Chapter 87
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Lucian Sinclair’s Estate | Lucian’s Study
The study smelled faintly of polished wood and papers, the soft hum of the heating system filling the quiet space. Kristina, Lucian, and Eli gathered around the large oak table, documents and checklists spread neatly before them. Maren sat to the side, her posture precise, ready to guide them through the legal steps.
Maren cleared her throat. “Before we talk about the courthouse, there’s one thing I recommend addressing first: Kristina’s name change.”
Kristina tilted her head. “Name change?”
“Yes,” Maren said, her voice calm but firm. “If you want your full legal name to reflect both your birth name and Eli’s, it’s better to do this before the marriage license is filed. That way, when you legally marry Lucian, your new last name will be complete — Alonzo Voss-Sinclair. Everything will be consistent on paper.”
Eli leaned forward, curiosity and a hint of mischief in his eyes. “So… we get the Voss in there first, before the Sinclair?” He gave Kristina a teasing grin.
Lucian’s lips twitched, a quiet chuckle escaping as he shook his head slightly. “You never miss a chance to stir things up, do you?”
“Exactly,” Maren replied, ignoring Eli’s smirk. “It avoids extra filings later and ensures that any legal documents — the marriage license, inheritance records, medical proxies — reflect the name you want from the start. Think of it as laying a solid foundation before building the walls.”
Kristina exhaled slowly, considering. “So… I’d be Kristina Alonzo Voss first, and then after the wedding, Kristina Alonzo Voss-Sinclair?”
“Yes,” Lucian said, his voice quiet but certain. “That order makes sense legally and practically.”
Kristina glanced at Eli, who smiled reassuringly. “Sounds like a plan. I trust you, Maren. Let’s do it.”
Maren nodded. “Good. Once the name change is complete, all the courthouse paperwork will be simpler. No conflicts, no confusion. Just straightforward signatures.”
Kristina picked up the tablet lying nearby, scrolling through a few details for the courthouse schedule. “So… we go February 25th, morning?”
Lucian nodded. “Yes. No distractions. Quick, clean. Then we come home. This is the only part that needs paper to matter.”
Eli chuckled softly, glint of mischief still in his eyes. “I still think I should wear a suit for moral support.”
Lucian gave him a quick side glance and let out a quiet chuckle. “Fine. Moral support it is.”
Kristina laughed, a light sound she hadn’t realized she’d been holding in. “You already look like you belong there, Eli.”
Maren’s eyes softened just slightly. “Remember, the legal act is simple. What you feel for each other… that isn’t written in any license. That’s yours alone.”
Kristina glanced at both men, seeing the quiet certainty in Lucian’s eyes and the warmth in Eli’s. She felt steady, grounded. This first step — the name change, then the signature — was just the beginning. But it was a beginning they would take together.
Friday | February 25, 2011
County Clerk’s Office | California
Kristina sat at the counter, her suit crisp, hands steady despite the faint thrill of the moment.
The clerk looked up from her desk. “Are you ready to proceed with the name change?”
Kristina nodded. “Yes. Kristina Alonzo Voss.”
The clerk slid the form across the counter. “Please read through carefully and sign where indicated. Once it’s processed, this will be your legal name.”
Kristina’s pen hovered for a moment, then she pressed it firmly to the paper, her signature flowing smoothly: Kristina Alonzo Voss.
Eli leaned slightly over the counter, eyes twinkling. “Look at you. Officially upgraded.”
Kristina shot him a small smile. “I feel… strangely official.”
Lucian, standing a few steps behind, shook his head with a quiet chuckle. “You always make everything look precise and effortless.”
The clerk stamped the document. “The forms are filed. It usually takes about three weeks to process. After that, your new legal name will be finalized, and you’ll be able to use it on all official documents, including the upcoming marriage license.”
Kristina exhaled, a light weight lifting from her shoulders. “So… not instant, but done on our end.”
Eli clapped lightly, drawing a brief amused glance from Lucian. “Next step: the courthouse. Kristina Alonzo Voss-Sinclair, incoming — once the Voss part is official.”
