When she was done, the priest asked for the rings, and they exchanged them, sealing their promises to each other.
"With this ring, I thee wed," Desmond said and slid the ring onto Daniella's finger.
"With this ring, I take you as my husband." Daniella did as Desmond did, and the priest continued from where he stopped.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The priest said. "You may kiss the bride."
Desmond leaned in and kissed Daniella. The guests erupted in applause and cheers. Daniella broke the kiss, and they turned, facing the guest with smiles on their faces.
As they walked down the aisle together, hand in hand, Daniella felt like she had finally done it. Desmond glanced at his mother and Bella, who, despite their initial reservations, were now clapping and smiling for him.
Despite the underlying tension and the secrets Daniella harbored, she was dancing happily with Desmond. After the celebration, they entered their car to leave.
Daniella was so happy. She had achieved her goal, and now she was ready to put the next phase of her plan into motion. The marriage certificate she had signed felt like a multimillion-dollar deal.
As they drove away from the venue, Desmond and Daniella looked at each other and smiled. Little did Desmond know that the woman he had just married harbored ambitions and plans that extended far beyond their vows.
When they got back to the mansion, she entered with a different steeze. She looked around, checking if it would be among his properties, which she would demand.
"Living here with Leonard will not be bad." She smiled and stepped into the house. She went straight to the room and changed into a comfortable dress.
.
.
.
That evening, Anabel was on her way back from work when her phone rang. Seeing Sylvester's name on the screen, she knew why he was calling and was ready to answer him.
"Hello, Sylvester." She greeted.
"Anabel, it's getting worse," Sylvester said. "Vanessa is dying. She needs immediate attention." He said, but Anabel was not moved.
"I'm so sorry to hear that, babe. I’ve been trying to resolve the issues with my bank." Anabel replied, and Sylvester began to feel frustrated. It wasn't going as he had thought.
"We don't have time to wait, Anabel. Vanessa's condition is critical." Sylvester said.
"Listen, babe," Anabel began. "I will suggest my family hospital. They can perform the transplant without requiring a deposit because of me, and they charge significantly less. They have an excellent reputation, and I believe they can help Vanessa." Anabel said, waiting to hear what he will say. If he declines, it would be a sign that Desmond was right.
Unfortunately, there was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Sylvester was taken aback by Anabel's suggestion. He didn't see that coming. If he agrees to this alternative, their entire ruse will be exposed. He had already claimed that Vanessa was on the brink of death. Apart from that, the hospital will find out that nothing was wrong with Vanessa.
"Uh, let me ask the doctor about it," Sylvester stammered, trying to buy some time to think of something. "I will get back to you shortly."
"Alright," Anabel smiled and shook her head. "Please let me know as soon as possible. We need to act fast and save your cousin sister before she dies." She finished, and Sylvester hung up.
Anabel smiled and shook her head. She already knew that something fishy was going on. If his cousin was actually dying, he could have accepted without hesitation. Now she needed to see how Sylvester would respond. If he hesitated longer or refused, it would only confirm her growing suspicions.
On the other end, Sylvester was pacing nervously in the room, realizing the precariousness of their situation. He knew that agreeing to Anabel's suggestion would definitely uncover their deceit.
"Why are you pacing around? Is there any problem?" Vanessa, who was still lying on the bed, asked.
"Yeah, we have a problem." He stopped pacing and turned to face Vanessa. "Anabel has not resolved her bank problem, and she's suggesting a different hospital that doesn't require a deposit. I told her to wait let me ask the doctor," Sylvester answered. "What are we going to do?"
"You know it's not possible. We have no business with any other hospitals. If we do, the truth will come out, and we will lose her." Vanessa said. "We need to do something, and fast."