I’ll be honest—I didn’t start this whole thing with good intentions. Love wasn’t on my mind, not even a little bit. I was angry, stubborn, and I wanted to get back at my parents. That’s how all of this began.
See, I grew up spoiled. Fast cars, wild parties, first-class vacations—anything I wanted, I got. My family was loaded, and I knew one day I’d inherit my father’s business. Life was fun, and I had no reason to slow down.
At least, that’s what I thought.
One night, my parents called me into the study. The air was heavy, like they were about to announce a hostile takeover.
“Listen, Alex,” my father said, his voice sharp but calm. He leaned forward like we were negotiating a contract. “Your mother and I feel it’s time you settle down.”
I leaned back in the chair, smirking. “Settle down? You mean… get married?”
“Precisely,” he replied, his eyes narrowing. “You’re almost thirty. If you want control of the company, we need to see commitment. That means a wife. A family. You can’t run this business the way you live now.”
My mother crossed her arms, shaking her head with disappointment. “Your father worked his whole life building this. We can’t trust it to someone who treats life like a party.”
I felt my blood boil. They wanted to control me. They thought they could shove me into marriage like I was another piece of their empire to manage. Fine. If they wanted a marriage, I’d give them one. But it would be on my terms—and it would drive them crazy.
That’s when Mary entered my life.
I didn’t meet her at some exclusive party or high-end gala. No—she was at a quiet charity event, standing by a table with donated books stacked in piles. She wore a plain dress, hair tied back neatly, no designer bag on her arm. She looked real—too real for the world I lived in.
When I introduced myself, she barely glanced at me. “Nice to meet you, Alex.” No giggles, no fake admiration—just a polite nod.
Intrigued, I asked, “So, uh, where are you from?”
“Oh, just a small town,” she said with a soft smile. “Nothing special.”
Perfect. Just perfect. She wasn’t the type my parents would approve of.
I wasted no time. “So, Mary… how do you feel about marriage?”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”
“I know it sounds sudden,” I said, forcing a confident grin. “But I need someone to marry. There are… reasons. You’d need to pass a few ‘tests’ first, of course.”
Mary’s lips twitched, and then she laughed. It caught me off guard. “Well, isn’t that funny,” she said, her eyes sparkling in a way I didn’t understand. “Because I was just thinking I could use a little marriage myself.”
That stunned me. “Really?”
“Really,” she said with a shrug. “But on one condition: no questions about my past. To your family, I’m just a girl from a small town. Deal?”
I grinned like I’d just won. “Deal.”
The first time I introduced her to my parents was priceless. My mother’s eyebrows nearly touched her hairline at the sight of Mary’s plain dress. “Oh… Mary, is it?” she asked, her smile stiff and fake.
My father’s frown deepened. “Alex, this… isn’t what we had in mind.”
I leaned back in my chair, enjoying their discomfort. “Well, you wanted me to settle down. Mary’s perfect for me. She doesn’t care about money or luxury. She’s humble. Exactly what you asked for.”
Mary played the part well. She answered their fancy questions with quiet politeness, never showing off, never pretending to fit in. Every time she spoke, I could almost see my parents’ blood pressure rising.
But every now and then, I’d catch something strange in her eyes. A flicker of amusement, like she was in on a joke I didn’t know about.
One night, after another dinner with my parents, she asked softly, “Alex… are you sure this is what you want?”
“More than ever,” I laughed. “They’re horrified. This is working perfectly.”
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Glad I could help,” she murmured.
I brushed it off, too caught up in my own game.
Then came the charity ball—the night everything unraveled.
The hall was dazzling: chandeliers, polished marble floors, and enough food to feed a small country. Mary walked beside me in another simple dress, looking completely out of place among the glittering gowns and diamonds. Exactly the effect I wanted.
“Tonight’s the final test,” I whispered to her.
She nodded calmly. “I know the drill.”
But the night didn’t go as planned.
Halfway through, the mayor himself walked over, beaming. “Mary! I’m delighted to see you here!” He shook her hand warmly.
My parents froze. My jaw nearly dropped. The mayor knew her?
“Good to see you too, Mayor,” Mary said politely, though I noticed a hint of discomfort.
“You know, everyone’s still talking about that children’s hospital project you funded,” the mayor continued. “Your family’s contributions have changed so many lives.”
My parents’ mouths fell open. I stood there, stunned, while Mary simply nodded. “I’m glad it made a difference,” she said softly.
Before I could process it, another family friend, Jack, hurried over, eyes wide. “Mary? Mary Lancaster? I can’t believe it’s you! I didn’t know you were back in town.”
Mary chuckled nervously. “I… didn’t make a big announcement. Just came back for my wedding.”
Jack turned to me with disbelief. “Alex, do you even realize? You’re marrying the Charity Princess. Her family runs the largest philanthropic foundation in the state!”
Charity Princess. The name hit me like a slap. I’d heard of her, of course—everyone had. But I had never connected the dots.
The second we could slip away, I pulled her aside. “So… Charity Princess?” I asked sharply.
Mary sighed, finally dropping her calm mask. “Yes. My family owns a massive charity fund. They’ve been pushing me into society events and arranged marriages for years. I wanted nothing to do with it.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?” I demanded.
She looked me straight in the eye. “For the same reason you didn’t tell me your marriage plan was fake. We both had something to escape. You from your parents’ demands, me from mine.”
I blinked, realizing. “So you agreed to this whole thing… to get away from your family’s expectations?”
She nodded. “Guess we’re not so different after all.”
That’s when it hit me. I thought she was just a small-town girl playing along with my scheme. But she was stronger than I ever imagined. She’d walked away from enormous wealth and influence just to live life on her own terms. She hadn’t complained once. She hadn’t crumbled. She’d been braver than me.
One evening later, while we sat together reviewing yet another charity event my mother insisted we attend, I caught myself staring at her.
She looked up, frowning slightly. “What?”
“I just…” My voice faltered. “I didn’t realize how strong you were. You’ve been through so much pressure, and you still hold your head high. You’re incredible, Mary.”
For the first time, her smile was soft, real. “I’m not doing it for them, Alex,” she said. “I’m doing it for me.”
That was the moment my game ended. This wasn’t about spiting my parents anymore. I respected her. I admired her. And, against all odds, I wanted her for real.
“Mary,” I said carefully, “maybe it’s time we told them the truth.”
She nodded, her eyes steady on mine. “I think so too.”
The next day, we sat our parents down—both hers and mine. For once, I didn’t feel nervous. Whatever came next, I was ready. Because this time, it wasn’t about games, wealth, or family pressure.
It was about us.