I your wife?””
His silence answered her.
She removed her ring.
It struck the courthouse floor with a tiny metallic sound.
“I can't believe you.””
“Emily—”
“Don't.””
She bent down, picked up the ring, and dropped it into his hand.
“I defended you.””
Nathan closed his fingers around it.
“You don't understand.””
“I understand enough.””
She walked away.
Nathan watched her leave.
Then he looked back at me.
“I never wanted to hurt you.””
“You stole from me.””
“I was going to pay you back.””
“You forged my divorce.””
“I didn't forge it myself.””
That sentence stopped me.
“Who did?””
Nathan's eyes shifted toward the courthouse doors.
“My mother handled the paperwork.””
I felt something inside me go completely still.
“Diane?””
He nodded.
“She found someone who could make the filing look legitimate.””
“And the signature?””
“She had a copy of yours.””
My fingers tightened around the papers.
“You had my signature.””
“I had documents from your father’s estate.””
“So you forged my signature to divorce me.””
“I didn't know it would go this far.””
I stared at him.
“You married Emily while you were still married to me.””
“I thought if everything went according to plan, we'd eventually fix it.””
“What plan?””
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“What did my inheritance have to do with it?””
Nathan looked exhausted.
“The house.””
“What about it?””
“Your father left it to you.””
“Yes.””
“Diane found out there was a clause in the estate documents.””
My heart thudded.
“What clause?””
“If you died without a valid spouse, the property would pass differently.””
I frowned.
“That makes no sense.””
“It does if you read the whole document.””
He looked at the courthouse clerk.
Then back at me.
“Your father didn't trust me.””
That part didn't surprise me.
“My father barely knew you.””
“He knew enough.””
I remembered my father’s expression at our engagement dinner.
He had pulled me aside afterward.
Rachel, don't rush this man.
I had thought he was being protective.
Now the memory felt like a warning I had ignored.
“What did he put in the will?”” I asked.
Nathan shook his head.
“I don't know everything.””
“But Diane does.””
“Yes.””
“Where is she?””
He hesitated.
“At your house.””
My blood ran cold.
“The message said she shouldn't go there.””
Nathan looked away.
“She was already on her way.””
I grabbed my purse.
Nathan caught my wrist.
“Rachel, wait.””
I pulled free.
“What?””
“If you go there alone, you're walking into a trap.””
“What kind of trap?””
His face went pale.
“The original certificate.””
I stared at him.
“What about it?””
“It doesn't just prove you're married.””
He paused.
“It proves when you were married.””
I didn't understand.
“That's supposed to be obvious.””
“No.””
He looked toward the courthouse doors.
“Because the date on that certificate is the date your father used to trigger the inheritance clause.””
I felt dizzy.
“What inheritance clause?””
Nathan whispered:
“If our marriage was still valid on that date, the house belongs to you.””
“And if it wasn't?””
He looked at me.
“Diane gets control of the estate.””
I stared at him.
Then I understood why they had needed the divorce.
They weren't trying to end my marriage.
They were trying to make it appear ended at exactly the right time.
My phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice said, “Rachel Carter?””
“Yes.””
“This is Detective Harris. I need you to listen carefully.””
I glanced at Nathan.
“Why?””
“We received a call from your home security company.””
My stomach dropped.
“What happened?””
“There was movement inside your house.””
“Who?””
“We don't know yet.””
A pause.
Then Detective Harris said something that made my blood run cold.
“But the camera captured one person clearly.””
May you like
“Who?””
“Your mother-in-law.””
