He Married Me With a Fake Certificate

Don't touch me. You make me sick.

The moment he drove that knife into my chest for another woman, I knew our five years together had come to an end.

Alexander Sterlingthe man who had deceived me with a fake marriage certificate for three whole yearswas now holding his first love after her suicide attempt, screaming at me.

"Emily! Will you only be satisfied after you drive her to her death?"

The wail of police sirens grew louder outside.

I touched the bleeding cut along my neck and smiled.

So, in his eyes, I wasn't even worth believing over a liar.

What a pity he had forgotten one thing.

I was never the kind of woman who stayed behind, waiting for someone to turn back.

Since you refuse to believe me, then I'll make sure you never find me again.

Emily's POV

The espresso machine let out a long, low hiss as the rich, dark aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the cozy space behind the counter.

I kept my eyes down, carefully pouring the steamed milk into the cup. With a gentle flick of my wrist, a perfect tulip patterned in the foam.

"Wow, Emily. Your hands are so steady," Amy, our college-student part-timer, said with pure envy in her voice.

I set the cup on the counter, grabbed a clean towel to wipe my hands, and said nothing.

My hands were steady.

Even half an hour ago, when the clerk at the County Clerk's Office looked at me with pity and said those words, my hands hadn't shaken once.

"Ms. Carter, we've searched the county's marriage database. There is no record of a marriage registration between you and Mr. Alexander Sterling."

"In fact, public records show that Mr. Sterling legally married a Ms. Sophia Delaney just twenty days ago."

Five years.

I had been with Alexander for five whole years.

Just three days ago, when he handed me that beautiful, fancy-printed marriage certificate, the warmth in his eyes was enough to drown me.

He had whispered, "Emily, you're finally Mrs. Sterling."

Then, he immediately took the certificate back, saying he'd keep it safe until they could get a certified copy made.

If I hadn't needed the original certified copy to apply for my visa for the barista exchange program in France, I might have gone my entire life without knowing the truth.

The chime above the door cut through my thoughts.

Alexander Sterling walked in, bathed in the warm afternoon sunlight. He was wearing a perfectly tailored dark gray suit.

He was tall, handsome, and carried himself with the effortless confidence of old money. The moment he stepped inside, half the customers in the shop turned to look at him.

I stared at his familiar face, trying to find a single crack, a single hint of guilt.

Nothing. He was still the same, composed, rational, and radiating that subtle, upper-class aloofness.

"How did the visa application go?" Alexander walked up to the counter, naturally reaching out to cup my cheek.

I tilted my head slightly, dodging his hand.

His hand froze in mid-air, and his brows furrowed slightly. "What's wrong? Is the shop too busy? Are you tired?"

"I couldn't apply," I said, looking straight into his eyes. My voice was completely flat. "The clerk at the County Clerk's Office said our marriage certificate doesn't exist in their system."

Alexander's pupils contracted instantly. But in a split second, he let out a soft laugh and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"It must be a database glitch. You know how slow and buggy government systems are. I'll have my assistant look into it tomorrow. Let me take care of the paperwork from now on so you don't lose anything."

He lied without even blinking.

The very last spark of hope in my heart died quietly in the face of his casual cover-up.

"Alexander," I said his name softly. "Have you been really tired lately?"

"It's the end of the fiscal year. The firm has a lot of loose ends to tie up. So yeah, a little," he replied casually, his eyes already drifting toward the window.

Right then, a white Porsche pulled up right in front of the cafe.

The door opened, and a woman in a soft white knit dress stepped out. She looked delicate, fragile, and utterly elegant.

She walked straight in, came up to Alexander, and naturally wrapped her arm around his.

"Alexander, is this the cafe your girlfriend owns?" She smiled at me, but her eyes held a cold, patronizing judgment. "Hi, I'm Sophia Delaney. Alexander talks about you all the time."

I looked at her hand resting on his arm.

Sophia Delaney.

