Chapter 15 (Tension in the Air)

The wedding ceremony was over, and Vox, the officiant, spoke to the guests with a bright smile. "Thank you all for attending!" he said enthusiastically. "Starting tomorrow, you two will need to live together. You have one week to decide which house you'll move into. Please talk to each other and figure it out. The last thing left is the prenup agreement. We'll meet soon to go over it, and then you just need to sign."

Nico couldn't hide his frustration. I can't wait to see what that damn piece of paper says, he thought, already angry at the idea. What the heck is inside it?

Odalis, however, remained silent. There was not a flicker of emotion on her face. What is going on in her head? Nico thought, his anger rising. Is she married to a freaking stone or what?

At that moment, Odalis was only thinking about the move. Obviously, she would have to move into his place. The comfort of her own home was gone, and she was just beyond frustrated. What else am I supposed to do? she thought, feeling trapped.

Vox cleared his throat and said, "Please follow me."

Maddie, with a curious look, asked, "Can we go together?"

Vox smiled but shook his head. "Sure, but only the married couple is allowed to see the papers. It's confidential."

Maddie nodded eagerly. "Sure, sure," while Ronan gave a quiet nod too.

Nico and Odalis followed Vox, and behind them, Maddie and Ronan trailed along.

The room was cold and empty, with white walls and bright lights. A metal table sat in the middle, with chairs around it. On the table were glowing papers that looked futuristic, showing digital text. A screen showed the contracts to sign. The room was quiet, with only a soft hum from machines. It felt like a place for making decisions, not for comfort, all about rules and control.

Vox said, "Please sit." He pointed to the chairs near the door and added, "Guests, you can sit there."

Vox created a barrier around the table and explained, "This barrier keeps our conversation private, so no one else can hear us. Nico and Odalis nodded. He then continued, "Please allow me to explain the prenup agreement."

Vox looked at Nico and Odalis, making sure they were paying attention. "Alright," he began, speaking calmly, "Let me explain the prenup clearly, one step at a time."

Separation Rules

"If there's abuse or threats from one partner, or if one partner hurts or kills the other, then you can separate. But if one partner kills the other, the marriage is automatically ended. No exceptions."

Effect on Status

"Now, if the separation happens because of violence or abuse, both of you will lose status. It's a serious rule, so there will be severe punishment for the abusive partner. This could mean losing your status, being rejected by society, or even worse, the death penalty."

Children and Related

"If you two have children, their status will also change depending on what happens to your status. If one of you has the higher status, your children will have the privilege of that status. But, if your status decreases, their status will also drop. For example, if you're at Rise and drop to Shift, your children will drop too."

Penalties for False Separation

"If one of you tries to separate without a valid reason, like making up a lie about abuse, there will be punishments. You might lose your status, or the government will step in and force you to stay together."

Marriage Status Changes

"After 2.5 years of marriage, the partner with the lower status will move up one level. Then, after 5 years, both of you will move up one level in status. It's a way of showing that you're growing together and contributing to society."

Financial Rules

"Regarding finances, everything will be split according to your status. If one partner has higher status, they will have more financial control. In the case of separation or death, the wealth distribution will follow the status order. The person with the lower status will receive less financial support, while the one with the higher status will keep most of the assets. This is to ensure fairness based on your roles in society."

"However, after 20 years of marriage, the rules change. At that point, the wealth and financial control will be more equal, regardless of status. This is to reward long-term commitment and partnership. The status difference will still influence the division, but it won't be as strict as before."

Vox noticed their silence and asked, "Is there anything in the agreement you don't understand?" He looked at their faces, waiting for a response.

Nico's mind raced. Shit, the children and financial rules… this is just great, he thought, feeling more frustrated. What am I supposed to do with this?

Odalis sat quietly, feeling confused. Children? she thought, a knot in her stomach. What do you mean by children? Born ones? She glanced at Nico, wondering if he was thinking the same thing. Was he worried about the children rule too? She looked at him quickly, but he didn't show anything on his face.

Vox waited a moment, sensing the tension. "Is there anything you don't understand?" he asked again. Nico and Odalis both shook their heads. They didn't want to ask anything more.

"Great," Vox said with a smile. "Now, let's start signing. Please sign here." He pointed to the spots on the prenup where they needed to sign, still smiling.

Nico and Odalis looked at the paper one last time. They were both thinking hard, but finally, they picked up the pens and signed the document, sealing their future in this strange and controlled system.