Chapter 8 - The Marriage That Was Never Real)
The truth about the marriage certificate finally surfaced.
Elena's original marriage certificate had not disappeared.
It had been replaced.
Someone had altered the county record to make it appear that Elena and Julian's marriage had been invalid.
But there was one problem.
The original document was still stored somewhere.
Margaret found the location.
A private archive controlled by Elena's father.
They went there that afternoon.
Inside a steel box was the original marriage certificate.
And beneath it was another document.
A second marriage agreement.
Elena read it carefully.
Then she looked at Julian.
"You knew about this."
He nodded.
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"The real agreement."
Elena continued reading.
Her face slowly changed.
The document stated that Julian's inheritance would be protected only if he remained married to Elena for ten years.
But there was another condition.
If Julian betrayed her, every asset connected to Elena's father would transfer into a protected trust.
Not to Elena.
Not to Julian.
To someone else.
Elena looked confused.
"Who?"
Margaret took the document.
Her eyes widened.
"There's no name."
"What?"
"The beneficiary field was intentionally left blank."
Daniel stepped closer.
"That means your father never finished the agreement."
Julian shook his head.
"No."
Everyone looked at him.
"He did."
Julian pointed to the final page.
"The beneficiary wasn't supposed to be written there."
"Then where?"
Julian looked toward Elena.
"Inside the letter."
Elena's pulse quickened.
"What letter?"
"The one your father left for you."
The same letter she had found.
But Elena had not opened it.
Because the envelope was sealed.
And her father had written one instruction across the front.
Only after Julian betrays you.
Elena stared at the envelope.
May you like
She finally understood.
Her father had expected this day.
