I Married His Enemy Instead
'Ms. Johnson, your marriage certificate is fake.
'The system shows that the name of Mr. William Clark's spouse is Sophia Lopez, and they have a six-year-old son.'
I was holding my daughter, Emmy, at the time. My ears were rang as I recalled the words that escaped the lips of the staff member at the vital records office while passing the piece of marriage certificate, which now had a trashy feel to it, back to me.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated, snapping me out of my thoughts. I checked and saw that it was a message from Sophia.
'Heather Johnson, my beloved husband, William, is attending my son's parent-teacher meeting and doesn't have time to help you with your illegitimate daughter's birth certificate application.'
I clutched my phone and stared at the text message. Tears blurred my vision, for it made my eyes sting when I saw Sophia calling Emmy illegitimate.
I kissed Emmy's forehead and carried her out of the hospital.
…
When I was on my way home, I called William's archnemesis, the very man he despised with every fiber of his being.
"I'm currently single. If your offer still stands, I'll marry you in five days."