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Morana’s POV

“Your name isn’t registered as his wife.”

The clerk’s voice was flat as though she was telling me the weather. I blinked slowly because I was certain I’d misheard her. There’s no way she is talking about my marriage.

“I’m sorry?” I let out a small laugh glancing briefly at my lawyer. “There must be a mistake. Check again.”

Across the polished counter, the woman finally looked up at me and her expression didn’t change. It’s a look I got used to for the past five years because I cannot use my name to get whatever I wanted. I wasn’t Morana Mortaine but Morana Greene.

“I already did.”

She turned the monitor slightly, her fingers tapping against the keyboard with practiced ease. She was clearly exhausted and heavily pregnant so maybe she is seeing things.

“Under Mr. Xavier Lancaster’s marital records, the legally registered spouse is…” she paused her eyes scanning the computer briefly “…Iris Lancaster.”

Well, here comes the mistake.

I frowned. “That’s his sister.”

“Ma’am, the system doesn’t list familial titles. It lists legal relationships.” A small crease appeared between the clerk’s brows.

“That’s his sister.” I repeated, slower this time, it seems liek she was the one not understanding. “I’ve been married to him for five years. We had a private ceremony. It might not have been uploaded properly or—”

“It was uploaded.”

Her tone sharpened slightly like she was losing patience and hated that I was making her doubt her job.

“Five years ago. The marriage certificate exists. It’s just not in your name.”

Something in my chest tightened because somewhere inside me, it is making sense but it COULDN’T make sense.

Beside me my lawyer shifted uncomfortably. I could feel his gaze on me now slightly cautious, almost warning.

“Morana, maybe we should—” he started quietly as if he already knew.

“No.” I shook my head forcing a smile that felt too tight on my face. “No, it’s fine. There’s clearly a mix up.”

I turned back to the clerk leaning forward slightly. I know the desperation is written all over it because this is a life and death situation.

“Can you show me the full record?”

For a brief second, she hesitated then she clicked something on the screen and turned it fully toward me.

Xavier Lancaster

Spouse: Iris Lancaster

Status: Legally Married

The world didn’t shatter, it slipped right beneath my new heels. Its like something solid beneath my feet had quietly disappeared without warning.

“That’s wrong.” I whispered.

My lawyer exhaled slowly beside me. I didn’t look at him because I couldn’t. Right now I don’t even want to think.

“I came here to finalize my inheritance transfer.” I said my voice was steadier than I felt. “I’m signing everything over to my husband.”

The words tasted strange now even in my tongue and the clerk’s eyes flickered just for a moment. There was almost recognition there.

“To who?” She asked.

I swallowed feeling embarrassed and scared and very very confused.

“To Xavier Lancaster.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “If you proceed with that, you would be transferring your assets to a man who is not legally bound to you in any way.”

I stared at the screen again to make sure I wasn’t going through the exhaustion the clerk is going through. But the names are written boldly and clearly.

Iris Lancaster. His sister. The one that lives with us along with

My fingers curled slightly against the edge of the counter as everything almost started fitting. No, there must be a mistake somewhere and I must unravel it fast.

“That’s not possible.” I said softly to myself. “I live with him. Everyone knows—”

“Legal records don’t operate on what people ‘know,’” she cut in. “They operate on what is filed.”

Behind me, I felt my lawyer stand from his chair and step closer to me.

“Morana, we should pause this process.” He murmured as if talking to a wounded animal.

Yeah we have to pause though because something was very wrong!

—

The sharp sting in my arm dragged me back to my reality. A hiss slipped past my lips as the needle pressed deeper into my vein.

Everything suddenly felt cold, though the memory wouldn’t stop hunting me from this morning. Today is our anniversary but here I am donating more blood at the hospital.

“Her pressure is dropping.” I heard the doctor’s voice cut through the air with so much urgency. It was Dr. Jenner, the usual one.

“We need to stop this now.”

Stop? Yes please stop. I feel cold and tired and miserable.

My lips parted to beg but no sound came out. The room blurred at the edges and the lights started hurting my eyes badly. The steady beeping now sounded uneven even to my ears. I’m extremely weak.

Not his wife….The thought slipped in again.

Not his wife! Not his name! Not his anything!

The machine beside me whirred softly as my blood flowed through the tube, dark red against clear plastic. It was too much but they always needed at least three bags. Today I can’t give that much with how I feel.

Xavier will have to make do with one.

“She won’t survive another extraction,” Dr. Jenner said again but louder this time in panic. “Mr. Lancaster, we’ve already exceeded safe limits—”

Slow calm footsteps followed and my heart pounded hard inside my ears. His strong cologne filled the air instead of the hospital clean smell.

“Continue.” He said to Dr. Jenner.

Just one word and that was all it took for something to tighten in my chest. I felt the sharp cracking deep inside me that I didn’t feel when the clerk told me my name wasn’t registered. This was different.

“But sir —“ Dr. Jenner was clearly hesitating.

“I said continue.”

His voice didn’t rise because he never does. Xavier Lancaster is always in charge and keeps everything measured.

“She’s not stable.” Dr. Jenner pushed, desperation creeping in. “If we proceed, she could—”

“Take it.”

Everywhere was silent for a moment that even the nurses stopped moving about as if wondering if he knew what he was saying.

And just like that everything clicked into place. The court and name. The missing marriage. The things I ignored around the house thinking it was normal sibling behavior. The things I didn’t want to see…..

I was never his wife but something he kept and used. For what exactly?

My fingers twitched weakly against the sheets as more spread through me replacing every warmth and life. This is how it’s going to end? As something that was drained until there was nothing left? I felt tears slip quietly into my hair. I didn’t even have the strength to wipe them away.

Xavier.

My vision blurred further but I could still make out his figure standing there watching the extraction coldly. I wanted to ask why but maybe I already knew.

Because I loved him with everything I had. I thought he was the realest thing I have in my life after my parents death, guess not.

The beeping slowed then darkness crept in from the edges of my vision swallowing me whole. The last thing I felt was emptiness followed by nothingness that seem so much life death.