Chapter 6: The Prenuptial Agreement
806 Words
Lily shot her aunt a frosty glance. “Aunt, don’t you think your question is somewhat intrusive?”
“Intrusive? How is it intrusive? Your father is gone, and now I’m merely scrutinizing your prospective partner. In this day and age, what family doesn’t expect a dowry when marrying off their daughter?”
Her aunt’s attitude was one of self-righteousness, as though she were solely acting in Lily’s best interest.
Lily, amused, replied, “My mother is still here. If this isn’t intrusive, then what is? Since that’s the case, let me ask my cousin’s boyfriend—how much dowry are you offering for my sister? Her mother mentioned that a dowry is a necessity for marrying off a daughter!”
Henry, who had hoped to remain in the background, turned pale at the mention.
Emily, unable to bear the discomfort any longer, put on a strained smile and said, “We agreed on a dowry of one million!”
Henry looked at Emily in shock. How could he possibly come up with a million for her?
Michael, sensing something amiss, inquired, “Which department are you an executive in at the group?”
“!!!” Mr. Sterling had finally caught on. Henry’s face shifted from pale to green. He was merely a minor project leader in the design department, not an executive by any means.
“The, the design department…”
Henry felt the walls closing in.
Michael regarded him with an inscrutable look, his expression remaining serene and devoid of any visible emotion. “Hmm. Keep working diligently; a million in dowry is not an excessive amount.”
Sterlings’ Group had two executives in the design department, one male and one female, neither of whom was named Chen. Michael had encountered several team leaders due to brainstorming sessions, but Henry was not among them.
Executive-level salaries were in the millions, while team leaders earned between five to six hundred thousand annually. Those below this level, apart from a base salary of eight thousand per month, earned bonuses based on project performance. A million in dowry would require handling at least two to three hundred ordinary projects, or several dozen intermediate ones. Entry-level designers did not handle high-profile projects…
Michael had no intention of exposing Henry’s deceit at this moment, preferring to inform Lily later so she could make her own judgments.
Henry felt a chill run down his spine under Mr. Sterling’s scrutinizing gaze.
Emily, however, felt a surge of satisfaction. A million!
Henry’s acquiescence to the dowry amount meant acceptance!
After dinner, Lily was about to clear the table when Grace intervened, directing her towards Michael, who was seated on the sofa, absorbed in his phone. “You should accompany Mr. Sterling and keep him company; don’t leave him alone there.”
Lily, feeling uneasy about approaching the quietly aloof man on the sofa, wondered if she truly was going to marry him.
Taking a deep breath, she walked over to Michael.
Just as Michael looked up and saw her hesitant and surprised expression, he spoke first, “Shall we step outside to talk?”
“Sure.” Lily fidgeted with her fingers behind her back, thinking it would be a good opportunity to explain herself and clarify her actions.
The garden was filled with elderly residents strolling, and the two of them walked along the path like a typical couple, their shadows stretching under the streetlights.
“I didn’t know that Li Meihua’s boyfriend would also be here when I invited you over yesterday. I merely wanted my mother to meet you.”
“Hmm.” Michael grunted. In truth, he hadn’t given it much thought; her reaction after the car accident revealed that she wasn’t the type to play games.
“Are you satisfied with my conditions?”
“Ah?” Lily realized he was referring to the marriage terms discussed at the table. “You have a house, and it’s in the city center. I’m already content. As for the dowry, it’s not necessary; my mother and I don’t adhere to that tradition.”
“I do want a dowry, but I have one condition as well,” Michael’s voice was calm and measured.
“Mr. Sterling, please go ahead.”
“I need a prenuptial agreement, with a term of three years. If our marriage dissolves for any reason within that period, neither party will claim any of the other’s assets.”
Michael was not a miser, but as a co-owner of Sterlings’ Group, he could not allow the company’s assets to mingle with his marital affairs.
Lily was taken aback by how modest his demand was. As a modern woman, she saw nothing wrong in protecting her premarital assets, especially since she had nothing to gain from the marriage.
Thus, she agreed readily, “That’s acceptable.”
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