Nora and Jack could hardly sit still. They had passed the first step to having a child!

  Jack squeezed Nora’s hand, his palm slightly damp. They had waited years for this moment, for a chance to prove they were worthy. The Worldwide Fertility Organization(WFO) didn’t just hand out approvals. Candidates had to demonstrate stability, financial, emotional, and genetic. No exceptions. Until now, they had been on the wrong side of the requirements: renting a cramped apartment, struggling with low-paying jobs. The only advantage they had was their birthright, they were part of the first generation born under the new regulations, designed to be completely free of genetic abnormalities or disease. But after years of saving and working their way up, they finally had a home, steady careers, and a future that met WFO’s strict regulations.

  They huddled together on one of the room’s two plastic, loveseat-sized chairs. The walls were a sterile shade of white, broken only by the reception desk glass and a single framed poster listing the Four Pillars of Responsible Parenthood: Genetic Purity. Economic Stability. Emotional Maturity. Social Contribution.

  Nora let out a slow breath, trying to steady her nerves. She tugged at her sleeve, smoothing invisible wrinkles. “I still can’t believe we made it this far,” she murmured, half to herself.

  Jack nodded, bouncing his knee. “I know. Feels surreal.” His gaze flickered to the closed office door. “What if they change their minds?”

  “They won’t.” Nora sounded more confident than she felt.

  To distract themselves, they talked, mostly small things, words tumbling out just to fill the silence.

  “I swear, if Karen comes into work one more time drenched in that god-awful perfume, I’m going to file a complaint,” Nora said, rolling her eyes. “I can smell her before she even enters the lab. We have policies for a reason. It can affect behavior.”

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  Jack chuckled, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. “Maybe she’s trying to gas everyone out so she can take over.”

  “I wouldn’t put it past her.”

  Jack leaned back slightly, stretching his legs. “Work’s been a circus too. Had to carry my client out of yet another club the other night. Guy was so drunk he couldn’t walk. Tossed him over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes while fans screamed for selfies.”

  Nora laughed. “You really have the glamorous job, huh?”

  “Absolutely. My mother would be so proud.” Jack smirked, but then his expression sobered. “I just keep thinking… if this actually happens, I’m done with security. No more babysitting drunk celebrities. I want to be home. I want to be there for our child.”

  Nora squeezed his hand, her heart swelling. They had waited so long for this, to be parents, to have the life they had dreamed of.

  The office door finally creaked open.

  A tall man in a white coat stepped out, holding a tablet. He had sharp features, dark eyes that seemed to size them up in an instant. Behind him, a large WFO emblem gleamed on the office wall, a stylized tree with perfectly symmetrical branches, symbolizing strong roots and flawless genetics.

  Jack and Nora jumped to their feet.

  He smiled, clinical but polite. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Vera. You’ve been accepted into the program.”

  Nora gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. Jack exhaled sharply, as if he’d been holding his breath.

  The doctor continued. “You’ll be provided accommodations for the night as soon as your deposit clears, shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. We’ll begin first thing in the morning.”

  Nora nodded quickly. “Yes, of course. Whatever needs to be done.”

  “Excellent.” The doctor glanced down at her tablet. “You’ll receive the contract and genetic confirmation report shortly. For now, you may proceed to the intake center.”

  Jack furrowed his brow. “Genetic confirmation?”

  The doctor’s smile tightened. “Just a formality. Standard verification before implantation.”

  Nora and Jack exchanged a look, but they both nodded. They had come this far. There was no turning back now.

  Tomorrow, they would take the next step toward becoming parents. All they had to do was prove they were worthy. And in this world, worthiness is everything.