Seeking truth.

"What! What do you mean by the broken engagement?"

Suddenly a loud scream came from the other side of the phone.

"Okay, okay! Don't shout."

Chloe smiled.

It was Jessica, her best friend. They were classmates in high school.

As the daughter of Smiths, Chloe was admitted to the high school where most of the elite's children used to go. Jessica was the only student there from a middle-class family.

Actually, higher-class societies often show off their humility by providing a scholarship. This school was also not an exception. The board members each year contributed to a merit-based scholarship for some students studying in different classes. In their class, Jessica was the one who received it.

As she was not a rich kid, most of the students used to avoid her or make fun of her, but Chloe was different. She never treated anyone based on their financial status; for her, everyone was the same. She was the only person in the school who befriended her, and she didn't know how, but they ended up being best friends.

After Graduation, their paths were divided. Chloe went for designing, and she went for a management degree. But their friendship remained till now. After completing Graduation, Jessica moved to Emery with a job, and she stayed here. They used to meet occasionally, whenever Jessica visited home.

But they were connected through the phone. Every week, they used to talk for at least three or four days. They both shared everything happening in their life with each other.

And like every other day, today she also called her to congratulate her on the engagement. The company had given her some project which she needed to complete within three days, so she couldn't attend yesterday's events. That was when Chloe told her everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.

"Don't shout! Girl, why didn't you call me yesterday?"

"Last night, I was so tired of everything that I just slept. Today, just after waking up and having breakfast I've called you."

"Chloe... I've told you earlier, don't marry this dumbass. He is just a puppet of his mother. How could he leave you in the venue like that!"

Her voice was screaming... She was frustrated. Actually, for some reason, Jessica never liked Carl. She used to think of him as a spineless person who could do nothing but follow his family's orders.

As for Chloe, she never actually thought of being in a relationship with him. For her, he was a good friend from her acquainted circle. She had never been in love, so when the marriage between these two families was proposed, and Carl chose her as his bride, she didn't mind marrying someone she had known for a long time.

"It's ok. But Jessy, the thing that is bothering me is the marriage certificate. I mean, as per my knowledge, I've never married someone! How can I just get married randomly! If this is the case, then how does this certificate contain my name? And a million-dollar question, who on earth is this Brandon Reed? Like, I've never heard of this person; neither have I met anyone with this name!"

"Are you sure that the certificate is original? Is it not like that someone actually did a prank with you?"

"I don't know. But, who will play such a prank on me, that also on my engagement day! And even if it was a prank, by the time won't they reveal it!"

"That makes sense also. But Chloe, some questions have been raised in my mind."

"What's that?"

"First one is, how had the certificate ended up in your closet's drawer? And the second, even if someone had put it in your drawer, how did it end up in Mrs. Miller's hands? What was she doing in your room yesterday! Don't you think that it actually looks like a conspiracy?"

Chloe was startled. She didn't think about it even once!

"Right, I haven't thought about it, honestly!"

"Chloe, don't be too naive. Use your brain. I can really smell something fishy!"

"Fine. Now you tell me, what should I do?"

"First of all, get the confirmation that the certificate is original or fake. Nowadays, making a fake certificate is very common, and you can't actually tell if it's original or not. So, the first thing to do is find it."

"Then?"

"If the certificate is fake, then there's nothing to fuss about. Just show your proof, everyone, that it's fake, and try to catch who is behind. But....

If it's original, then there is a problem. You have to find the person, and find everything like how did it happen, as you don't know really anything."

"But again, don't lose hope. If there's a problem, there will be a solution too. We'll find it, and if you need I'll come back too."

"Okay, I'll do as you said."

"Great! Umm, Chloe, I've to go. I'll call you later."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye, and don't overthink, okay!"

"Ok."

After hanging up the call, Chloe leaned back on her bed. She smiled, "This girl never really disappoints!"

Last night, she was so overwhelmed that she couldn't think about anything. The remarks of the people really affected her. But today, her mind was calmer, so her brain also started working properly.

She thought what Jessica just said.

Yes, there was something wrong, indeed. The certificate in her closet, Mrs. Miller finding it... It all was now looking interconnected. Someone, indeed, was behind all these.

She got off the bed and went towards the dressing table. The certificate was lying idly on the table; she took it and went back to bed. Yesterday, she just glanced at the certificate, but today she went through the certificate properly.

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

STATE OF NEVADA

COUNTY OF CLARK

This is to certify that BRANDON REED & CHLOE SMITH were united in marriage on Saturday, June 12, 2024 at 2:47 am

The Little Blossom Wedding Chapel, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Witnesses: Barry Lee, Lola LaRue

Marriage Officiant: Rev. John Taylor

FILED FOR RECORD: June 12, 2024

Recorder's Office, Clark County, Nevada

Under the certificate, there was a seal of the marriage registrar's office.

June 12, 2024!

Chloe tried to remember, and suddenly, her eyes were wide open.

Six months ago, around that time, she actually went to Las Vegas for a business trip!

Could it be that.....

"The marriage certificate is real!"