My wealthy families wanted me to marry them to inherit the family business, so I chose a “peasant” to please them. But I soon discovered that she was hiding a powerful secret.
I’ll admit, I’m not proud of how this whole story started. I wasn’t looking for love, or even close to it. I just wanted to avenge my parents.
You see, I’ve always lived the way I wanted, without commitments. Parties, fast cars, expensive vacations. And why not? My family is rich, and I knew that one day I would inherit my father’s business.
But then my parents sat down and talked to me.
“Listen, Alex,” my father said, leaning forward as if discussing a business deal. “Your mother and I think it’s time for you to settle down.”
“Settle down?” He barked, sitting me up and smiling. “You mean marriage?”
Exactly, he replied, nodding without breaking eye contact. „You’re almost thirty. If you want a company, we should see some commitments. It means wife, family. You can’t run a company alone.”
– Mom added shaking her head. „Your father worked there his whole life, Alex. We can’t trust the future of the company to someone who treats life like a party.”
I was furious. They wanted to get married, so I’ll give it to them. If they thought they could manipulate me, I’ll prove them wrong. I’ll find someone who will make them question their own demands.
And then I met Mary.
Mary wasn’t from the typical places I met women. I found her volunteering at a quiet Charity Event.
She looked modest, maybe even shy, in a simple dress and with her hair tied back. Nothing fancy, no designer clothes, just calm and… real.
When I introduced myself, she simply nodded and said, “Nice to meet you, Alex.” She barely looked at me, as if I hadn’t made any impression on her.
“So, where are you from, Mary?” I asked, trying to guess her story.
“Oh, I’m from a small town,” she replied with a polite smile. “Nothing special.” Her voice was gentle and her eyes seemed closed.
Perfect. Just perfect.
“So, Mary,” I began, getting straight to the point. “What do you think about marriage?”
She raised her eyebrows, looking surprised. “Excuse me?”
I know it sounds weird, I said, making me smile. “But I’m looking for someone to marry. From me… he has his reasons. But he has to go through some ‘tests’ first.”
Mary looked at me, her expression unreadable. Then she laughed, surprising me. “Well, that’s ridiculous,” she said, her eyes shining with something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. “I just thought I could use a little ‘marriage’ for myself.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised. “Is this a deal?”
Mary looked at me carefully, then shrugged. “Fine, Alex. But you have to promise one.”
“What is it?”
“No questions about my background and I’ll keep it simple. Just a small-town girl, that’s all they need to know. Are you okay with that?”
I smiled, barely believing in my happiness. “Perfectly.”
When I introduced Mary to my parents, they were terrified. My mother’s eyebrows went up as she looked at Mary’s simple dress and quiet demeanor.
“Oh… Mary, right?” Mom said, trying to hide her disapproval under a hard smile.
My father’s frown deepened. “Alex, this… isn’t exactly what we expected.”
“Well, you wanted me to settle down,” I said, unable to hold back the smile. “And Mary is perfect for me. She’s calm, humble, and doesn’t worry about any of that.”
Mary did it. Every time she answered politely, every time she felt insecure during small talk, I knew my parents were dying inside.
But then… something about her remained a mystery. She was perfect for my plan, but every now and then I looked into her eyes, something that was almost… amused.
“Are you sure you want this, Alex?” she asked me one day after dinner at my parents’ house.
“Definitely more than ever,” I laughed. “They’re terrified, Mary. It works.”
“Good,” she said, her voice soft, almost too soft. “I’m glad I could help.”
I was so caught up in my parents’ reaction that I didn’t follow Mary’s reaction too closely. Not yet.
The night of the charity ball finally arrived. My parents spared no expense: a grand ballroom filled with crystal chandeliers, tables covered in white silk tablecloths, and silverware that could feed a small town.
Mary walked in beside me, her simple dress and quiet elegance out of place among the sequins and high heels. Exactly what I wanted.
“Remember,” I whispered, leaning toward her. “Today is the final test.”
She looked up at me, her gaze unreadable. “I know the rules.”
As the evening unfolded, I held onto her side.