The first love Alexander had chased for three years, only for her to run off to the UK and marry someone else the day after they officially started dating.

Twenty days ago, Sophia returned to the country, and Alexander legally married her.

Three days ago, Alexander handed me a fake marriage certificate.

How pathetic.

Amy stood there, completely dazed. She stammered, "Mr. Sterling? Who is..."

Alexander quietly pulled his arm out of Sophia's grasp. His voice was completely calm. "She's just an old friend. She's going through a tough time, and I'm helping her out."

Sophia didn't seem mad at all. Instead, her smile grew sweeter.

She leaned against the counter, staring at the nametag on my apron. "Emily, since I'm a close friend of Alexander's, do I get a discount on my coffee today?"

Emily's POV

"A discount?" I repeated the word, letting out a cold laugh. "We don't do that here. That'll be eight dollars. Cash or card?"

Sophia's smile stiffened. She immediately turned to Alexander, her eyes filling with instant tears of victimization.

"Alexander... did I say something wrong to upset Emily? I was just kidding..."

Alexander's frown deepened. He pulled out his wallet, grabbed a black card, and handed it to Amy. His voice carried a hint of sternness directed at me. "Emily, Sophia just got back to the country and is going through a lot. Don't take it out on her."

The way he spoke her name was so gentle.

I passed him the receipt without a single expression on my face. "Here. There are two orders ahead of yours. Please wait."

I turned my back to them and started pulling espresso shots, refusing to give them another second of my attention.

I could practically feel Alexander staring at my back, his frown deepening.

He was probably wondering why the sweet, compliant Emily wasn't being sweet today.

For the past five years, no matter how late he came home, I would leave a light on and warm up a cup of milk for him.

But that was the past.

Outside the counter, Sophia tugged at Alexander's sleeve. "Alexander, does Emily misunderstand our relationship? Maybe I should just leave. I don't want to come between you two."

"It's not your fault," Alexander said, patting her hand reassuringly. "She's just tired today."

Once their coffee was ready, I had Amy serve it. I grabbed my phone and walked straight into the back breakroom.

Closing the door behind me, I leaned against it and let out a long, shaky breath.

I unlocked my phone, opened Snapchat, and sent a message.

"Jenny, is that offer to partner up for your new shop in Seattle still open?"

My phone buzzed almost instantly.

"Of course it is! I've been begging you to come! But wait, didn't you just get your marriage certificate? Is Alexander really going to let you go?"

I stared at the screen, my fingers typing rapidly. "The wedding is off. I can leave anytime."

"Oh my god, yes! I'm flying back next week to wrap things up. I'll come pick you up!"

I locked my phone and took off my apron.

Since Alexander had made his choice, there was no reason for me to stay here and be the joke of his story.

When I went back out, Alexander and Sophia were already gone.

At 10 PM, I finally dragged my exhausted body back to our shared apartment.

The moment I pushed the door open, I heard the sound of rushing water from the bathroom.

Alexander walked out after his shower, towel-drying his hair. His phone on the coffee table started buzzing.

The screen lit up with an unsaved number.

I was about to walk past to pour myself some water when Alexander rushed past me like a gust of wind.

His shoulder slammed hard into mine. I lost my balance, and my leg scraped violently against the sharp glass corner of the coffee table.

A sharp, agonizing pain shot up my leg. I gasped, tears immediately springing to my eyes.

But Alexander didn't even glance at me.

He grabbed his phone and swiped to answer. His voice carried a frantic, gentle tone I had never heard before. "Sophia, don't be scared. Lock your doors. I'm coming right now."

He hung up, grabbed his jacket from the couch, and headed straight for the door.

As he walked past me, he threw a casual line over his shoulder. "Emergency at the office. Don't wait up."

In the past, I would have stood up, fixed his collar, and warned him to drive safely.

But tonight, I just sat on the floor, holding my bleeding leg, not even bothering to look up.

The front door slammed shut, leaving the apartment in a deafening, dead silence.

