Chapter 5 - The Shadow Wife
Z
The conference room at Sterling & Associates was made of black marble and floor-to-ceiling glass that overlooked the grey Seattle skyline. The atmosphere was so tense that every breath felt like inhaling shattered glass.
Sitting across from me was Evelyn Vance, flanked by two high-powered corporate litigators. On my side sat Victoria Sterling, who looked remarkably unbothered by the chaos unfolding around us. My parents sat beside me, my father’s face flushed with anger, his knuckles white as he gripped the mahogany table.
"This is absurd," my father burst out, pointing a finger at Evelyn. "Nathan married my daughter! I walked her down the aisle four days ago!"
"Your daughter participated in an illegal ceremony, Mr. Lin," Evelyn’s primary attorney, a man named Marcus Vance (no relation, though equally shark-like), replied smoothly. "We have filed a petition with the King County Superior Court this morning to declare the marriage between Nathaniel Vance and Maya Lin null and void ab initio due to a pre-existing, undissolved marriage."
Marcus slid a folder across the table. Victoria opened it, scanning the documents inside with practiced speed.
"A marriage certificate from Cook County, Illinois, dated six years ago," Victoria noted coolly. "However, my client was provided with a signed decree of dissolution signed by a judge in Cook County three years ago. Nathan believed he was single."
"That decree was a forgery," Evelyn said, crossing her arms, a cold, triumphant smile playing on her lips. "Nathan thought I signed it. I didn't. I kept our marriage alive in secret because I knew Nathan's company was going to take off. I knew he was building something worth tens of millions. I waited. And now that he is incapacitated, everything he owns—his patents, his estate, his accounts—reverts to his legitimate spouse. Me."
"You monstrous parasite!" my mother cried out, tears of frustration streaming down her face. "He is lying in a coma dying of cancer, and all you care about is his money!"
"I care about what is legally mine, Mrs. Lin," Evelyn replied without a shred of remorse. "Your daughter is nothing more than a glorified mistress who managed to trick a dying, guilt-ridden man into donating an organ to her."
I sat completely still, listening to them argue over Nathan’s body like vultures picking at a carcass.
"What about the medical proxy?" I asked, my voice cutting through the shouting matches. My voice was low, but it commanded the room.
Marcus cleared his throat. "Since the marriage is invalid, the power of attorney executed in conjunction with the marriage contract is currently under legal challenge. Until the court rules on the validity of the marriage next week, no one has the authority to remove Nathan from life support."
"So he just stays on a machine?" I looked at Evelyn. "You're keeping him alive as a biological houseplant just so you can secure your bank transfer?"
"I am keeping him alive because as long as his heart beats, I remain the primary beneficiary of his active trusts," Evelyn said, leaning across the table, dropping all pretenses of restraint. "Do you think I don't know why he gave you his kidney, Maya? I know all about the hit-and-run. Nathan told me years ago when he was drunk and weeping in our apartment in Chicago. He was terrified of going to prison. I helped him cover it up!"
The room dropped into a dead, terrifying silence.
My father slowly turned his head to look at Evelyn, then at me. "What... what did she just say?"
My stomach twisted into a sickening knot. My worst nightmare was unfolding right in front of me. "Dad, don't..."
"What hit-and-run?" my father demanded, his voice trembling, rising in pitch. "Maya, what is she talking about?!"
Evelyn laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. "Oh, precious Lord. You didn't tell them? You didn't tell your daddy that the handsome prince who saved your life is the bastard who put your son in an ICU ten years ago and ran off into the night?"
My father stood up so violently his leather chair hit the glass window with a loud thud. He looked down at me, his eyes wide with horror, betrayal, and unadulterated shock.
"Maya..." my father whispered, his voice cracking. "Is this true?"
May you like
I couldn't speak. Tears flooded my eyes as I closed them, unable to meet my father's gaze. My silence was the only confession he needed.
My father stumbled back, holding his chest, gasping for air as my mother screamed his name.
