I’ll admit it—I wasn’t proud of how it all started. Love wasn’t on my radar. Marriage? Even less. My only goal was to get back at my parents.
I had always lived wild and free—fast cars, endless parties, luxury vacations. Why wouldn’t I? My family was loaded, and one day, my father’s empire was supposed to be mine. Or so I thought.
Then one evening, my parents called me in for what they dramatically labeled “the talk.”
My father leaned forward, his tone cold and businesslike. “Listen, Alex. Your mother and I think it’s time you settled down.”
I chuckled, lounging back in my chair. “Settle down? You mean marriage?”
“Precisely,” he said, staring me down. “You’re nearly thirty. If you want the company, we need to see commitment. A wife. A family. You can’t run a business like this alone.”
My mother’s eyes narrowed, her voice sharp. “Your father worked his entire life to build this company. We can’t leave it to someone who treats life like a playground.”
I was fuming. So this was their plan—hold the business hostage until I played house? Fine. If they wanted me married, I’d get married. But I’d do it my way.
And then I met Mary.
Not in the places I usually found women—no glamorous parties or yacht trips. She was at a small charity event, wearing a simple dress, hair tied back, no designer labels in sight. She was calm. Real.
When I introduced myself, she gave a polite nod. “Nice to meet you, Alex.” No swooning. No flirting. Just… unimpressed.
That sealed it.
“So, Mary,” I asked casually, “where are you from?”
“Oh, just a small town. Nothing fancy.” She smiled softly, eyes guarded.
Perfect.
I went straight for it. “How do you feel about marriage?”
Her head snapped up, eyebrows raised. “Excuse me?”
“I know it sounds crazy,” I admitted with a grin, “but I’m looking for someone to marry. I have… my reasons. But you’ll have to pass some ‘tests’ first.”
To my surprise, she laughed. “That’s funny. I was just thinking I could use a little ‘marriage’ myself.”
I blinked. “Really? So, we have a deal?”
She tilted her head, studying me. “Alright, Alex. But one rule—no questions about my past. As far as anyone knows, I’m just a girl from a small town. You good with that?”
I smirked. “Perfect.”
When I brought her home, my parents nearly choked.
My mother’s smile was tight, her eyes scanning Mary’s plain dress. “Oh… Mary, is it?”
My father frowned deeply. “Alex, this isn’t what we had in mind.”
I grinned. “You told me to settle down. Mary’s perfect. She’s grounded, humble, not obsessed with flashy nonsense.”
Mary played her role perfectly. Quiet, polite, even a little nervous around their “society talk.” I knew it was driving my parents crazy. Every horrified glance they exchanged felt like victory.
But sometimes, when no one was looking, I caught something in Mary’s eyes—a flicker of amusement, as though she was in on some joke I didn’t get.
One evening, after a tense dinner with my parents, she looked at me seriously. “Are you sure this is what you want, Alex?”
“More than ever,” I laughed. “They hate it. This is working.”
Her voice dropped to almost a whisper. “Glad I could help.”
I didn’t think much of it then. But I should have.
The night of the charity ball came. My parents had spared no expense: chandeliers glowing, silk-covered tables, silverware polished to perfection.
Mary entered beside me, looking like she’d stepped out of another world—simple dress, soft smile, quiet elegance. Exactly the disruption I wanted.
“Remember,” I whispered, “this is the final test.”
“I know the drill,” she replied smoothly.
The night was going as planned—Mary blending in just enough, polite but reserved—when suddenly the mayor himself approached us.
“Mary! What a delight to see you here!” he boomed, shaking her hand warmly.
My parents froze. My jaw nearly hit the floor. The mayor knew her?
Mary forced a small smile. “Good to see you too, Mayor.”
“You know,” he continued, “people are still talking about that children’s hospital project you funded. Your family’s contributions changed lives.”
My parents’ eyes widened. I just stood there, stunned. Funded a hospital?
Mary nodded politely. “We just want to help where we can.”
The mayor drifted off, leaving silence in his wake. My mother turned to me, whispering harshly, “Alex… what is going on?”
Before I could answer, another guest, Jack—an old family friend—approached, his face lit with recognition.
“Mary! I didn’t know you were back in town!” he said warmly.
Mary gave a nervous laugh. “I came back for my… wedding.”
Jack turned to me, eyes wide. “Alex, you’re marrying Mary? The Charity Princess? Her family runs the biggest philanthropic fund in the state!”
My stomach dropped. Charity Princess. Of course I’d heard the name—but I’d never cared enough to look her up. Until now.
As soon as we escaped, I cornered her in a quiet hallway. “So… Charity Princess?”
She sighed. “Yes. My family runs a massive charity foundation. They’ve been in these circles forever. But me? I walked away. I wanted a normal life.”
I dragged a hand through my hair. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her eyes flashed. “For the same reason you didn’t tell me this was all to spite your parents. We both had our games, Alex.”
I swallowed. “You knew this was fake from the start?”
“Yes,” she said firmly. “I was tired of my parents pushing me to marry for status. I wanted freedom. When you showed up with your ridiculous plan, I realized—maybe I could win mine too.”
I stared at her, finally seeing who she really was—not a shy small-town girl, but a strong woman who’d been fighting her own battles. While I was playing childish games, she was carving out her independence. And suddenly, I respected her more than anyone I’d ever met.
One night, while preparing for yet another charity event, I found myself staring at her. She caught me and frowned. “What?”
“I just… I didn’t realize how strong you are,” I admitted quietly. “You’ve handled all this without complaint. You’re tougher than me.”
Her smile was soft, almost tender. “I’m not doing it for them. I’m doing it for me.”
And in that moment, my plan crumbled. I didn’t want a fake marriage anymore. I wanted her.
“Mary,” I said, my voice steady, “maybe it’s time we told them the truth.”
She looked at me, eyes searching mine, and then she nodded.
The next day, we sat across from our parents—hers and mine—ready to reveal everything. But this time, I wasn’t nervous. For once in my life, I wasn’t hiding behind rebellion or games.
I had Mary by my side. And that changed everything.