My hands shook as I opened it. Seeing Michael’s handwriting on the pages made my eyes fill up with tears.
My dearest Pat,
If you’re reading this, then I’m gone, and you’ve discovered the truth about our marriage certificate. I know this must hurt. I know you must feel betrayed, confused, maybe even angry with me. I’m so sorry for that pain.
But please understand, I did this to protect our family. Years ago, I made some business decisions that could have come back to haunt us. Creditors, lawsuits, complications… I never wanted these things to touch you or the children. If we were legally married, everything we built together could have been seized, contested, and torn apart by legal battles.
By keeping our marriage unofficial and setting up these trusts and accounts, I ensured that no matter what happened to me, you and the children would be safe. The house is in a trust with your name on it. The children’s college funds are protected. Everything you need is secured in ways that no distant relative or creditor can touch.
I know this may seem strange. I know it may even hurt you to think I never made our marriage legal. But Pat, you are my wife in every way that matters. You are the love of my life. I would do anything to protect you, even if it means you might misunderstand my intentions.
Please forgive me for the confusion and pain this has caused. Please know that every decision I made was out of love.
Forever yours, Michael.
I clutched the letter to my chest, tears streaming down my face. He had thought of everything.
I called Mia immediately, my hands still shaking. She answered on the first ring.
“Sweetheart,” I said, my voice trembling. “Michael, your father, he set things up for us. For you and Ben. For all of us.”
There was a pause on the other end. “What do you mean, Mom?”
“He never filed the marriage certificate,” I explained slowly, the words finally making sense as I said them out loud. “But he left everything in trusts, insurance policies, and protected accounts. You and Ben will be able to go to college. We’ll keep the house. Everything we need… it’s all there. He made sure of it.”
Mia was silent for a long moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was small and quivering. “Mom, he really loved us, didn’t he?”
“Yes,” I choked out. “He did. More than I ever understood.”
Over the next few weeks, Sarah helped me navigate all the documents Michael had left behind. There was a trust for the house, ensuring I could live there for the rest of my life. There were college funds for both Mia and Ben, fully funded and protected. There was even a modest trust for me, enough to cover living expenses and give me breathing room to grieve without drowning in financial panic.
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