Chapter 5 - The Trap Springing Closed
Ryan ripped open the yellow envelope standing right there in the middle of the crowded lobby.
Inside was not a love letter begging him to change. It was an official packet from the Family Court Division of Clark County.
Document 1: Notice of Revocation of Domestic Partnership. Document 2: Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate #2026-889412 — Married: Ryan Thomas Hails and Ava Nicole Brooks.
Ryan’s head spun. "Wait... we didn't file the certificate! The chapel was supposed to hold it!"
"The chapel filed the certificate electronically at midnight, Mr. Hails," Mrs. Gable informed him with icy satisfaction. "You are legally, fully, and unconditionally married to Ava Brooks under the laws of the State of Nevada."
Ryan pulled out his phone and frantically dialed Ava's number.
She picked up on the third ring, her voice groggy. "Ryan? Where did you go? My head is killing me..."
"Ava, get up right now!" Ryan screamed into the phone, turning away from the lobby crowd. "The chapel filed the certificate! We are legally married! We need to go to the courthouse right now and sign emergency annulment papers! Nora left me! She took her stuff and vanished!"
There was a long silence on the line.
When Ava spoke again, the groggy, party-girl tone was gone. Her voice was sharp, clear, and unbothered.
"Oh," Ava said softly. "Nora left? That's unfortunate."
"Unfortunate?!" Ryan yelled. "Ava, put your clothes on! I'm picking you up to sign the annulment!"
"I don't think I'm going to sign an annulment, Ryan," Ava said smoothly.
Ryan froze. The noise of the bureau lobby faded into a low hum. "What... what did you just say?"
"I said, I'm not signing an annulment," Ava repeated calmly. "An annulment requires mutual consent claiming fraud or incapacity. I wasn't incapacitated. I knew exactly what I was doing. And under Nevada law, if one party contests an annulment, it automatically converts into a contested divorce proceeding."
"Ava, what the hell are you talking about?!" Ryan’s voice shook with sudden terror. "It was a dare! You said it was a dare!"
"You said it was a dare to convince Nora to process the form without throwing a fit," Ava chuckled dryly. "I’ve been in love with you for three years, Ryan. You were just too stupid to notice. And now that we’re legally married, as your spouse, I’m entitled to temporary occupancy of our shared marital residence—which means I'm moving into your Summerlin apartment today. See you at home, hubby."
May you like
The line went dead.
Ryan stood in the center of the Clark County Marriage Bureau, holding his phone, looking down at his certified marriage certificate, realizing that in his desperate attempt to look "cool" and "unbothered" to his friends, he had handed his entire life over to a predator—and destroyed the only woman who had ever truly loved him.
