AMARA'S POV
The FBI is investigating us for marriage fraud.
The words hang in the air between us. Gabriel's face has gone white.
What exactly did they say? he asks carefully.
That Victoria gave them recordings. Contracts. Proof our marriage was arranged for immigration benefits. My voice shakes. They want me to come in for questioning. Told me not to contact you.
Then why are you telling me?
Because I'm done following their rules. Done being scared. Done letting other people control my life. I step closer. We're in this together, remember? That means we face this together too.
Gabriel pulls me into his arms. Holds me tight. We'll fight this. We'll prove the marriage is real now.
How? We have a contract. Email exchanges. The whole thing started as fraud. How do we prove it's not fraud anymore?
Because it's not. Not now. He pulls back. Looks at me. What we have is real. The FBI will see that.
Will they? Or will they see two desperate people who fell for each other while committing a federal crime?
Gabriel has no answer.
My phone rings again. I check it. It's my lawyer. The one I had for the immigration case.
Answer it.
I do. Put it on speaker. Hello?
Ms. Okoye, this is Martin Chen. I just received a call from the FBI. They're requesting all documentation related to your marriage to Gabriel Stone. I need to see you immediately.
When?
Now. My office. And bring Mr. Stone. We need to discuss your options.
Options?
Yes. Because right now, you have very few. He hangs up.
I look at Gabriel. Your penthouse. The FBI probably has it under surveillance.
We'll take the back entrance. James will drive us.
Thirty minutes later. Martin Chen's office. Small. Cluttered.
Martin is sixty. Gray hair. Sharp eyes.
Sit. I've reviewed the FBI evidence. Damning. Prenup stating marriage is for immigration purposes. Emails discussing the arrangement. Texts planning how to fool officers.
My stomach drops. How did Victoria get all that?
Months of planning. Gathering evidence. Martin looks at us. The FBI has enough to charge you both. Immigration fraud for you, Ms. Okoye. Conspiracy for Mr. Stone. Prison time. Deportation.
What are our options? Gabriel asks.
Limited. One: Cooperate fully. Admit the marriage started as fraud but became real. Throw yourselves on the court's mercy.
Will that work?
Maybe. If you prove feelings are genuine now. Evidence the relationship evolved.
We have the USCIS interview, I say. Officer Martinez approved us.
That helps. But FBI will argue you fooled her. You're skilled lawyers. They'll want proof that can't be faked. Joint accounts. Shared assets. Photos. Witnesses.
Gabriel and I exchange looks. We have some. Not enough.
Option two? Gabriel asks.
Fight it. Claim Victoria's evidence was obtained illegally. She admitted stalking you. Breaking in. Makes it inadmissible.
She's in jail for murder, I say.
Complicates things. Makes her less credible. But evidence exists regardless. FBI has independent grounds to investigate.
So we're screwed.
There's option three. Divorce immediately. You, Ms. Okoye, withdraw your green card application. Leave the country voluntarily. FBI might drop charges if you cooperate and remove yourself.
No, Gabriel and I say together.
Then you're gambling everything on proving your love is real. Are you prepared? FBI will tear apart every moment. Every text. Every conversation.
Let them look, Gabriel says. They'll find two people who fell in love. Real love.
You understand the risk? If you lose, you both go to prison. Ms. Okoye gets deported and banned. Mr. Stone loses his law license. His firm. Everything.
I understand, I say.
So do I, Gabriel adds.
Then we fight.
We spend two hours telling Martin everything. How we met. Court battles. The proposal. Moving in. Learning each other. USCIS interview. Falling in love.
Martin takes notes. Good. Better than expected. Shared bed. Notebooks. Details you can recite shows genuine intimacy.
Is it enough?
Don't know. But it's what we have. He closes his notebook. Go home. Act normal. Don't discuss the case over phone or email. FBI could be monitoring. Be prepared they'll interview you separately. Try to find inconsistencies.
What do we say?
The truth. That it started as business but became real. That you fell in love. That you want to stay married. He looks at us. Can you both say that honestly?
Yes, I say immediately.
Gabriel takes my hand. Yes.
Good. If you hesitate even once, they'll know you're lying.
Outside Martin's office. Evening now. The city lights are coming on.
What do we do now? I ask.
We go home. We live our lives. We don't let them see us scared. Gabriel pulls me close. And we prepare for the fight of our lives.
I'm sorry I got you into this.
You didn't. I proposed the marriage. This is on me.
We're both responsible.
Then we're both in it together. He kisses my forehead. Come on. Let's go home.
We start walking to where James parked the car. Then I hear it.
A voice I recognize. Cold. Pleased.
Well, well. The fraudulent newlyweds.
We turn. Richard Hartwell. My former boss. Standing with Kelly. My former best friend.
What do you want? Gabriel asks coldly.
Just wanted to say congratulations on your green card approval. Richard smiles. Though I suspect it won't last long. Not with the FBI investigation.
How do you know about that? I demand.
Kelly speaks up. Victoria told us. Before she was arrested. Said we should talk to the FBI. Tell them what we know.
My blood runs cold. What do you know?
That you were desperate for a visa. That Gabriel had family pressure to marry. That the timing was awfully convenient. Richard steps closer. I fired you. Within days, you're married to opposing counsel? That's not love. That's desperation.
You don't know anything about us, Gabriel says.
Don't I? I know you, Gabriel Stone. You're a calculating man. Everything you do has a purpose. Marrying Amara served a purpose. Getting your aunt off your back. Protecting your inheritance.
And you, Amara, Kelly adds. You're smart. Strategic. You saw an opportunity and took it. I don't blame you. I'd probably do the same. But don't pretend it's love.
It is love, I say. My voice shakes with rage. You betrayed me, Kelly. Slept with my boss. Stole my job. You don't get to judge my relationship.
I'm not judging. I'm just being honest. Kelly's smile is pitying. The FBI called us. Wants us to testify. We're going to tell them the truth. That this marriage is a fraud.
You don't know that, Gabriel says.
Maybe not. But we know enough to create reasonable doubt. And that's all the FBI needs. Richard checks his watch. We should go. We have a meeting with Agent Brooks tomorrow. I'm sure we'll see you both soon. In court.
They walk away. Laughing. Like this is all a game.
I'm shaking. Gabriel holds me up.
They're going to destroy us, I whisper.
No. They're going to try. There's a difference. Gabriel's voice is hard. We knew this would be hard. We knew people would doubt us. But we know the truth. That's what matters.
Is it? Because right now, the truth feels like it's not enough.
Then we make it enough. We fight harder. We prove them wrong. He cups my face. I love you. That's real. Everything else is noise.
I want to believe him. I do believe him.
But as we walk to the car, I can't shake the feeling that we're running out of time.
That no matter how hard we fight, the system will win.
My phone buzzes. Text from unknown number.
You should have taken the divorce option. Now you'll both lose everything. And there's nothing you can do to stop it. The evidence is overwhelming. The witnesses are lined up. You're finished. -Agent Brooks
I show Gabriel.
His jaw clenches. He's trying to scare us. Make us panic.
It's working.
Another text: Interview tomorrow. 9 AM. Federal Building. Come alone. Both of you. Separately. Don't be late.
Tomorrow. We have until tomorrow to figure out how to prove our love is real.
To prove we're not criminals.
To prove everything we've built isn't about to crumble.
I look at Gabriel. See the same fear in his eyes that I feel.
What if we can't prove it? I whisper.
Then we lose everything. He takes my hand. But at least we lose it together.
Tomorrow, the real fight begins.
And I have no idea if we're strong enough to win.