I dragged myself to get the first-aid kit and quietly patched up my wound.

Once that was done, I walked into the master bedroom, pulled out a large suitcase, and started packing.

The jewelry Alexander had bought me, the matching mugs we picked out together, the scrapbook I had stayed up nights making for our wedding...

Anything I couldn't carry, or anything that had to do with him, I threw straight into a large black trash bag.

It took me three hours. The once cozy, warm bedroom was now half-empty.

At 2 AM, the smart lock beeped.

Alexander walked in, bringing the cold night air with him.

He pushed the bedroom door open. When his eyes landed on the empty vanity and the bare shelves, he froze.

"Emily, what are you doing in the middle of the night?" He stared at the black trash bags in the corner.

It took him several seconds to find his voice. "Where did all your stuff go?"

Emily's POV

I folded the last sweater, packed it into the suitcase, and zipped it shut.

Standing up, my voice was as calm as if I were talking about the weather. "Just clearing out some old junk to throw away tomorrow. It was taking up too much space."

Alexander stood at the doorway, watching me with a tight frown.

"Stop messing around and go to sleep. The photographer is coming early tomorrow for our engagement shoot. Don't be late." He pulled off his tie and walked into the bathroom.

I watched his back, finding the whole thing incredibly hilarious.

He had legally married someone else, yet he still wanted to take engagement photos with me? How did he even have the nerve?

The next morning, I carried the black trash bags out.

Alexander actually reached out to take them. "These are heavy. What's inside? Let me throw them out for you."

He reached to open the bag.

I placed my cold hand over his, stopping him.

"Just old, useless trash. It's dirty."

He didn't think twice about it and tossed them into the dumpster downstairs.

Watching five years of memories go down the garbage chute actually made it easier to breathe.

The photographer met us in a historic district downtown.

The makeup artist was already waiting in a van to do my hair and makeup.

I changed into a dress I brought myself and stood on the cobblestone street, waiting for the shoot to start.

On the way over, Alexander had stopped by a boutique and bought a dress for me.

It was cream-colored, with vintage lace and a soft, ruffled hem.

"Wear this one," he said, handing it to me with absolute certainty. "You'll look beautiful in it."

I took it and stared at it for a second.

The style of this dress was almost identical to the white knit dress Sophia had worn yesterday. They looked like they came from the same wardrobe.

I didn't even have the energy to argue. I went back into the van and changed.

Before the camera could even click, Alexander's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, his face changing instantly. He walked off to the side to take the call.

A few minutes later, he walked back with a guilty expression. "Emily, there's an absolute emergency at the firm. I have to go. We'll do your solo shots today, and we can reschedule the couple shots later."

The photographer and makeup artist exchanged awkward glances.

Who leaves their fiance alone during an engagement shoot?

But I just nodded. "Sure. Go do what you need to do."

Alexander seemed surprised by how easygoing I was. A flash of guilt crossed his eyes, and he reached out to pat my head. "I'm sorry. Once this busy season is over, I'll take you to Hawaii for a proper honeymoon."

"No need," I said, dodging his hand and turning toward the photographer. "Go. Don't let me hold you up."

After Alexander left, I finished the entire shoot by myself.

Standing alone on the cobblestone street, looking down to fix my hair, holding the bouquet.

The photographer kept praising me, saying, "So natural!" and "Perfect!"

I smiled on cue, but I knew deep down that this "natural" look was just pure acting.

When it was over, I changed into my normal clothes, wiped off the makeup, and took an Uber back to the apartment.

As I reached the door, the smell of food greeted me.

I pushed the door open, and the scene inside made me freeze.

Sophia was wearing one of Alexander's white dress shirts, the sleeves rolled up several times. Her hair was up in a messy bun, and she was carrying a pan out of the kitchen.

Seeing me, Sophia didn't look flustered at all. Instead, she flashed a warm, hostess-like smile. "Oh, Emily's back! Alexander said you'd be starving after shooting all day, so he asked me to whip up some dinner."