Lucian’s lips curved just slightly. “Step by step,” he said softly. “We’ll wait for the papers, then the license. Everything in order.”
Kristina tucked the completed forms safely into her folder, a quiet sense of accomplishment settling in. One small change, one crucial step, and in a few weeks, the next part of their journey could officially begin.
Monday | March 14, 2011
Lucian Sinclair’s Estate | Evening
The house was quiet, save for the faint clink of glasses from the kitchen. Kristina, Eli, and Lucian had gathered in the sitting room, the three of them casually dressed for a low-key celebration. A small cake rested on the table, decorated with simple candles.
Eli raised an eyebrow at Kristina. “You didn’t have to do all this,” he said, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
Kristina shrugged, a small grin on her face. “Well… you didn’t want a grand birthday, so I just did this. A little normalcy seemed… nice.”
Lucian, leaning against the doorway, let out a soft chuckle. “Normal for you, Kristina, probably means elaborate planning under the guise of casual.”
Eli laughed, shaking his head. “I’ll take it. Thank you.” He looked between the two of them, warmth in his eyes. “You know, this is… exactly the kind of day I needed. Just us. No chaos, no emergencies, no endless papers.”
Kristina lit the candles. “Make a wish,” she said softly.
Eli closed his eyes for a moment, then blew out the candles. The flame flickered and died. “Done. And now… cake?”
Lucian raised a glass of water in mock toast. “Happy birthday, Eli. May this year be exactly what you want it to be.”
Eli grinned. “Thanks, Lucian. And… thanks, Kristina. You two always manage to make life feel… fuller.”
Kristina felt a quiet warmth in her chest. Seeing Eli smile like this, unburdened and relaxed, was a rare gift. “You deserve it,” she said simply.
As they sliced the cake, their laughter filling the sitting room, none of them noticed the small moment of stillness—the way this simple evening marked the calm before the next steps of their shared future.
Eli leaned back, wiping a smear of frosting from his cheek. “You know… we should probably start thinking about dinner plans for the name-change finalization next week,” he said with a grin.
Kristina exchanged a glance with Lucian, both of them smiling at the thought of the next step. “Step by step,” Lucian said quietly. “Step by step.”
Kristina smiled, setting down the cake knife. “But… after everything. When everything is done and finalized, I get to decide what’s going to happen for your birthday next year. I want a big celebration for you. Do you understand?”
Lucian gave a quiet nod. “You know she means it, Eli. You’ll have the grandest birthday imaginable.”
Eli’s eyes widened in exaggerated surprise, a playful grin tugging at his lips. “Wait—what? You two are ganging up on me?!”
Kristina chuckled softly. “I just want you to be celebrated properly. No excuses next year.”
Lucian shook his head with a faint smile. “Yes—prepare yourself.”
Eli threw his hands up in mock surrender, still grinning. “Alright, alright! I’ll be ready… but don’t underestimate me plotting my revenge!”
Kristina laughed, and Lucian let out a quiet, amused chuckle, shaking his head. The moment was light, warm—a rare bubble of simplicity in their carefully constructed world.
In the weeks following Kristina’s preliminary paperwork for her name change, life had settled into a rhythm that felt both familiar and new. The company, once a place where careful discretion governed every glance and gesture, had become a space where they no longer needed to hide. Lucian’s announcement on his birthday had removed the veil of secrecy — no more furtive looks, no whispered conversations, no unspoken rules about what could or couldn’t be acknowledged. Their bond was visible, and increasingly, it was accepted.
Around the office, reactions varied. Some employees had smiled with genuine warmth, quietly pleased for them, while others maintained polite, measured expressions, clearly forcing civility over discomfort or curiosity. But the trio moved forward with a quiet confidence that rendered the judgments irrelevant. Kristina and Eli no longer felt the need to shrink themselves in Lucian’s shadow; their presence beside him was natural, steady, and visible.
