Episode 5

Jason was raised alone, even though he had a father and a mother; both were so dedicated to their businesses that he was raised by employees and later by boarding school. His parents always invested in his studies so that one day he would take over the family businesses, all of which were in the healthcare area.

When Jason became an adult and started working with his father, his mother retired and he started living his independent life, enjoying everything he could never enjoy. He used to go to nightclubs, casinos, and the best shows, always accompanied by a different beauty. Until he started to get tired of this life and began to slow down.

On a vacation trip, his parents suffered an accident and died, and he had to assume total control of the companies and completely canceled his social life.

Sometimes he would hire an escort to go to business dinners, but that was it. He began to grow cold and inflexible with people, due to the number of flatterers and thieves that surrounded him.

It was working hard that he found himself tired and discovered the disease that was beginning to corrode his body.

He didn't want to die, he was 30 years old and had no heirs to whom to leave his inheritance and this, plus the illness, made him want to marry and have a child as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, he had withdrawn from all social life and did not have a young woman at his disposal for this purpose.

That is why he agreed to the contract with the disgusting Onofre Peçanha, who was running his company into the ground, when Jason took over.

Now, he was in his company's boardroom, along with his lawyer, Onofre, Laura, and her lawyer.

"Mr. Willis, does Miss Laura Peçanha agree to marry you, under the terms of the contract you sent us, do you agree to her terms as well?" asked Dr. Nestor.

"Yes, my client has agreed to her terms: total separation of assets, one year marital cohabitation, remain in her medical residency, and have custody of any children they have," replied Jason's lawyer, Dr. Clecio Nobre.

"Then we can sign the contracts," agreed Nestor.

They signed the documents and exchanged folders to sign each other's.

Onofre frowned, thinking about what he would gain from this, beyond what he had already received. But neither party even looked at him.

"I'll file the papers later today and with the urgency fee payment, the proclamations should be ready in 30 days," reported Dr. Nobre.

"If you don't mind, I'll take care of the ceremony and would like to meet with you to get to know each other, do you agree?"

"I agree, as long as it is within my free time."

"Our schedules are similar and I think we will get along well."

"So that's all right. We can go, miss."

"Wait! What about me?" Onofre asked petulantly.

"What is it, Dad?"

"What is my part in all of this?"

"As father of the bride, you will walk her down the aisle. Please don't ask me anything else. Later I'll call you to go to the tailor, we'll get our suits done together."

"All right then, congratulations to the bride and groom." Onofre's yellow smile showed how unhappy he was with Jason's speech.

Laura lived well with her family until her mother passed away and she started being mistreated by her father and her sister went overboard, as it was her mother who controlled Leda's jealous attacks.

She had no thought of going back to that house, let alone living with her father and sister. That's why she didn't even bother to answer her father.

Jason approached her and asked:

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

"We already signed the contracts, why are you asking me that now?"

"It's just that I know your father and I know he squandered the family's assets. I'm even surprised he hasn't sold the big house yet."

"I haven't lived with my father and sister for a few years and I don't get involved in their lives nor do I allow them to get involved in mine."

"I see you have strong opinions, I like that."

"Don't worry about me, I can handle my own issues. Now I need to get to work, I only asked for the morning off."

"Yes, I understand. I'll call you to arrange a dinner."

"Okay, excuse me."

She turned and went to find the lawyer, who was waiting for her.

"Thank you, Dr. Nestor. Will you go to the wedding, get the certificate, and continue with the release of the inheritance, please?"

"Yes, I will transfer the documentation to your name, release the accounts, and transfer everything to the account you have already given me. Your father was at the office and gave me another account to make the transfer."

"He did this with my sister and the fool was left with nothing. Good thing you're not her father."

"Unfortunately I cannot defend him. I'm going to give you a credit card and you can use it for your wedding expenses, anything just give me a call."

"Thank you very much, Dr. Nestor."

"Don't thank me, it's yours and when the bill arrives you'll have money to pay it. Here we are, good job."

"Thanks for the ride, see you at the wedding."

She went inside the hospital, went to the locker room, changed and took her post, running to complete her rounds. Later she met Amanda and told her how it went and what her father did. They were in the cafeteria, having coffee, when Jason called.

“Hello.”

"Hi, my fiancee, can I pick you up today, after work."

"And what do you intend to do?"

"I want to take you to choose the rings and we can have dinner afterwards." From the tone of his voice, Laura sensed that he was smiling.

"All right, as long as we don't stay long, I have work tomorrow."

"Don't worry, it will be all simple. I'll pick you up at 6 pm, okay?"

"Yes, that's great, see you later."

"See you later."

They hung up the phone and it was already time for the friends to go back to work.

"Are you going to wear the same clothes?" Amanda asked.

"Yes, he suggested picking me up after work, so it didn't give me a choice."

"All right."