Shades of The Richest Simon Hall

"I can't do this any longer! My husband doesn't love me!" I had barely crossed the threshold of City Hall, clutching my drenched marriage certificate, when I picked up on the distraught words of a woman at the next counter who was arranging her divorce. She was pouring her heart out, lamenting the collapse of her marriage. By a bizarre twist of fate, her husband's name was identical to mine, Simon Hall. Yet, her spouse was the wealthiest individual in Riverfield, while mine was just an everyday guy. I couldn't help but smirk at the oddity of the shared name as I passed my certificate to the staff. "A fresh copy, please," I said. But in an unexpected turn, the staff member eyed me quizzically. "Ma'am, it shows you're registered as single, while this gentleman is classified as married. Also, this marriage certificate seems inauthentic." I stood rooted to the spot, a sinking feeling enveloping me. On a whim, I peered at the woman beside me. Her phone's wallpaper was a wedding picture. The man in that photograph, clad in a suit, was the husband I had been with for three years. Still reeling, I watched as the woman dialed a number. "Simon Hall, I'm serious about the divorce. You better get down here and finalize it!" Her phone was on speaker, and I heard a voice I knew all too well, a blend of frustration and tenderness evident in its tone. "Again with the divorce talks, sweetheart? I'm sorry, truly. Can we talk about this?" The young woman brushed the tears off her cheeks, her voice tinged with defiance. "Don't call me your wife. Soon, that title won't apply. I'm just giving you a heads up to handle the divorce papers. If you don't show up, I'll disappear overseas, and you'll never track me down. Besides, after two years apart, the divorce finalizes itself." I detected a note of desperation in the man's reply, and the clatter of a falling chair echoed through. "Wait, don't leave! I'll be there as fast as I can!" As the call ended, the woman, still wiping her eyes, informed the staff, "My husband's on his way. Is it true we need to wait 30 days for the divorce certificate?" "Yes, it will be issued in thirty days," the staff confirmed. She nodded, sinking into a nearby chair, her eyes red and swollen, giving off an air of fragile despair. Though I wanted to leave, my legs felt like lead, anchoring me to the spot. My mind a blank canvas, I questioned if this was merely a nightmare. Otherwise, how could the marriage certificate from two years ago be bogus? Snapping back to reality, I couldn't resist probing further, "Could you please double-check? I registered my marriage at this very place two years ago. How can it be counterfeit?" The staff, examining the damp and ruined certificate, pointed out the irregular seal. "Ms. Stone, notice how the stamp's misaligned? That's a clear sign it's a fake. You might need to get to the bottom of this yourself." They shot me a look full of empathy, prompting me to turn aside, urging myself to stand and move away. At that moment, the young woman glanced at me, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Oh my, we look uncannily alike!" My heart skipped a beat. Her features mirrored mine, and my face turned tense. I attempted to say something, but then the door swung open abruptly, and a man stormed in, his face full of urgency. "Honey!" Both the young woman and I shifted our gaze towards him, revealing a face I knew all too well. Just yesterday, he had whispered sweet words as he held me close. Yet now, his eyes were fixated on someone else. Michelle Jones glared icily at Simon, unwavering. "Perfect, you're here just in time. Let's deal with these papers immediately!" Simon exuded tension, so focused on her he seemed oblivious to my presence.