PART 2: THE SHADOW ON THE CERTIFICATE
My hand trembled as I lowered the phone, trying desperately to keep my breathing even so Ryan wouldn’t notice the sudden wave of terror washing over me.
I made a quick excuse about an emergency errand for my mother’s medicine, grabbed my purse, and drove through the quiet Sunday morning streets toward the municipal building with my heart hammering against my ribs.
Mrs. Delaney met me at the side entrance, her face pale and drawn, guiding me through dark, empty corridors into a private conference room where a thick, yellowed folder lay on the table.
“Before you open this, Maya, I need you to understand that our digital archiving system automatically cross-references state records upon license registration,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I opened the folder, my eyes scanning the official government documents until they landed on a signature that made the blood in my veins turn completely to ice.
The document was an active, un-revoked marriage certificate from seven years ago, bearing Ryan’s distinct handwriting beside another woman’s name—a woman who had gone missing six years prior.
(What dark past was Ryan hiding from his new bride? Click “Next Page” to continue to PART 3…)
