4: 4
4
At three in the afternoon, my phone buzzed with a reminder.
【Your marriage registration appointment is scheduled for 4:20 p.m. today. Both parties please bring valid ID and arrive on time.】
A second later, Rowena forwarded a screenshot of the appointment.
"I've already given you a way out."
"Get to the county clerk's office before four, and I'll forgive the scene you made today. We sign the papers as planned."
Then came a voice message.
"But before we sign, you're going to apologize to my parents."
"And to Saul."
"You and your parents humiliated him in front of everyone today. That apology is happening."
"Say you're sorry and mean it, and we'll call the whole thing even."
I typed back two calm words.
"Sure."
The group chat went quiet for a few seconds.
Then Rowena tagged Saul.
"I won."
Saul sent a grudging little sticker.
"A bet's a bet."
"When you two go on your honeymoon, I'm coming along."
Rowena immediately posted a flight order with an added passenger.
"Already bought your ticket."
So it turned out even the honeymoon I'd been looking forward to had become a prize on their betting table.
At 4:15, I arrived at the county clerk's office right on time.
Rowena was standing at the entrance to the registration hall.
When she saw me, the tension in her face finally eased.
"Good thing you came to your senses."
"My parents and Saul are all waiting at the hotel."
"After we sign, I'll go back with you to apologize."
As she spoke, she held out her hand.
"Give me your ID."
I didn't move.
The next second, two officers stepped out from behind me.
"Ms. Rowena Chase?"
"We've received a report accusing you of stealing access to someone's account and transferring six hundred and eighty thousand dollars without permission."
The smile froze on her face.
"Stealing what?"
"That was our wedding account!"
I pulled out the bank statements and the hotel contract.
"The account is in my name. Every cent in it is mine."
"You took the payment password while I was asleep, then posed as me to confirm the payment with the hotel."
"The hotel's security footage, the transfer records, and the chat logs are all with the police now."
A female officer stepped forward and locked a hand around her wrist.
Rowena finally panicked.
"Charles, aren't you here to sign the papers with me?"
I looked at her and smiled, just a little.
"No."
"I'm here to send you to the station."
