Chapter 1

"Ms. Hart, I'm sorry, but I can't find any marriage registration records for you and Adrian Bennett."

The clerk slid the search results from the Office of the Registrar General of Ontario across the counter.

My fingers dug into my pregnancy test results as my knees buckled. I grabbed the edge of the counter just to stay upright.

Five years ago, Adrian was poached by a top-tier BigLaw firm in Manhattan.

I didn't hesitate. I left Toronto and followed him to New York.

He promised that once he found his footing, he’d sort out my green card.

But five years passed, and my marriage-based green card application was always "stuck in the paperwork phase."

Meanwhile, Nora—the paralegal who joined the firm when he did—had already gotten her green card approved through his sponsorship.

When I finally snapped and threatened to move back to Toronto, Adrian lost his composure for the first time. He grabbed my hand.

"Nora is alone in New York. The firm is sponsoring her because it's a work arrangement. It's not something you need to worry about."

"You're my wife. Your status will get sorted. If we submit it now, compliance will interrogate our relationship. I can't afford that risk."

So I waited. For five whole years.

My phone buzzed.

Adrian's voice came through, light and easy.

"Nora's green card just got approved. We're all celebrating tonight. Come home early and cook for us, yeah?"

I stared down at the forged marriage certificate in my hand. A freezing chill spread from my chest to my fingertips.

I was never his legal wife.

I hung up, booked an appointment for an abortion procedure, and bought a one-way ticket on the next flight to Toronto.

This time, I wasn't looking back.

I pushed the door open to an apartment already in chaos.

Lawyers and paralegals from Harrington, Cole & Vale packed the living room. Champagne corks popped, and loud laughter bounced off the glass windows, grating against my ears.

Nora was in the center of it all, cheeks flushed, holding a wine glass and holding court.

Adrian stood right beside her, a faint smile on his lips.

"Evelyn's back! Perfect timing." Nora spotted me first, her voice carrying over the music. "Mr. Bennett said we absolutely had to try your cooking tonight."

Everyone turned to look.

Adrian glanced at me, his brow furrowing slightly.

He walked over, dropping his voice.

"Why are you so late? Go start the food. Nora's green card just got approved, everyone's happy for her."

I didn't say a word. I took off my coat and walked into the open kitchen.

The chatter and laughter from the living room drifted in through the glass door.

They talked about cross-border M&A deals, immigration policies, and who was most likely to make equity partner next year.

Every single word felt lightyears away.

For the past five years, my entire world had been precisely confined to the square footage of this apartment.

As I chopped vegetables, the cheering of a drinking game erupted outside.

"Adrian, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

His voice was steady as always.

Someone dragged out their words playfully.

"Out of everyone in this room, who would you say is your best partner?"

My knife stilled.

Adrian didn't even hesitate.

"Nora. Obviously. Through the toughest deals and the most difficult clients, she keeps the documents, workflows, and clients perfectly coordinated. Most reliable deal-team support I've got."

The living room erupted in cheers.

"Told you. They totally look like a power couple."

"They look like equals no matter where they go."

"Adrian settled down way too early. Otherwise, he and Nora would be a match made in heaven."

Someone lowered their voice.

"Honestly, I never understood why Adrian got together with Evelyn in the first place. I heard she's a photographer, but she hasn't had a real job since she moved to New York."

"How did she even get him? Playing the perfect little housewife?"

The steam from the pot billowed up, stinging my eyes.

Power couple.

Best partner.

Every word drove like a nail into my chest, twisting deep.

The most ridiculous part was that all these people thought I was Adrian's wife.

But the marriage certificate I held was a fake.

Crash.

The bowl slipped from my fingers and shattered across the floor.

Adrian strode over, his face tight with impatience.

"What is wrong with you?"

I crouched down to pick up the shards. A jagged edge sliced my fingertip, and blood quickly welled up.

"Slipped."

He glanced at my bleeding hand.

"Can you just be careful? You're making a scene in front of my colleagues."

I looked up at him.

There was no concern in his eyes. Only distaste.

"Clean it up. And hurry up with the food, they're starving."

The door slid shut behind me.

He didn't know I was seven weeks pregnant.

He didn't know I had just found out our entire marriage was a lie from day one.

My life, from the moment I fell in love with him, had become one long, cruel joke.