The Divorce I Didn't Know

Synopsis

After seven years of marriage, Serena Wright and Jacob Paisley were trying for a baby. Serena visited every specialist she could find. She'd taken countless medications, tried physical therapy, and even traveled abroad for advanced treatments. Nothing worked. They decided to pursue IVF. The clinic required their marriage certificate. But their dog had torn it to pieces. Serena brought the taped-up fragments to city hall. "Ms. Wright, are you replacing your marriage certificate or requesting a divorce certificate?" a clerk asked. "Marriage, of course..." she started. The clerk turned the monitor toward her. The marital status field read: [Diivorced.] The divorce was dated September 17. Exactly six months earlier. "The system shows you were divorced six months ago," the clerk said, opening the digital record. "Mr. Jacob Paisley's legal spouse is now Cecilia Bartley." September 17 was Serena's birthday. Jacob had taken her to watch fireworks on a hilltop. Under the sparkling sky, he got down on one knee. He handed her a house contract. "This will be our home," he told her. Overjoyed, she signed. She never saw the divorce papers hidden behind the last page. That night, he got an "urgent work call" and had to leave. The woman who picked him up was Cecilia. The same woman he'd once kissed forcefully at a company party, right in front of everyone.