Even Maxim, who had always approached the personal lives of Lucian and his inner circle with a cautious, almost clinical detachment, had begun to show subtle signs of acceptance. At first, his questions had been indirect, carefully neutral. But in recent weeks, he had started stopping by the office under the guise of casual conversation, asking pointedly about plans, schedules, and even the final steps of the legal preparations. One afternoon, he lingered longer than usual, leaning against the edge of a desk as Kristina, Eli, and Lucian shared details about the upcoming courthouse visit and the name-change finalization. His tone had been measured, but his questions had carried genuine curiosity rather than obligation, a quiet acknowledgment that he was attempting to understand their choices — to see their life together from their perspective.
In these small moments, the trio recognized the change, subtle though it was. It was not a dramatic acceptance, nor a sudden embrace, but a slow, careful shift, and it mattered. With Maxim’s growing tolerance, the atmosphere around them—both at home and in their broader circles—felt lighter, less burdened by scrutiny, more open to the reality of their shared life.
With the first steps toward legal formalities behind them, Kristina and Lucian, with Eli beside them, moved forward with purpose. They were no longer just navigating paperwork or planning events; they were living openly, comfortably, and with the quiet assurance that they were building a future together — a life that, once hidden behind protocol and secrecy, was now fully their own.
Wednesday | March 16, 2011
Kristina sat at the counter again, her suit crisp and hands steady, a quiet thrill running through her. Eli leaned casually against the side, Lucian standing a step behind, both watching her with gentle attentiveness. The morning light filtered through the office windows, highlighting the neat rows of filing cabinets and the soft hum of activity in the background.
The clerk looked up from her desk, a small smile in place. “Good morning. Your name change has been finalized. Kristina Alonzo Voss is now official.”
Kristina’s chest lifted slightly. “So… it’s really done?” Her voice carried a mix of disbelief and quiet excitement.
“Yes,” the clerk confirmed, tapping the stamped folder. “The processing period has completed. Your name change is now official. Because you requested the waiver of public notice, no notices were published. There were no objections, and everything is clear. You are now legally Kristina Alonzo Voss, and this will carry over seamlessly to your upcoming marriage license.”
Kristina let out a small laugh, exhaling with a mix of relief and pride. “Feels… right. Like the first real step toward the next part.” She allowed herself a moment to look at her reflection in the polished surface of the counter — a version of herself quietly empowered, legally recognized, and one step closer to the life she, Eli, and Lucian were building together.
Lucian’s lips curved into a quiet smile. “That’s one box checked,” he said softly. “Now the paperwork is in order, the license can reflect your full legal name. Everything is ready.”
Kristina tucked the stamped documents safely into her folder, glancing at Eli and Lucian. “All set. Kristina Alonzo Voss — just waiting to become Voss-Sinclair next.”
Eli reached over, giving her a playful nudge. “Next up, the courthouse. One step at a time, indeed.” His grin widened as he added, “Though I’ll admit, seeing it written down like that makes it feel… real.”
Lucian gave a small chuckle, shaking his head. “Yes. Feels good to see it all coming together, doesn’t it?” He stepped a little closer to Kristina, his presence grounding, reassuring. “It’s more than just a signature on a piece of paper. It’s a marker. A promise.”
Kristina nodded, a quiet warmth spreading through her chest. “A promise,” she echoed softly, letting the words sink in. One small change, one official recognition — and the path to their future together felt steadier, realer, and entirely theirs.
Eli leaned back slightly, glancing at both of them with his usual lighthearted energy. “I’d say we celebrate this milestone… quietly, of course. But maybe a tiny toast when we get home?”
Kristina’s smile widened. “Absolutely. One small step at a time, Eli. One small step at a time.”
Lucian’s gaze followed hers, a faint, satisfied smile tugging at his lips. “Step by step, yes. But each one feels important.”
For a few quiet moments, the three of them simply stood there, letting the significance of the morning settle over them. Official, legal, and undeniably real — Kristina’s name change was no longer just paperwork. It was a first tangible step toward the life they had been building in secret, now quietly stepping into the light.
The smallest acts sometimes mark the largest changes, quietly shaping the path ahead.
—To be continued.
