The rhythmic clatter of Olivia Carter's heels echoed through the polished marble floors of Carter & Finch Law Firm. The firm's glass walls gleamed under the soft afternoon light, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air. It was another busy day, another step closer to the life she had meticulously built. In less than two months, she would be walking down the aisle, marrying the man she had always dreamed of Ethan Brooks.
Ethan was perfect. Handsome, charming, a financial analyst with a spotless reputation and a stable career. They were the golden couple, admired, envied, and, most importantly, secure in their future together. Olivia had never been the kind to believe in fairy tales, but with Ethan, she felt like she was living one.
She sighed, pushing a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear as she settled into her office chair. Stacks of case files towered over her desk, reminders of her relentless ambition. Being a lawyer meant long hours, high-stakes negotiations, and little room for error. It was exactly the life she wanted, the life she had fought for.
Flipping open a file, she glanced at the documents inside, ready to review yet another contract. But as she scanned the page, her breath caught. Her fingers tightened around the paper.
It was a marriage certificate.
Her name was on it.
Olivia Grace Carter.
Married.
Her heart slammed against her ribs as her gaze darted to the groom's name.
Alexander Montgomery.
Who the hell was Alexander Montgomery?
Blood drained from her face. This had to be a mistake. A misprint. A joke.
She frantically scanned the details—date, location. The certificate was issued two years ago in Las Vegas. A courthouse wedding, legally binding. The paper trembled in her hands.
No. No. This wasn't possible.
Olivia prided herself on her sharp memory, her meticulous nature. She didn't forget things. She had never been married. Had she?
She forced herself to breathe, flipping the paper over, searching for anything any sign that this was some kind of forgery. But the seal was official. The signature at the bottom, scrawled in elegant ink, was hers.
Her pulse roared in her ears. This can't be happening.
With trembling fingers, she reached for her phone, dialing the only person she could trust with this insanity.
"Liv?" Her best friend, Maya, picked up almost immediately. "I swear, if you're calling to ask me about your bachelorette party theme again, I'm—"
"I think I'm married."
A pause. Then, "What?"
"I found a marriage certificate," Olivia whispered, still staring at the page in disbelief. "With my name on it. And some stranger Alexander Montgomery."
"Who the hell is Alexander Montgomery?"
"I have no idea!" Olivia snapped, standing abruptly. Panic clawed at her chest, making it hard to breathe. "It says we got married in Vegas two years ago. But I've never—Maya, I don't remember this. How could I not remember this?"
"Okay, okay, calm down," Maya said, though her own voice was laced with shock. "Maybe it's a mistake? A mix-up?"
"It's my signature on it."
Silence.
"Shit."
Olivia sank back into her chair, pressing her fingers to her temples. "What if this is real? What if I really… married someone?"
The thought sent a new wave of nausea rolling through her. She had spent the last two years building her future with Ethan. She had said yes to his proposal, picked out wedding invitations, planned their honeymoon. If this was real, everything her engagement, her career, her entire life was at risk.
Maya exhaled sharply. "You need to find this guy. Figure out what the hell happened."
Olivia swallowed. "And if it's real?"
"Then you get it annulled. No one has to know."
The thought of keeping this from Ethan made her stomach twist with guilt. But what was she supposed to do? Call him and say, 'Hey, babe, funny story—I might already be married to a complete stranger'?
She had to fix this. Quietly. Before it destroyed everything.
Straightening, Olivia took a deep breath and opened her laptop. Alexander Montgomery. If he was real, she would find him.
And then, she would make damn sure he disappeared from her life forever.