Alexander walked in from the balcony. When he saw me, a brief flash of awkwardness crossed his face.

"Sophia's apartment had a major pipe burst, and her landlord is fixing it. She has nowhere else to go, so I told her she could stay in the guest room for a few days."

"Is that so?" I kicked off my shoes, not even glancing at the food on the table. "Enjoy your dinner. I'm going to bed."

I walked straight toward the guest room at the end of the hall to grab the charger I had left there last night.

"Don't go in there!" Alexander suddenly yelled, his voice laced with panic.

But it was too late.

I pushed the door open.

Hanging on the wall right in front of me was a massive, professionally shot wedding portrait in a dark wooden frame.

In the photo, Alexander was wearing a sharp black suit, and Sophia was in a stunning white bridal gown.

They were sitting side by side, Sophia's head resting gently on his shoulder, smiling like a dream.

In the bottom right corner was the date of the shoot: exactly twenty days ago.

I stared at the photo, my nails digging deep into my palms to suppress the rising urge to throw up.

Emily's POV

"Emily, let me explain."

Alexander rushed over and grabbed my wrist. "The photo isn't what you think. Sophia's family was forcing her to marry some creepy older guy who wouldn't stop stalking her. We only took these photos to make her family back off and help her escape."

Playing along was an excuse. Taking wedding photos was an excuse.

And bringing her into the apartment we were supposed to share as husband and wife was also just an excuse.

I violently shook his hand off, my eyes cold as ice. "Alexander, don't touch me. You make me sick."

In five years, this was the first time I had ever spoken to him with such venom.

Alexander looked as if he had been stabbed. He froze completely.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Sophia suddenly ran out of the living room.

Her eyes were red, and tears were streaming down her face. "Emily, please don't blame Alexander. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have been so shameless to crash here. I'll leave right now..."

She turned and ran toward the door.

"Sophia!" Alexander grabbed her arm. "It's the middle of the night, where are you going? That guy is still looking for you!"

"Then let him find me!" Sophia sobbed hysterically, struggling to pull away. "I'm just a burden anyway! I'd rather die than ruin your relationship!"

As she struggled, her hand knocked a ceramic vase off the side table.

With a loud crash, the vase shattered into pieces on the floor.

Sophia suddenly knelt down, picked up a sharp shard of ceramic, and without hesitation, brought it toward her wrist.

"Sophia! Are you crazy?!"

Alexander's face turned pale. He lunged forward and knocked the shard out of her hand.

But a thin line of blood was already forming on Sophia's pale wrist.

Alexander pressed down on her wound, turning to scream at me. "Emily! Are you happy now? Do you really have to drive her to suicide to be satisfied?!"

I stood there quietly, watching Alexander's bloodshot eyes and the veins popping on his neck. It felt incredibly absurd.

"I drove her to this?" I let out a dry laugh.

"Aren't you?!" Alexander snapped. "She's been pushed to the edge, and you don't have an ounce of sympathy? You're a woman too, how can you be so cold-blooded?!"

He paused, his next words cutting deeper than any knife. "No wonder people say you were born heartless. When your mother died in that car crash, you didn't even shed a single tear. I thought you just struggled to express your emotions, but now I see you simply don't have a heart!"

Those words ripped open the deepest scar in my soul.

I was only fifteen when my mother died.

I was in the passenger seat during the crash.

The violent impact had caused temporary hearing loss and left me in extreme shock. I physically couldn't cry.

That was the most painful memory of my life.

I had once bared that wound to Alexander, and he had held me all night, comforting me.

And now, he was using that very scar as a weapon to tear me apart in front of another woman.

I closed my eyes, forcing the tears back down.

"Yes, I have no heart," I said, opening my eyes to look at him with dead silence. "So both of you can go die wherever you want. Just don't get your blood on my floor."

Alexander stared at my indifferent face, his mouth opening as if to explain.

