I’ll be the first to admit—I wasn’t looking for love. Not even close. What I wanted was revenge.
I lived the way I wanted—no rules, no strings. Parties, fast cars, expensive vacations. My family had more money than they knew what to do with, and I was set to inherit my father’s business one day. Life was perfect.
Until my parents decided it was time for “the talk.”
“Listen, Alex,” my father said, leaning forward like he was negotiating a deal. “Your mother and I think it’s time you settle down.”
“Settle down?” I scoffed. “You mean get married?”
“Precisely,” he said, eyes locked onto mine. “You’re almost 30. If you want the company, we need to see commitment. That means a wife, a family. You can’t run a business like this alone.”
My mother chimed in. “Your father has worked too hard to leave the company in the hands of someone who treats life like a party.”
I was furious. They were trying to control me. Fine. They wanted a marriage? I’d give them one. And I’d make sure they regretted ever pushing me into it.
That’s when I met Mary.
She wasn’t like the women I usually met. I found her at a charity event, dressed simply, her hair tied back. No designer labels, no extravagant jewelry. Just… real.
“Nice to meet you, Alex,” she said with a polite nod, barely glancing at me.
She wasn’t impressed. Perfect.
“So, where are you from, Mary?” I asked, curious about her story.
“Oh, just a small town,” she replied with a smile. “Nothing fancy.”
Even better.
I decided to get straight to the point. “How do you feel about marriage?”
Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
“I know it sounds strange, but I need a wife. I have my reasons, but first, you’ll have to pass a few ‘tests’.”
Mary studied me for a moment before surprising me with a laugh. “Funny,” she mused. “I was just thinking I could use a little ‘marriage’ myself.”
“Really?” I asked, taken aback. “So, is it a deal?”
She nodded. “Alright, Alex. But promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“No questions about my past. Just a girl from a small town, that’s all they need to know.”
I grinned. “Perfect.”
When I introduced her to my parents, their reactions were priceless.
“Mary, is it?” my mother asked, forcing a tight smile as she looked her up and down.
My father frowned. “Alex, this… this isn’t exactly what we had in mind.”
I smirked. “Well, you wanted me to settle down. Mary’s perfect. She’s humble, simple, doesn’t care about all this fancy stuff.”
Mary played her part flawlessly, politely nodding along to conversations, acting unsure around our “society talk.” I could see my parents dying inside.
But something about her was different. Every now and then, I caught a glimmer in her eye—something almost… amused.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Alex?” she asked one evening.
“More than ever,” I chuckled. “They’re horrified. It’s working.”
Her lips twitched. “Well, glad I could help.”
Then came the charity ball—the final test.
The ballroom was breathtaking. Chandeliers sparkled, tables were draped in white silk, and silverware gleamed under the golden lights.
Mary walked in beside me, her simple dress setting her apart from the glittering gowns around her. Perfect.
“Remember,” I whispered, “tonight’s the last step.”
She nodded. “I know the drill.”
Everything was going smoothly—until the mayor approached us, beaming.
“Mary! Delightful to see you here!” He shook her hand enthusiastically.
My parents’ jaws nearly hit the floor. I blinked. The mayor knew her?
Mary’s smile was polite, but I noticed the tension in her shoulders. “Good to see you too, Mayor.”
“Everyone’s still talking about that children’s hospital project your family funded,” he continued. “Your contributions are making a difference.”
Mary nodded. “Glad to hear that. We just want to help.”
The mayor moved on, but the damage was done. My mother turned to me, eyes wide. “Alex… what was that about?”
Before I could answer, an old family friend, Jack, appeared with a stunned expression.
“Mary! It’s been ages. I didn’t know you were back in town.”
Mary let out a small laugh. “I, uh, didn’t announce it. Came back for my… wedding.”
Jack turned to me, half-amused, half-incredulous. “Alex, you’re marrying Mary the Charity Princess? Her family is one of the biggest philanthropists in the state!”
My mouth went dry. I had heard of the Charity Princess. Everyone had. But I had never cared enough to learn about her.
I pulled Mary aside. “So… Charity Princess?”
She sighed. “Yes. My family owns the largest charity fund. They run in these circles, but I don’t. I’ve been avoiding all this for years.”
I raked a hand through my hair. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Same reason you didn’t tell me your marriage proposal was fake,” she said. “I have my own reasons, Alex.”
“You knew this was fake all along?”
She nodded. “I was sick of my parents pushing me to marry for status. I wanted my own life. When you came along, I figured I could help you and escape my family’s expectations at the same time.”
I stared at her. “So, we’re both running from our families?”
She smirked. “Looks like it.”
For the first time, I really saw her. This wasn’t some naive “country girl” meant to shock my parents. She was smart, independent, and had given up everything to stand on her own. She had agreed to my ridiculous plan for the same reason I had—freedom. And suddenly, my game felt childish.
One evening, while going over charity event plans, I caught myself watching her. She noticed. “What?”
“I just… I guess I didn’t realize how strong you were,” I admitted.
Mary smiled. “I’m not doing this for them. I’m doing it for me.”
And that was the moment I realized something had changed. I respected her. I admired her. And, maybe, I wanted this marriage to be real.
“Mary,” I said slowly, “maybe it’s time we told them the truth.”
She nodded. “We’re not playing a game anymore, are we?”
“No,” I said, taking her hand. “Not anymore.”
The next day, we asked our parents to meet us. As we prepared to reveal everything, I felt a strange calm. This time, it wasn’t about revenge. It was about choosing a future I actually wanted—with Mary by my side.
