Chapter 14 - The Marriage Certificate
Julian waited in the old courthouse.
Nora stood beside Roman.
Her mother and Elena were behind them.
Adrian stayed near the entrance.
The courthouse was almost empty.
Julian held a folder.
“You want this?”
Roman stared at him.
“Yes.”
Julian smiled.
“You're going to have to listen first.”
Nora stepped forward.
“Why?”
Julian looked at her.
“Because I was never trying to steal your baby.”
Nora froze.
“Then what were you doing?”
“Protecting you.”
Roman's jaw tightened.
“You kidnapped her.”
“I moved her.”
“You drugged her.”
“I saved her from your father.”
Nora shook her head.
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
Julian looked down.
“I thought if you hated me, you'd stay away from Roman.”
Roman's expression hardened.
“Why?”
“Because everyone around you was dying.”
Julian opened the folder.
Inside was the marriage certificate.
Nora stared.
Her name.
Roman's name.
A legal seal.
She looked at Roman.
“You knew?”
“No.”
Julian smiled bitterly.
“You were married in secret eight months ago.”
Nora's breath caught.
Roman stepped toward her.
“I thought the paperwork had never been filed.”
“It was.”
Julian pointed to the signature.
“Celeste filed it.”
Nora looked at her mother.
Celeste nodded through tears.
“I wanted you protected.”
Roman took Nora's hand.
“I meant every word I said that night.”
Nora's eyes filled.
“You said you couldn't stay.”
“I said I couldn't stay where they could find us.”
Julian looked away.
“I failed you.”
Nora was silent.
Then she asked:
“Why did Selene attack me?”
Julian's expression darkened.
“Because she thought your baby threatened her.”
“Her?”
“She believed Roman would leave everything to you.”
Roman shook his head.
“I never planned to give her anything.”
“I know.”
Julian handed Roman another file.
Inside were bank records.
Names.
Payments.
Hospital records.
Photographs.
Roman read them.
His face hardened.
“Selene paid the doctor.”
Nora closed her eyes.
“Why?”
Julian looked at her.
“She wanted the baby removed.”
Roman's hand tightened around Nora's.
“She tried to kill our child.”
“Yes.”
The police arrived.
Selene was arrested.
Roman's father was arrested days later.
The conspiracy finally collapsed.
But one question remained.
Nora turned toward Celeste.
“Why did you never tell me about Roman?”
Celeste smiled through tears.
“Because I was afraid you'd choose him.”
Nora looked at Roman.
“I already did.”
Roman kissed her forehead.
For the first time in years, Nora felt safe.
But as they left the courthouse, a nurse came running toward them.
“Mrs. Calder!”
Nora turned.
The nurse was crying.
“The twins…”
Roman froze.
“What happened?”
The nurse held out a medical envelope.
“One of them has a test result.”
Nora opened it.
She read the first line.
Then her face went completely white.
Roman took the paper.
May you like
His eyes widened.
Because the test showed something no one had expected.
