Then, just when I thought all hope was gone, a county clerk arrived at my door with a folder in her hands and words that changed everything. She told me Michael hadn’t forgotten to file the marriage certificate — he had done it intentionally. Buried in the folder were trust documents, life insurance policies, and financial accounts all set up in my name and our children’s names. Michael had made sure everything bypassed probate court, protecting us from potential creditors and legal disputes that could have destroyed our future. He had planned it all quietly, sacrificing recognition to shield his family.