But Sophia let out a painful gasp in his arms, instantly pulling his attention back.

"I'm taking her to the ER," Alexander gritted his teeth, lifting Sophia in his arms, and rushed out the door.

The front door slammed shut again.

I walked over to the broken ceramic shards and knelt down.

The flowers I bought yesterday were crushed, mixed with water and blood on the floor.

Without any expression, I grabbed a broom and swept the mess away.

Then, I went into the master bedroom, dug into the bottom drawer, and pulled out a photo.

It was a photo of Alexander and me from our first year together. He had his chin on my shoulder, smiling like a boy who had just won the lottery.

I took a pair of scissors and cut right down the middle, separating us.

I tossed Alexander's half straight into the trash can.

Emily's POV

Alexander didn't come back all night.

I was glad for the peace. I packed up almost everything that belonged to me, just waiting for Jenny to pick me up next week.

The next day, I slept until noon, woken up by the clanging of pots and pans in the kitchen.

I walked out of the bedroom and saw Alexander wearing an apron, busy at the stove.

A pot of soup was bubbling, filling the air with a rich aroma.

Hearing me, he turned around, a hint of awkwardness and pleading in his eyes.

"You're awake? I made some seafood chowder. Have a bowl later." He walked over, trying to hold my hand. "I was too rash last night. I said things I shouldn't have. Please don't take it to heart."

I stepped back, looking at the shrimp and scallops bubbling in the pot.

"Seafood chowder?"

"Yeah. Sophia lost some blood, and the doctor said she needs protein. I remember you like soup too..."

I looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Alexander, we've been together for five years. Do you even remember that I'm severely allergic to seafood?"

Three years ago, Alexander took me to a sushi place. I had one bite of sea urchin and broke out in hives, which triggered an acute asthma attack that put me in the hospital for three days.

Since then, no seafood was ever allowed in our apartment.

Alexander froze, his face turning pale.

"Emily... I... I forgot. I'm so sorry! I'll throw it out and make something else right now!" He frantically turned off the stove, almost burning himself in the process.

"No need," I said, turning toward the bathroom. "Save it for Sophia. I don't deserve it."

"Emily!" Alexander chased after me, blocking my path. "Do you have to be so sarcastic? I already apologized, what more do you want? I've already told Sophia she needs to move out once she heals. Can you please just be the bigger person?"

"I am being the bigger person," I said, looking up at him. "She can stay as long as she wants. I won't interfere."

Alexander stared at my calm, emotionless eyes, his brows furrowed. He seemed to be searching for any sign of jealousy or hurt.

Before he could say anything, my phone rang.

It was Amy from the shop, saying the espresso machine was acting up and asking if I could come take a look.

I hung up, put on my shoes, and left without giving him another glance.

For the next few days, I left early and came back late, basically living at the cafe.

Every time I went back to the apartment, Alexander was either peeling fruit for Sophia or watching TV with her.

The atmosphere between them was so comfortable they looked like the actual married couple.

I ignored them completely and went straight to my room to sleep.

Until Sunday night.

I got home after closing the shop and heard laughter coming from the living room.

Along with Alexander and Sophia, there were a few of Alexander's college buddies.

"Oh, Emily's back!" one of his friends stood up to greet me, but his expression was incredibly awkward.

Sophia was sitting incredibly close to Alexander, her hand practically resting on his thigh.

I gave a curt nod and headed toward my room.

"Emily, since you're back, come sit with us," Alexander called out. "We're celebrating Sophia getting discharged today."

I stopped in my tracks.

Celebrating Sophia's discharge, in my apartment?

I turned around, looking at the group of uncomfortable faces, before letting my gaze settle on Alexander.

"Sure." I walked over and sat on the single armchair.

The room fell into a dead silence.

One of his friends, trying to break the tension, joked, "Man, Alex, you're living the dream. You chased Sophia for so long back in college, and now look at you guys. Still as close as ever."

