Chapter 3

After I got back to the city, I didn't do anything right away.

I needed to calm down.

I needed to know more.

I made a list.

First, why didn't Emily get married under her own name and ID?

Second, how much did the Carter family actually pay as a dowry?

Third, what else are my parents still hiding from me?

I got the answer to the first question from my aunt, Vivian Hale.

Vivian is Grace's younger sister. She married into a family in the next county, doesn't really keep in touch with Linda's side, but she always hears everything.

I called her up, didn't mention anything about the court house, asked casually, "Aunt Vivian, did Emily ever have a boyfriend before she got married?"

Vivian paused for a second. "Yeah, she did. Actually, it was way more than dating."

"What do you mean?"

"She was already married once when she was eighteen."

I froze, my hand gripping the phone. "What did you say?"

"Emily married Jason Quinn from the neighboring town when she was eighteen. Less than six months later, they split up. It was either domestic violence or Jason was a gambler, either way, it was a mess and she couldn't stay with him."

"Wait, she was divorced?"

"Yeah, you didn't know?"

Of course I had no clue.

Eight years ago, I was studying in the city.

Emily was two years younger than me, living back in our hometown.

All I knew was that she married into the Carter family when she was twenty. I didn't even go to the wedding. I was busy taking my certification exam.

But I had no idea she'd already been divorced once before that.

Vivian said, "Linda kept that tightly under wraps.

"The Carters are loaded. They own a construction supply company, and Mrs. Carter insisted on an unmarried bride. If Emily used her real ID, the system would show she was divorced, and the whole deal would've fallen through."

I closed my eyes.

Suddenly, it all clicked.

Emily couldn't get married under her own name because she had a divorce in her history.

The Carters wanted someone who'd never been married.

So Linda came to me.

I was her niece, off at college in the city, totally innocent, never even had a boyfriend.

All she wanted was my name and ID number.

She needed someone who looked single on paper.

And my parents handed it over to her.

"Why are you suddenly asking about this?" Vivian asked.

"Oh, we were just chatting."

"Emily's doing pretty well now, right? That house the Carters got her..."

"Yeah. Thanks, Aunt Vivian."

I hung up.

I sat in my apartment, staring up at the ceiling.

Emily took my name and married into the Carters.

Because she'd been divorced, and the Carters only wanted someone who'd never been married.

My parents gave Linda a copy of my ID.

Because Linda had helped our family out in the past.

And because of that, I was suddenly married on paper.

I lost my boyfriend.

I got turned down for a loan.

A credit card showed up on my credit report that I never opened.

And all this time, they acted like it wouldn't mess up my life.

Suddenly, something else came to mind.

Two years ago, I wanted to buy a small apartment in the city.

It wasn't much, over 400 square feet, but I'd saved up enough for the down payment.

When I went to the bank for a loan, the application was denied.

The bank told me, "Since you're listed as married, we need your spouse's signature. Plus, there's a credit card debt under your name."

I was completely blindsided.

I made two trips to the bank, checked my records three times.

Eventually, I gave up.

I thought it was some random system error.

Grace said on the phone, "Why buy a place? Renting is fine. When you get married, let your husband buy the house."

Looking back now, it wasn't that she didn't want me to buy a place.

She was scared I'd uncover everything if I tried to buy a house.

I closed my eyes.

I took a deep breath.

I opened them again.

I pulled out my notes app and added two more lines: [Emily had a divorce in her past, and the Carters only wanted someone who'd never been married. My parents knew about it and actively helped make it happen.]

Then I added a third line: [Dowry. How much did the Carters pay? And who got the money?]