When they arrived at the Bureau, they didn't go through the public channel but took a lift from the underground parking to the floor where they would be getting the certificate.
It would have been better if they did that. Since other people and media friends would see them. The news would definitely spread in less than ten minutes.
However, Gloria put a stop to that. Last night when they were talking about getting their certificate, as well as some terms and conditions that didn't find themselves on the paper that needed signing.
One of the terms that she raised, despite asking too much, already was for the marriage not to be made public at the moment.
Before she was confident enough to accept others calling her Mrs. Frost, she didn't want many people to know about her marriage to Xander. That even includes the clan members.
She understood the pressure that comes with being the wife of a clan leader and looking back to how she was previously the Willow clan's matriarch just a week ago. It would be too much, not just for her, but for Xander as well.
When the marriage gets exposed in the future, she doesn't want there to be any problems which might arise because of Simon and her family, who still want to take advantage of her.
With all that taken into consideration, Gloria decided on a secret marriage. Although she might feel wronged in the process.
"Welcome, Mr. Frost and Madam!" the officiator welcomed them respectfully with a smile on his face.
Gloria flashed a polite smile at the officiator as she stood next to Xander who was responding to the officiator.
"Thank you for having us and giving us a treat," Xander thankfully said, considering the favor that the officiator just did for them. Giving them utmost secrecy in such a public place.
"Haha, the pleasure is all mine. Please come in. We have so much to do!"
Xander nodded politely at the man before entering the office, with Gloria in tow.
When they were inside, the officiator got busy and the two of them started answering questions.
"Have you been married before? If so, how many times?"
"Does your partner know about it?"
"Are you marrying willingly?"
There were a lot of questions which made her feel shy and excited at the same time.
Gloria truthfully answered the questions, and so did Xander.
They were both married previously. With their marriages ending in divorce. Both their ex-spouses were very much alive and, what made it funny, they both had their own families.
For example, Simon remarried just a week after their divorce and even got Sia pregnant in the process. The thought of that little hussy sleeping with her man in her bed angered Gloria so much that she nearly had an attack if she hadn't controlled herself.
Thankfully, there was Xander by her side. Even if he didn't love her, at least she would be compensated. He was richer and more handsome than Simon. It wouldn't be a loss.
Xander's ex-wife and former Frost clan's matriarch also divorced Xander for reasons she hadn't heard clearly so far. The couple conceived two children together who are currently staying with their mother for the holidays.
She hadn't met the children yet, but it wouldn't be long before they returned. She wasn't sure how she was going to act as a stepmother, but she was going to face that when the time came.
With all questions asked and answered, the officiator had them sign several documents before he smiled at them as he rose to his feet while the printer was humming; printing something.
"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Frost. You are now legally recognized as a married couple," the officiator sincerely congratulated.
He didn't know how these two ended up meeting, but since they came to his bureau for marriage, then he wished them well. After all, it had always been his dream to see couples being formed and families expanding.
Both Gloria and Xander followed suit and rose to their feet, smiles on their faces. Understanding that the deed had been done, and now they were stuck with each other until either death or divorce.
"Thank you for being accommodating. When we hold our wedding ceremony, we will not forget you!" Xander amusedly said as he shook hands with the officiator.
The officiator beamed when he heard that. He was so happy and looking forward to attending the wedding of such a well-known big shot. A lot of people would surely be in awe of him when they learn about that.
After exchanging pleasantries and flattery, the officiator walked to the printer, where he picked the two marriage certificates that were still warm and fresh from the printer.
He walked with them towards the newly married couple and respectfully handed them over to Xander.
"Thank you," Xander said as he accepted the certificates and scrutinized them for a bit before passing them to Gloria, who was stretching her neck to take a peek.
Gloria scratched her nose, embarrassed with her left forefinger while her right hand accepted the warm certificates.
With the certificates in hand, Xander spoke a few words to the officiator and Gloria who was more focused on the certificates, reading every single word to make sure that it was the right certificate, didn't see the officiator grinning from ear to ear as he looked at his phone.
There was a smile on Xander's face and it could be seen that something that she wasn't aware of just transpired. Unfortunately, she was destined never to know about the matter.
Shortly after, the couple left the office and the officiator happily sent them off. His enthusiasm made Gloria feel amused. She kept on making jokes about the man all the way to the car. Xander had an amused smile on his face as he listened to her chatter side, which he hadn't heard in a very long time.
After boarding the car, the entourage left the underground parking lot.
Inside the car, Gloria was still holding the certificates as she chirped excitedly. "How I wish I could post these on my moments and let those bastards see that I Gloria had married big!" there was a boast in her tone, which scratched the man's ego. He was about to inflate.
"Husband, I don't feel like being bothered much by Simon and others. Can you buy me a new phone with new numbers?" Gloria smoothly asked, her voice coy as she looked cutely at Xander without any ounce of awkwardness in her tone.
Xander blankly looked at Gloria, whose face was literally so close to his. Her warm breath was hitting against his face.
'Husband … did she just call me husband so smoothly like that?' he was having an internal war as he tried to digest what he had just heard.
He didn't think that Gloria was that bold, to be honest. In fact, although he knew that she was hurt by Simon and that she had married him. He knew why she did so. He didn't expect her to fully assimilate into her role as his spouse.
At most, he expected her to perform her duties as his wife, but being intimate …. As in willingly doing so …. Honestly, he wasn't that confident.
And yet, without him doing anything, the endearment 'husband' slipped from her mouth easily like that.
He didn't know what she aiming for, but whatever tricks she had planned, he was sure that he was about to fall for them.
Meanwhile, Gloria didn't even think for a second about what she had just said. Being a married person, she liked calling Simon, husband and other endearments a lot.
In her mind, after marrying Xander, the status 'married' was registered. Since that was the case, her mind automatically labeled Xander in such a matter, thus her confidently calling out.
Of course, there was also the matter of her accepting her fate. Since she already regarded Xander as her man and husband until they separated, then as the wife, she must do what she could.
She might not be good at many things, but coaxing her partner, she was good at it. Too bad she had been coaxing the wrong person all these years.
Getting back to the matter at hand, when Gloria saw Xander in a dazed state, she didn't think about how he was in such a state because of how she had just called him but nervously thought that she might have asked for too much.
She looked cautiously at him as she added, "Um … husband … if it's impossible. Then you don't have to worry. I will just keep on using the one that I have," though she truly wanted to change her phone.
Gloria felt that being connected to these people frequently would shake her and affect her greatly, thus the need for a change. If only she had money to use, then she wouldn't need to ask for a phone from Xander.
Talking about money, Gloria needed to hit herself when she realized that of all documents, she brought with her and cards. There was no bank card.
When the clan's finances started going downhill, she was forced to close her bank account. All the money she had been earning during the trying times was transferred into Simon's bank. She had been using his card, which she didn't do often, since she grew up and raised the majority of the food that she liked cooking.
As a result, she didn't think about the card when she left. Or perhaps Simon stashed it away, and she didn't even notice it. Thus, coming to a new clan without any money. Thankfully, she was welcomed well and treated nicely and the need for money hadn't cropped up until now.