It was on a bright Monday morning. Daniella was standing in front of her large mirror, checking herself out. She could barely contain her excitement as she kept turning from side to side.
She and Desmond were preparing to visit the civil affairs bureau to process their marriage certificate. Daniella was exceptionally happy. She would finally marry Desmond. She had been dreaming of this moment for months, not because of love, but because of a better life she saw beyond the wedding. A life where she would divorce him and walk away with half of his properties for her and her boyfriend. The wedding was set for next week, but today was the first step toward securing her future.
Desmond, on the other hand, seemed calm as he waited for Daniella in the living room. "Ready?" he asked when she finally showed up.
She nodded, and they both headed out to the car. They got to the driveway, and Daniella slipped into the passenger seat.
Desmond drove to the civil affairs bureau in silence. Each of them was so lost in their thoughts. All through the ride, Daniella was looking out the window, envisioning the life she would lead after the divorce. Desmond's properties, the luxurious lifestyle, and the freedom that would come with the settlement. She had meticulously planned every step along with Leonard.
They got to the bureau, and Desmond parked the car. He got out first and walked around to open Daniella's door like a gentleman he always was. When she got out, they walked hand in hand into the building.
When they got inside, they were greeted by a friendly receptionist who took their names and directed them to the waiting area. After a few minutes, an officer came out and called their names. "Mr. Desmond and Ms. Daniella, please follow me."
They followed the officer into her office, and she gestured for them to sit down.
"Congratulations on your upcoming wedding," the officer began, flipping through some papers. "I just need to ask you a few questions and have you fill out some paper works."
The officer looked at them and asked,. "How long have you two known each other?"
"We have known each other for about six months." Desmond answered.
The officer nodded and turned to Daniella. "I can see you are pregnant. Is he responsible for it?"
Daniella smiled and looked at Desmond. "Yes, he is the father."
The officer turned to Desmond, "You are the father?"
"Yes, I'm the father. Why are you asking?" Desmond asked.
"Since she's pregnant, I need to confirm you are the father. It's a part of the paperwork." The officer said and made some notes on the papers in front of her. "Now, I will need you both to fill out these forms. It's just standard information for the marriage certificate."
She handed them each a stack of papers and pens. Desmond and Daniella began to fill out the forms. Daniella's mind was racing as she wrote, thinking about how close she was to her goal.
Once they had finished, they handed the forms back to the officer, who reviewed them carefully. "Everything looks okay," she said, nodding her head. "Now, for the final signing, I'll need you to bring a medical report from both of you. This is just to ensure that there are no health concerns."
"We will get that sorted out as soon as possible." He assured the officer.
"Okay then," the officer said. "Once you have the medical reports, bring them back, and we will finalize everything."
"It's alright; we will start going from here." Desmond said, and Daniella stood up first. She was eager to leave so they would rush straight to the hospital. She walked out of the office, her mind already racing with the next steps.
Desmond stayed behind for a moment, thanking the officer and collecting her number.
When they got to the parking lot, he opened the door for her once again, and she slipped inside. The smile was never leaving her face. From there, they headed to the hospital.