It was Nolan. He stared at the handprint on Lisa's face, his eyes bloodshot.

“Augusta, have you lost your mind?”

I waved my hands frantically, trying to explain.

“I didn't hit her. She did it to herself! And Nolan—she's not foreign at all. She speaks perfect English. She's been faking it this whole time.”

Nolan narrowed his eyes and looked at Lisa.

Lisa pressed a hand to half her face, those wide innocent eyes fixed on Nolan, and stammered out in her broken English—

“Honey, I no understand. I can only prove myself with my life.”

She spun around and slammed her head straight into the stone pillar beside her. Blood seeped from her forehead.

Nolan rushed over and caught her in his arms, his voice shaking.

“Lisa, don't scare me like this.”

I stepped forward.

“Nolan, she's faking all of it. She……”

Before I could finish, Nolan's palm cracked across my face.

“You're vicious. You'd say anything just to tear her down.”

“You better pray she's okay. Otherwise, you can go sign that marriage license by yourself tomorrow.”

He carried Lisa out without looking back at me once.

I stood there, hand cupping my stinging cheek, and walked out through a crowd of contemptuous stares.

The next morning, Nolan was at the hospital looking after Lisa. He glanced at the time. Nine thirty.

He let out a cold laugh, fully confident I was already waiting at the courthouse.

After all, this was what I'd been hoping for for five years.

Consider it punishment for last night. Go ahead and wait, Augusta.

He didn't stroll into the courthouse until four in the afternoon.

He walked up to the marriage registration window and found no one there.

“That Augusta. Did she get tired of waiting and go home?”

He was muttering to himself, pulling out his phone to call me, when the clerk behind the counter spoke up.

“Augusta Pruitt? Didn't she just sign her marriage license this morning?”