Today Is the Start of a New Life...

Nathan:

As soon as she settled in, I went to the study and called my lawyer, Richard Thompson.

"Richard, I want you to investigate Josh Carter, Kate Belvoir, and Tim Brook. Turn their lives inside out. I want to know absolutely everything about them. And is the prenuptial agreement ready?"

"Yes, as you requested. You'll be married under full separation of assets, but you'll be granting her twenty percent of Moore Corporation shares and several properties already listed here. She'll have a very advantageous divorce settlement. I just don't understand why."

"Because I took advantage of a moment of vulnerability. It's not that I'm buying a bride, but I seized on her pain to ask for her help, and the fair thing is to give something back. She's not going to spend part of her life by my side without getting anything out of it."

"All right, Nathan. If that's what you want, I've prepared the share donation certificate for you to sign as soon as you return from Las Vegas. Is there anything else?"

"Yes. I need you to review this power of attorney. What authority does Tim have over Maya's assets?"

After a few minutes, Richard handed the papers back to me.

"This is a simple power of attorney granting Tim Brook the right to manage Maya's assets, but he cannot dispose of them or claim ownership. It's a well-drafted document."

"Does it give him the authority to expel Maya from her own home?"

"Absolutely not. Based on the documents attached here, all the properties and the company are in her name. He has no right whatsoever to evict her from her own property."

"I want you to revoke this power of attorney and prepare a new one in my name so that I can manage her assets for six months. That's how long I'll need to train her and teach her everything she needs to take control of her company."

"Anything else?"

"I want you to hire a personal stylist to build an exclusive wardrobe for Maya. Spare no expense. I want the closet in her room fully stocked -- clothes, shoes, accessories, and jewelry of the finest quality, all exclusive."

"I'll take care of it. To issue a power of attorney in your name, I'll need her signature. I've already drafted one quickly on my laptop and sent it to your printer. I'll need Maya Brook's signature."

"I'll have her called."

I picked up my phone and called the kitchen, asking one of the maids to go to Maya's room and ask her to come to the study. After I explained that I wanted a power of attorney to manage her assets, she signed.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, I'm ready. I never imagined my dream of getting married in a church would end like this -- marrying a stranger in Las Vegas."

"Your dream hasn't ended, Maya. It's only been postponed. Just because you're having a civil ceremony doesn't mean your dream is dead. When we divorce, if you find your true love, you can have the wedding of your dreams. Don't let other people destroy what matters to you. It's a beautiful dream, and it will still come true. And I want to be there to witness your happiness."

I said this while wiping the tears from her face that kept falling.

"Thank you, Nathan. You're a very special man."

"That's how I want to see you -- smiling instead of crying."

After a few hours of flying, we arrived in Las Vegas. Since it was already nighttime, we decided to save the wedding for the next morning. So I took her out to do some sightseeing instead. We hit a few casinos and played -- she even won a nice sum. It had been a long time since I'd had so much fun. Maya was a wonderful woman -- so sweet, kind, and lively. We would be good friends. I had big plans for her. As the evening went on and she opened up more, I discovered that the bastard Josh had tried to turn her into a housewife. He'd convinced her to drop her studies and hand the management of her assets over to her father. I was becoming more and more convinced this was a scheme by both of them to rob her of everything she had. But I was going to teach her how to defend herself against con men like Josh and anyone else who might cross her path. This heartbreak would be nothing more than a lesson that would transform her into a remarkable woman. I hoped to do business with her company once she was ready to take the reins. Together, we would build that company up and turn her into a great businesswoman -- just like my grandmother had been. How I wished my grandmother had more time to spend with Maya, to share her life experience and wisdom, to teach her how to survive in this cruel, sexist world where men use women.

"Nathan, I'm talking to you."

"Oh, I'm sorry -- I was lost in thought."

"I was thanking you for the wonderful day I had with you. It's been so long since I had this much fun. And I've never made so much money in a single day either -- well, aside from my inheritance, of course."

"Put that money in a savings account and invest it in your company."

"I'll figure that out later. But I think we should get some sleep now, or I'll show up with huge dark circles under my eyes at our wedding tomorrow."

I agreed. We said goodnight and went to our rooms. The next morning at nine o'clock sharp, the two of us stood before the wedding chapel, exchanged our vows, and sealed our union. At the end of the ceremony, we had to share a light kiss so no one would suspect this marriage wasn't real. And even though it wasn't in a church, I decided to give her a white dress as a gift so she could marry like a true bride.

Today is the start of a new life for her and the fulfillment of my grandmother's wish. I just hope she survives long enough to meet my wife.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***