Chapter 2
Chapter 2:
The staff member at City Hall adjusted his spectacles, peering at the copy of the marriage certificate again and again. At last, he spoke. “Ma’am, the document you’ve presented is counterfeit. Our records show no marriage registration whatsoever between you and Mr. Colin Palmer p>
Brinley went rigid.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came. Her lips twitched, as if her voice had deserted her. “This… this can’t be,” she finally whispered, barely audible. “We were married here… two years ago p>
The staff member shook his head, sympathy in his eyes. “I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. I can’t find any information about your marriage in our system. If you believe you’ve been deceived, it would be best to report the matter to the authorities p>
Intense romance on FindNop>
Nodding stiffly, Brinley accepted the copy of the marriage certificate as he handed it back. Her fingers trembled when they brushed its edge.
The document she had treasured for the past two years was fake.
How could this be real?
Outside City Hall, Brinley halted on the steps, her head swimming. She needed time—somewhere quiet to untangle the storm of thoughts threatening to swallow her whole.
She drifted into a small café nearby and ordered an iced black coffee, strong and bitter.
The sharp taste spread across her tongue, but it couldn’t compare to the bitterness clawing at her heart.
Just then, her phone lit up with a message from Colin: “Brinley, what would you like for dinner tonight? I’ll pick something up after work p>
Nausea surged in her throat as she stared at the words on the screen.
Drawing in a shaky breath, she typed: “Don’t worry. I’ll cook p>
Almost instantly, Colin replied: “All right. I’ll be home on time after work p>
Brinley didn’t respond.
Instead, she checked the clock. It was half past three.
On impulse, she decided to visit Colin’s office without telling him.
His tech firm was housed in a sleek, modern tower on the east side of the city. She had brought him lunch there so many times that the receptionist recognized her immediately, greeting her with a bright smile and waving her through. The elevator carried Brinley up to the twenty-eighth floor. When the doors slid open, she stepped out and followed the familiar route toward Colin’s office.
But as she rounded a corner, the sound of his voice drifted from the break room.
“I’m conflicted, but you know… I just can’t let go of Milly p>
Brinley stopped short, her body locking as if the world had frozen around her.
She backed up quietly and pressed herself against a column, straining to listen.
“What do you intend to do, then?” a man asked.
Brinley recognized the voice at once. It belonged to Vance Graham, Colin’s close friend.
“Are you planning to stay with Brinley while marrying Milly Russell? Colin, that’s not fair p>
The words hit Brinley like a brutal blow. She had to grip the wall to keep herself steady.
Milly Russell. Who was she? Colin was going to marry her?
Each syllable felt like a blade drawn slowly across her chest.
“I know it isn’t fair,” Colin admitted with a weary sigh. “But when Milly left to pursue her career abroad, I was heartbroken. Then Brinley came along… she reminded me so much of Milly that dating her finally brought healing to my broken heart p>
Brinley sank her teeth into her lower lip until she tasted metal.
She reminded him of Milly.
So that was what she was—just a substitute.