MARRIED BY MISTAKE のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 51 - チャプター 60

Thursday, 6:12 AMZara woke to her phone ringing. Unknown number.She almost ignored it. Then something made her answer."Ms. Thompson. We need to meet. Today. Alone." Jackson Reid's voice was smooth, dangerous."Unless you want someone to look into your family's immigration status."Zara's blood ran cold."What?""Your mother. Lorraine Thompson. Entered the country from Jamaica in 1987. Student visa. Overstayed. Married a US citizen—your father—which should have resolved the issue.But the marriage ended before she got her green card. "She has been living here illegally for twenty-six years." That's not true."Am I? Check her paperwork. The citizenship documents she thinks are real? Fraudulent. Purchased from a document mill in Queens in 1999. I have proof. And I'll send it to ICE unless you meet me. Today. Noon. The address I'm texting you. Come alone."He hung up.Zara stared at her phone, her entire world tilting.Her mother—undocumented? Impossible. She'd seen her mom's citizensh

Monday, 7:43 AM, Federal Building, ManhattanZara was outside the immigration office with her mother, three lawyers, Marcus, Aria, and her brothers and sisters.Lorraine looked small in her nicest dress, the one she wore to church. Her hands were shaking even though she was trying to look calm. Lorraine remarked quietly, "You don't all have to be here." Zara said, "Yes, we do." "We're family." "We're here."Patricia Morrison, the lead lawyer, went over the papers one last time. She is 60 years old and has a reputation for winning cases that seem impossible. Please remember, Mrs. Thompson.Answer questions directly. Don't volunteer information. If you're unsure, say so. Let me handle the legal arguments.""What are our chances?" MJ asked bluntly.Patricia hesitated. "Honestly? Sixty-forty in our favor. The fraud victim angle is strong. Medical condition helps. US citizen children matter.But the system doesn't always work. "Agents have a lot of freedom." Kenya said, "So it's pretty muc

Chen Designs Studio, Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 3:47 PMZara stood on a pedestal in Sophie's studio, wearing the prettiest dress she'd ever seen.Silk in emerald green. Made just for you. Flowing without being too much. Not trying too hard to be elegant.She looked like she should be at a charity gala.She looked like she belonged next to Marcus Mercer."Stop," Sophie said, circling her with pins in her mouth. "Stop doubting yourself. I can literally see you doubting in the mirror.""I'm not doubting. I'm just—""Doubting." Sophie adjusted the hemline. "This dress is perfect.You're the best. Tonight is going to be great. "Stop making things worse."Kenya looked up from her phone, which she was holding with her legs crossed on the floor. "Z, she's right. You look like a real goddess. Marcus is going to die when he sees you.""That's the goal?" Zara asked."That's always the goal," Sophie said. "Make them forget how to breathe. That's how you know the dress works."The charity gala wa

Chen-Hale Industries, Friday, December 20, 2026, 4:47 PMZara looked at her computer screen and tried to focus on the Q4 projections, but her thoughts kept wandering.Five days until Christmas.Marcus would most likely pop the question in five days.She knew it was coming. Everyone knew it was coming. For weeks, there had been conjecture in the group chat. Sophie had "accidentally" shared engagement party ideas from her Pinterest boards. Kenya kept emailing links to wedding clothes.Last week, Leon even took her aside and said, "When my son proposes, not if, when I hope you know how much this family values you."The anticipation was killing her.Rebecca came through her doorway. "You're staring at spreadsheets like they personally offended you."I can't focus. Marcus is going to propose any day now, and I don't know when or how," Zara stopped. "Am I being ridiculous?" Completely. But also, it's kind of adorable." Rebecca sat down."Do you want him to propose?" Indeed. Absolutely. I've

Marcus's Apartment, Saturday, February 8, 2026, at 10:47 PMZara was in Marcus's bed with his arm around her waist, and they were both looking up at the ceiling. "Six days," she said in a low voice. We will be married in six days. Marcus brought her closer. "Are you scared?" Scared. Happy. Both. She turned to look at him. "Are you?"I have never been more sure about anything in my life. He found her hand and intertwined their fingers. "But also yeah, scared. What if I'm not a good husband? What if I'm not a good wife? Not possible. "You're good at everything." That's not true, objectively. I'm bad at cooking. I can't keep plants alive. I once tried to fix a leaking faucet, and it flooded my whole bathroom.Marcus chuckled, and the sound shook his chest. "Okay, let's get a plumber and a chef. "Problem solved." You can't just throw money at troubles in your marriage. See me try. He kissed her on the forehead. "But really, Zara. Sometimes we're going to botch this up. Argue. Fight.Make