Publicly Mine, Legally Hers

Paige's POV

"Ms. Sanders, Ms. Wallace has requested that your long-term access be removed from the system. If you're still living here, you'll need to reregister as a temporary resident."

The property manager stood outside the security door, his tone careful.

I stared at the screen on the lock where it read "Fingerprint Not Recognized," my hand still hovering in front of it.

"Temporary resident?" I asked.

"Yes."

He turned his tablet toward me.

"The registered owner of this unit is Ms. Wallace. Under the regulations, anyone who isn't the owner's spouse or an immediate family member can only be listed as a temporary occupant."

The light from the screen made my eyes ache.

Owner: Stella Wallace.

Spouse: Mason Hamilton.

The system entry was clear enough that there was nothing left to question.

I lowered my hand. "I understand. Thank you."

He gave me a brief, sympathetic look before stepping into the elevator.

When the doors closed, the hallway fell quiet again, the motion sensor light humming faintly overhead.

I took out my phone and called Mason.

It rang for a long time before he answered, the line otherwise silent except for the soft sound of pages turning.

"What's wrong?"

His voice was low and even, as steady as ever.

"I can't get into the apartment."

I looked at the closed door as I said it.

There was a short pause.

"Stella's not comfortable with strangers, so she reset the access list. She probably deleted your fingerprint by accident."

He let out a quiet breath, his tone easing. "Just use the passcode. It's still my birthday. And don't take it personally. I'll deal with it."

I lowered my eyes, staring at the tip of my shoe.

"They said I'm registered here as a temporary occupant."

He went silent for a couple of seconds, then gave a short, almost amused laugh.

"Wasn't making a scene at the office enough for one day?

"I've already explained. Stella grew up without parents, and she's always wanted a place that's hers. Putting the apartment in her name is just to give her some sense of security.

"You had the fairytale wedding everyone dreamed of. Everyone knows you're my wife.

"Besides, you live there. Who's going to call you a temporary occupant?"

In his mind, it was simple: I had the love and the public image, while Stella had the legal title and the assets.

"What about our marriage certificate?"

My grip tightened around the phone until my knuckles turned white.

"You kept telling me the paperwork was still being processed, that the county hadn't issued it yet. But according to their records, she's your legal wife."

Mason's voice cooled.

"Paige, what's gotten into you? You've never been like this.

"Whose place do I come home to every night? Who did I marry on Valentine's Day in front of the whole city?

"A piece of paper doesn't change how I feel about you. You matter more than any document.

"Anyway, I'll sort it out. I just need a little time."

I didn't answer. A sharp twist of pain pulled through my stomach.

"Alright," he said, his tone softening again. "I've got a dinner appointment tonight. I'll come back later and stay with you. Don't overthink it. We'll talk tonight, okay?"

The line went dead.

I listened to the empty tone for a second, then keyed in his birthday.

The lock beeped, and the door opened.

The lilies I had arranged the day before were still in the entryway.

On the coffee table sat a sealed cardboard box. I walked over and lifted the lid.

Inside were the vows Mason had written for me on our wedding day, along with the bouquet I had dried and kept.

Yesterday, they had been displayed in plain view. Now they were packed away with everything else.

I walked into the master bedroom, pulled open the bottom drawer of the dresser, and took out the marriage certificate Mason had given me on our wedding day, the one he had called proof of our love.