Chapter 26
1050 Words
Ruby's heart raced as she waited for the clerk's response, Leo's shouting still echoing in her ears.
Owen, on the other hand, appeared outwardly calm.
Though she was almost certain she'd caught a fleeting smirk at the corner of his lips.
The clerk gave Owen an odd look.
"I'll need to check the system first."
He took the marriage certificate, turned to his computer, and began typing.
Owen pressed his lips together.
He felt ridiculous.
He knew he wasn't married yet.
Here he was, standing in the city clerk's office like a fool.
He had even postponed an important meeting to confirm something that shouldn't have existed in the first place.
Seconds dragged by.
Then the clerk looked up.
"It's real."
The floor seemed to drop out from under Owen.
Leo reacted instantly.
"That's impossible. Are you sure you didn't enter something wrong?"
The clerk shot him a flat, unimpressed look.
"Seriously?" he sighed. "Marriage is a legally binding process. Both parties must be physically present, verify their identities, and sign the official application in front of us."
The application.
Ruby thought sharply.
"Can we see the marriage license application?"
Ruby and Owen asked at the exact same time.
Their eyes met for a brief second before they both looked away.
The clerk exhaled slowly.
"You two already sound like a married couple."
He shook his head.
"Fine. I'll retrieve it."
He returned shortly after with their registration file, pulled out the application, and slid it across the counter.
Ruby's gaze dropped immediately.
The handwriting.
Her handwriting.
Leo sucked in a sharp breath.
"Sir, that's your signature."
Ruby's eyes flicked to the security cameras mounted along the walls.
"Can we review the footage from the day we registered?" she asked.
The clerk shook his head.
"No can do. We only retain surveillance recordings for six months."
They tried pressing further, but the clerk remained firm.
Marriage certificates were only issued with both parties present, and his office did not make errors.
Eventually, the three of them walked out of the city clerk's office with far more questions than answers.
They stopped just outside the entrance, the glass doors sliding shut behind them.
Leo broke the silence first.
"Sir, what do we do now?"
Owen's gaze darkened.
Ruby, standing a few steps away, merely lifted an eyebrow.
"Divorce," Owen said.
"Divorce," Ruby echoed.
They spoke at the exact same time again, as if perfectly rehearsed.
Leo blinked, caught off guard.
"So you're really getting a divorce right now? Should we discuss the terms?"
"I'll have my attorney contact you," Owen said coolly, already pulling out his phone.
"I'll have my attorney contact you," Ruby added at the same moment.
Both of them paused, but neither could stop themselves from glancing at the other.
Ruby let out a short, dry laugh.
"Here's a thought. Our lawyers draft proposals independently. We review them. If there's a conflict, the legal teams can fight it out."
Leo scoffed.
"And you can afford a lawyer?"
Owen shot him a sharp look.
Then, not at once, he said,
"That works."
Ruby didn't comment.
She simply raised her hand and flagged down a passing taxi with practiced ease.
"Talk soon," she said lightly, already opening the door.
The cab pulled away, leaving Leo staring after it.
He turned slowly to Owen.
"Sir, are you sure you two aren't actually a couple?"
"They were far too in sync. It was unsettling."
Owen answered with a glare sharp enough to kill.
"Get me the best divorce attorney in the city. I want the agreement drafted immediately, and I want my personal assets fully protected."
Leo snapped to attention.
"Yes, sir."
Then his eyes widened.
"Oh, I get it now. She planned this. When she realized she couldn't charm you, she went straight for your money."
"Even a fraction of your assets would set her up for life."
His jaw tightened with resolve.
"Don't worry. I won't let her take a single cent from you."
Owen didn't respond.
But long after the taxi disappeared from sight, his eyes remained fixed on the road.
Meanwhile, in the back of the taxi, Ruby was already on the phone with Miles.
"Find me the best divorce lawyer in the city," she said coolly. "He's not getting a single penny from me."
"Sure," Miles replied.
Then, predictably, his voice shifted into full gossip mode.
"So what's the deal with this marriage anyway? You and Owen both have zero memory of it. What is this, mutual amnesia?"
Ruby stared out the window.
"What do you think this is? A soap opera?"
Miles laughed.
"Hey, I'm just saying this is insane. And honestly, kind of impressive."
"I mean, imagine waking up married."
"I wish the city clerk's office would just mail me a wife."
Ruby let out a quiet sigh.
After a brief silence, she said,
"There's one person who definitely knows what happened."
Miles perked up.
"Who?"
"Matilda Knight."
Miles paused.
"Doesn't she have Alzheimer's? I thought her memory was completely shot."
"The Alzheimer's clinical trial."
Ruby frowned, her fingers tightening around the phone.
"Are the drugs still experimental?"
"Why?"
"We need to speed things up," Ruby said softly, "or it'll be too late."
"Too late? For what?"
Ruby didn't answer.
The line went dead.
When she reached her apartment, the place felt strangely empty.
"Sweetheart, you're back. I've been waiting forever."
A familiar voice boomed down the hallway.
"Look, I brought so many clothes this time."
Ruby stopped short.
Matilda stood there cheerfully dragging a suitcase nearly as big as herself, as if she'd always belonged there.
For a moment, Ruby considered asking why she was here.
Then she decided it didn't matter.
Later that day, on the other side of New York City, the city's most famous divorce firm received two separate anonymous requests.
Both demanded the exact same condition.
The other party receives nothing.
An associate lawyer stared at the files and groaned.
"I've handled countless divorces, but I've never seen terms this ruthless."
"One client's the husband, the other's the wife."
The senior partner chuckled, closing the folder.
"One agreement, two paychecks. Easiest money we'll make all year."
Meanwhile, Owen was buried in work.
He was just about to wrap up for the day when his phone rang.
Matilda was missing again.
- Writer