The moment those words left his mouth, the room went ice-cold.

Sophia blushed and looked down, whispering, "Don't say that. Alexander has a girlfriend now. I just view him as family."

"Family?" I let out a soft laugh. It wasn't loud, but everyone heard it clearly. "What kind of family? The kind that brings you to live in his marital home, or the kind that takes wedding photos with you?"

Emily's POV

The living room went dead silent.

His friends stared at me, holding their breath. No one expected me to put it out in the open like this.

Alexander's face darkened instantly. He stood up abruptly. "Emily, what nonsense are you talking about?!"

"Nonsense?" I leaned back against the chair, looking completely relaxed, though my eyes were like ice. "Do you want me to bring out the wedding photo from the guest room for everyone to see?"

Sophia's face drained of color, and her eyes welled up with tears.

"Emily, why are you doing this to me? Alexander was only trying to help..." She covered her face and started sobbing.

"Enough!" Alexander yelled, pointing a finger at me. "Emily, you are being completely unreasonable! How many times do I have to tell you it was fake? Do you have to embarrass me in front of my friends like this?"

"I'm embarrassing you?" I stood up, staring him down. "Alexander, you brought her into my home. You hung that photo in the guest room. And now you're blaming me for making a scene? You have the guts to do it, but not the balls to admit it?"

"You." Furious, Alexander raised his hand high.

I didn't even flinch. I just stared at him coldly. "Do it. Hit me, and these five years are officially over."

Alexander's hand froze in mid-air.

I locked eyes with him, refusing to look away for even a second.

A few seconds later, he gritted his teeth and slowly let his hand drop.

He pulled at his collar in frustration. "You guys should leave. Sorry about tonight."

His friends quickly stood up and practically ran out the door.

Once the door shut, only the three of us were left in the living room.

Sophia cried harder, tugging at Alexander's shirt. "Alexander, I'll leave. I'll leave right now. I shouldn't have dragged you into this..."

"Why are you leaving?!" Frustrated, Alexander pushed her back down onto the couch. "This is my place. Let's see who dares to kick you out!"

Watching this drama unfold, I only felt amused.

"Since she's not leaving, I am."

I turned, walked into the bedroom, and dragged out my pre-packed suitcase.

Seeing the suitcase, Alexander's expression completely changed. It was as if he finally realized what I had been doing the past few days.

"Where do you think you're going?" Alexander rushed over, grabbing the handle of my suitcase. His voice was much tighter than usual.

"Let go."

"No! Emily, don't overreact. I told you, nothing is going on between Sophia and me. Once her situation is resolved, we'll get married immediately!"

"Alexander, do you honestly think I'm that stupid?" I let out a cold laugh. "Would a man bring a woman he doesn't care about into his home? Would he let her wear his shirt? Would he abandon his girlfriend in the middle of the night to comfort her? Is it really just sympathy?"

Alexander froze.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Looking at his reaction, the very last piece of my heart shattered into dust.

"See? You can't even lie to yourself," I said, yanked the suitcase out of his grip. "We're done. I'll mail you the keycard."

"No! I don't agree!" Panicking, Alexander wrapped his arms around me from behind. "Emily, I was wrong. I won't talk to her anymore, okay? Just don't leave..."

Right then, Sophia let out a sharp scream, rolling off the couch and curling up on the floor, clutching her stomach.

"It hurts... Alexander, my stomach hurts so bad."

Alexander's body stiffened. He instinctively let go of me and rushed over to her.

"Sophia. What's wrong?"

"I don't know... it hurts..." Sweat was pouring down Sophia's face as she clutched his arm tightly.

Alexander scooped her up, giving me a highly complex look.

"Emily, wait for me. Wait for me to come back, and we'll have a real talk."

With that, he ran out the door with her in his arms.

I stood there alone as the cold night wind blew in through the open door, making me shiver.

Wait for him?

I pulled my suitcase and walked out into the night, never looking back.

I would never wait for him.