Page 141 of A Temporary Forever

She eyes me, unimpressed. Closing the folder, she drops it on her desk. “Take a deep breath,” she says, though her tone lacks warmth. “Let’s try one more. How did you and your husband meet?”

I take a shaky breath, closing my eyes for a moment, trying to block out the oppressive room, thebuzzing lights, the cold metal. “We met through his sister. She’s my best friend.”

Officer Martinez nods. “We can’t proceed with vague memories and half-recalled details, Mrs. van den Linden. Especially in light of the fraud report we received.”

Someone reported us? “I have a bureauphobia,” I blurt out.

She stands up and rounds the desk to take her seat. “Don’t we all.”

Tears spill down my cheeks, despite my efforts to rein them in. “I love my husband.”

I sound pathetic, and I hate how I said those words for the first time to this woman who just wants to close the case.

A knock on the door snatches her attention before she can laugh at my declaration.

She stands up and yanks the door open. “I’m in the middle of an interview—”

“And I’m Mrs. van den Linden’s lawyer, Dominic Cressard. I’m sorry I got delayed.” Dominic pushes inside without an invitation. “Officer Martinez, I brought all the documents to prove the validity of my client’s green card application.”

“Mr. Cressard, as of now, your client failed to reassure me of the validity of her marriage, and I’m afraid I don’t have a choice but—”

Her phone rings and she sighs, picking up the receiver. “Martinez.”

Dominic squeezes my shoulder and gives me a reassuring nod. While his presence lifts my veil of anxiety somewhat, I know I fucked up.Especially in light of the fraud report.

Martinez hangs up. “I see you have connections, Mr. Cressard.” If she was indifferent during the interview, now she’s pissed. “But I do my work with integrity.”

Her words rip a gasp from me.

I bury my face in my hands, overwhelmed by a mixture of fear, frustration, and self-loathing.

I’m crumbling. And I don’t know how to stop it.

Dominic helps me to my feet and marches out, while I follow in a daze. I’m going to be deported.

Caleb bought a theater to get me a job, and then he married me when that didn’t work out. And I couldn’t fucking answer a few questions to prove our relationship is real.

The looming separation shatters my heart into a million pieces. He can’t leave his daughter or his business behind. I’ll never let him do that.

I’ve lost him.

Chapter 37

Caleb

Pacing.

I’ve been pacing.

I’ve been at it for twenty minutes. Or lifetimes. How long does it take to come from the ICE offices? It didn’t take this long to get there this morning, did it?

I pour myself another whiskey. Dominic texted me earlier. A message that didn’t spark confidence. Something went poorly at the interview. And now the fucker isn’t answering.

Celeste isn’t answering either, and if Dom hadn’t confirmed she was with him, I would have fucking broken her out of there.

I down the drink and go to refill it, but my phone buzzes. The amber liquid sloshes around when I drop the bottle to answer.

“What?” I bark at Xander, because he’s the last person I want to talk to right now.

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