I took out my marriage certificate and slid it across the table toward her.
"Miss, you missed a rather important detail."
——
She froze.
Her expression twisted, but she still snatched up the document and opened it quickly.
When her eyes landed on the registration information, her face turned even uglier.
Her fingers trembled as she held the booklet.
I watched her quietly, though the storm in my chest was no less violent than hers.
This was the first time I'd ever had to deal with Gerald's infidelity.
And I knew it would also be the last.
The woman finally set the certificate down and pushed it back toward me. Then—pretending to be perfectly composed—she opened her bag and took out another marriage certificate, sliding it to me.
"Ms. Ruiz, do you think I'd sit here in front of you if I weren't absolutely certain?"
I picked it up and opened it.
My hands trembled when I saw the date.
May 20th.
The same day we registered our marriage.
The pain was suffocating—like my heart was being crushed from the inside.
"You forged this," I said quietly. "Trying to cover up your lie?"
Stella kept her 'rightful wife' posture, lifting her chin proudly.