Luna handed her driver's license to Charles, who didn’t so much as glance at it before passing it directly to the assistant waiting by the elevator.
"Go ahead," Charles ordered, his tone brooking no argument.
"Okay, Mr. Lee," the assistant started, but cut himself off abruptly at Charles’s sharp glare. Correcting himself, he stammered, "Yes, sir, please wait a moment."
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, the assistant hurried ahead. Luna, seeing the suspect was keeping his distance, leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Is there anything else I should do? Just follow you?"
Charles's frown deepened, his demeanor frostier than ever as he found her voice was barely above a whisper, as if registering was something shaeful.
"Everything is arranged! In a moment, we'll fill out the marriage application and get the license. It's just a formality. But if you're having second thoughts, the door is right there. Leave now."
His tone was ice-cold, his expression unyielding.
'Is this the perfect daughter-in-law Mother mentioned? Why does she seem so different in person?' Charles thought, his suspicion growing. 'If she didn’t want to be here, she shouldn’t have come. Now she's putting on an act! She better not give me a reason to doubt her.'
"You're quite the joker." Luna said brightly, plastering on a radiant smile. She believed she was playing her part convincingly for the suspect, making it appear as though she was genuinely there to register.
But to Charles, this shift seemed like unmasking her true colors after a minor scare. 'Cautious one moment, all smiles the next? Isn't this just typical scheming? She might fool Mother, but not me.'
"Mr. Lee, you can go in now," the assistant returned with their driver's licenses, sensing the tense atmosphere and quickly stepping back.
Inside the VIP room, Luna diligently followed Charles's lead, posing for photos and filling out forms, while Charles remained stoically uninterested in her information.
This was his first meeting with his "bride". He was aware only that the woman would be wearing a beige coat and carrying a brown backpack. After obtaining the certificate, he had a meeting to attend. To him, a wife wouldn’t disrupt his meticulously organized life.
Suspiciously, Luna filled out the forms, convinced this was a setup by her superiors designed to deceive the suspect. The mission was supposed to be a mere formality, ensuring the suspect didn’t realize he was being tailed.
While Luna was marveling at the efficiency of the criminal team, Charles suddenly threw a marriage certificate in front of her. His face remained stony, and his obstinate demeanor made Luna worry about raising suspicions.
Despite the clear lack of joy between the couple, protocol dictated the officer's decorum. The registration officer, maintaining a polite smile, congratulated them. "Ms. Luna Brown, Mr. Charles Lee, congratulations."
Almost immediately after obtaining the marriage license, Charles stood to leave but hesitated when the officer addressed Luna by name.
"Luna? Who is Luna?"
Both Luna and the officer were stunned.
Getting no immediate response, Charles scowled and flipped open the marriage certificate, staring at the name Luna Brown clearly printed in the bride’s section.
Charles was momentarily dumbfounded. He distinctly remembered the bride’s name starting with an A.
"Who is Luna?"Charles muttered.
Just then, his phone rang. Ashley Lee’s voice came through, asking, "Charles, did you get the certificate with Anna?"
Charles replied curtly, "I just got it. I'll call you back."
As he hung up, his expression darkened. He took a deep breath, composed himself, and then, with a grim face, handed the marriage certificate back to the officer.
"Hello, I want a divorce."
Luna remained silent, her thoughts racing as the unexpected turn of events unfolded before her.