My Parents Ordered Me to Marry to Secure the Family Business—So I Picked a “Farm Girl” to Annoy Them… Only to Discover She Was Hiding a Major Secret
I’ll admit, my plan wasn’t about love—it was revenge on my parents. They’d built a business from nothing, and I’d spent my life indulging myself, assuming I’d inherit it. Then came “the talk.”
“You need to settle down,” my father said one evening. “Show commitment—a wife, a family—if you want the company.” My mother agreed, disappointment heavy in her tone. I was furious. Fine—I’d marry, but on my terms, with someone they’d never approve of.
That’s when I met Mary at a quiet charity event. Modest, calm, and unassuming—perfect for my scheme. We agreed to a fake courtship, keeping her past hidden and letting my parents believe she was a simple small-town girl.
Introducing her to my parents was a triumph. They bristled, Mary played the part flawlessly, and I reveled in their discomfort. But at the charity ball, the truth emerged: Mary wasn’t who she seemed. She was the daughter of one of the state’s wealthiest philanthropic families—the “Charity Princess.”
She had her own reasons for playing along—escaping her parents’ pressure—just as I had mine. In that moment, admiration and respect replaced my initial scheming. Mary was clever, independent, and utterly her own person.
By the time we told our parents the truth, I realized this was no longer a game. I wanted her—not as part of a plan, but as my partner, for real.
