Objection to forever

Prologue

Title: Objection to Forever
Author: ROKSHUUU

“State your name for the record.”

“Morgan Reyes.”

“Avery Cruz.”

It sounded normal.
Like any other day in court.
Like this was just another case.

But it wasn’t.

The room felt too quiet.
Too small.
Too real.

No audience. No dramatic arguments. No winning side.

Just a judge.. a clerk..and the two of them.

Two lawyers who knew exactly how to fight—
but somehow couldn’t fight this.

“I assume both parties have reviewed the agreement?” the judge asked.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Morgan answered.

Avery nodded. “Yes.”

Same tone.
Same calm voices.

Like this didn’t mean anything.

But it did.
It meant everything.

This wasn’t love.
It wasn’t even a choice.
It was an arrangement.

Families, reputation, money—whatever reason people like them use to make decisions that don’t feel human anymore.

And somehow… they were the ones picked.

“If there are no objections,” the judge continued, “we will proceed—”

“Objection.”

Morgan didn’t even realize she said it out loud.

Silence.

The kind that makes your chest feel tight.

Avery turned her head slightly, finally looking at her.

That look—

God, she hated that look.

Calm. Unreadable.

Like nothing ever touched her.
“On what grounds?” the judge asked.
Morgan froze.

Because what was she supposed to say?

That she didn’t want to marry Avery?
Or that she wanted to—but not like this?
.“…No legal grounds, Your Honor.”

There it was.
Safe answer.
The only answer.

“Noted,” the judge said. “Objection overruled.”

And just like that—
it continued.

Like nothing happened.
Morgan clenched her jaw.
Beside her, Avery didn’t react.

Of course she didn’t.

“You’re really okay with this?” Morgan muttered.

Avery didn’t even look at her. “Does it
matter?”

“It should.”

A small pause.

Then—
“Does it matter to you?”

Morgan didn’t answer.
Because yes.
It did.
Too much.

Morgan signed first.
Avery followed.
Two signatures.

That’s all it took.

“By law, you are now legally bound under this union.”

No smiles.
No congratulations.

Just silence.

Morgan turned to her.

“This isn’t forever.”

She didn’t know if she was trying to convince Avery—or herself.

Avery met her eyes.
Steady.
Unmoving.

“Then treat it like a case,” she said.
Morgan frowned. “What?”

“A long one.”

Something about the way she said it didn’t feel like a joke.

It felt like a challenge.
And Morgan had never backed down from one.

“Fine,” she said quietly.

Two lawyers.
One marriage.
Zero choice.