The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins (Mia and Kyle) novel Chapter 437

Mia's POV

Kyle's hand lands on my shoulder. Squeezes.

When I look up, his eyes are wet.

My mother appears beside us. Her arms wrap around both me and Madison. A three-person hug.

"My granddaughter," she says. "My official granddaughter."

Hugo stands behind her. His hand on her back. Steady.

Scarlett is crying. Actually crying. Mascara running down her face. She doesn't even try to hide it.

Morton hands her his pocket square. She takes it. Doesn't look at him. But she takes it.

Sophie is dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. "This is ridiculous," she announces. "I don't cry at these things. I'm French. We don't cry. We drink champagne and philosophize about the meaninglessness of existence."

"You're crying," Thomas observes.

"I have allergies."

"To what?"

"Emotions."

Judge Patterson is smiling. Really smiling. "There are papers to sign. Ms. Williams, if you'll come with me to the clerk's office."

I stand. Madison doesn't let go. She wraps her legs around my waist. Clings like a koala.

"Can I carry her?" I ask.

"Of course."

We follow Judge Patterson through a side door. Into an office. Smaller. A desk. Filing cabinets. Forms.

The clerk is a woman in her fifties. Gray hair. Kind eyes.

"Congratulations," she says. "Let's make it official-official."

She spreads papers across the desk. Shows me where to sign. Initial here. Date there. Signature at the bottom.

Madison's face is still buried in my neck.

"Madison?" the clerk says gently. "I need you to make a mark too. Just an X. Right here."

Madison lifts her head. Her face is red. Splotchy. Wet.

The clerk hands her a pen. A special pen. Purple ink.

"For you to keep," she says. "As a souvenir."

Madison takes it. Her hand shakes as she makes an X on the line.

Her mark. Her choice. Her consent.

The clerk notarizes everything. Stamps. Signs. Files.

"You'll receive certified copies in the mail within two weeks. And here—" She pulls a folder from a drawer. "This is for you. Your official adoption certificate. Suitable for framing."

She hands it to me.

I open it.

Certificate of Adoption

State of New York

County of New York

This is to certify that on this day, October 31, 2025, Madison Anne Williams was legally adopted by Mia Catherine Williams.

At the bottom, Judge Patterson's signature. The clerk's seal. Official.

Real.

Forever.

When we return to the courtroom, everyone is waiting.

The judge has left. It's just our group.

Alexander sees the folder in my hand. "Is that it? Is that the official paper?"

"This is it."

"CAN I SEE?"

I open it. Hold it so he can see.

He stares at it like it's the Declaration of Independence. "Wow. It's so official. Look at that seal. That's a really good seal."

"It is a good seal," Ethan agrees.

"Watch me." Sophie tips the bottle back. Takes a long drink. "Mmm. Justice tastes like victory and grapes."

Thomas takes the bottle from her. Wipes the top. Drinks.

"You just wiped where my mouth was," Sophie says. "That's rude."

"That's hygienic."

"Your face is hygienic."

They're standing close. Too close for people who supposedly can't stand each other.

Scarlett notices. Her jaw tightens.

Morton notices Scarlett noticing. His hand moves like he wants to touch her shoulder. Stops halfway. Falls back to his side.

My mother accepts the bottle from Thomas. Takes a small sip. Passes it to Hugo.

"To Madison," Hugo says, raising the bottle. "Welcome to your forever family."

"To Madison!" everyone echoes.

Madison is still in my arms. Still hasn't let go. Her face is in my neck. I can feel her smile against my skin.

Gas barks.

"Gas wants champagne," Alexander announces.

"Gas doesn't want champagne," Ethan corrects. "Dogs can't have alcohol. It's toxic to them."

"But she barked!"

"She barks at lots of things. That doesn't mean she wants them."

"Maybe she was saying congratulations."

"Dogs don't say congratulations."

"How do you know? Do you speak dog?"

"No one speaks dog."

"Gas does. She speaks dog to herself."

Ethan opens his mouth. Closes it. "I can't argue with that."