“Yes.”
“Did he legally divorce before marrying you?”
I felt the floor tilt.
“I…
I don’t know.”
Grace pulled up something on her computer.
“I’m checking the county records now.” She was quiet for a long moment.
Then she turned her screen toward me.
Matthew had filed for annulment from Catherine.
The annulment was granted.
But there was no divorce — because an annulment means the marriage never legally existed.
Which meant, on paper, he had never been married before me.
“Is that legal?” I asked.
“It’s legal if the annulment was legitimate.
But if he married you while still legally bound — even by a fraudulent annulment — that’s bigamy.
And if he did it to access your assets, that’s fraud.” Grace closed her laptop.
“This is no longer just a bad marriage.
This is a crjminal case.”
“What do I do?”
“You go to that anniversary dinner.
You smile.
You let them think everything is on track.
And when the moment comes — when they put that document in front of you — you don’t sign it.
You show them what you have instead.”
“And if they try to stop me?”
Grace smiled.
It wasn’t a warm smile.
“That’s what I’m for.
I’ll be there.”
—
The anniversary dinner was at his mother’s house.
Margaret had decorated the dining room with white roses and candles.
Matthew’s uncle, his aunt, two cousins — all there.
Smiling.
Like it was a real celebration.
Matthew met me at the door.
He kissed my forehead.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
“Thank you,” I said.
I was wearing the dress he liked.
I was smiling the way he liked.
I was playing the part he’d written for me.
Dinner was quiet.
Pleasant.
Margaret kept refilling my wine glass.
I let her.
I didn’t drink.
After dessert, Margaret stood up.
“I have a surprise,” she said.
