My rich parents demanded I marry to inherit the family business, so I picked a “simple girl” to spite them. But soon, I found out she was hiding a big secret.
I’ll admit it. I’m not proud of how I started all this. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, not even close. I just wanted to annoy my parents.
You see, I’ve always lived the way I wanted, with no rules. Parties, fast cars, fancy vacations. And why not? My family was rich, and I knew I’d take over my father’s company one day.
But then my parents called me in for “a serious talk.”
“Listen, Alex,” my dad said, leaning forward like he was making a deal. “Your mother and I think it’s time you grow up.”
“Grow up?” I laughed, leaning back. “You mean get married?”
“Exactly,” he said with a nod, not looking away. “You’re almost 30. If you want the company, we need to see real responsibility. That means a wife, a home. You can’t lead a business on your own like this.”
My mother added in, shaking her head. “Your father worked his whole life for this, Alex. We can’t leave the future of the business to someone who treats life like a game.”
I was mad. They wanted a wife? I’d give them one. If they thought they could control me, I’d show them they were wrong. I’d bring someone into their world who’d make them regret asking.
That’s when I met Lena.
Lena wasn’t from the usual places I met women. I saw her helping out at a quiet charity event. She looked plain, maybe even shy, in a simple dress with her hair pulled back. No expensive brands, just calm and… real.
When I said hello, she just nodded and said, “Nice to meet you, Alex.” She barely looked at me, like she wasn’t impressed.
“So, where are you from, Lena?” I asked.
“Oh, just a small town,” she said with a small smile. “Nothing special.” Her voice was soft, and her eyes were careful.
Perfect.
“So, Lena,” I started, getting to the point. “What do you think about marriage?”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Sorry?”
“I know it sounds weird,” I said, forcing a smile. “But I’m looking for someone to marry. I… have my reasons. But you’ll need to pass a few ‘tests’ first.”
Lena looked at me, then laughed. “Well, isn’t that funny,” she said, her eyes shining in a way I didn’t understand. “I was just thinking I might try some ‘marriage’ myself.”
“Really?” I asked. “So… deal?”
Lena studied me, then shrugged. “Alright, Alex. But promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“No questions about my past. Let’s keep it easy. Just a girl from a small town, that’s all they need to know. You okay with that?”
I smiled. “Perfect.”
When I brought Lena to meet my parents, they looked s.h.oc.ked. My mom’s eyebrows lifted when she saw Lena’s simple dress and quiet nature.
“Oh… Lena, is it?” she asked, pretending to smile.
Dad frowned. “Alex, this… isn’t quite what we had in mind.”
“Well, you wanted me to settle down,” I said, smiling wide. “And Lena’s great for me. She’s calm, honest, and doesn’t care about all this rich-people stuff.”
Lena played the role well. Every polite answer, every unsure look during fancy talk—my parents hated it.
But still… something about her didn’t quite add up. She seemed perfect for my plan, but sometimes I’d catch a strange look in her eye—something like… amusement.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Alex?” she asked me one night after dinner with my parents.
“More than ever,” I laughed. “They’re freaking out, Lena. It’s working.”
“Well,” she said, her voice soft, almost too soft. “Glad I could help.”
I was so focused on my parents’ reaction that I didn’t pay enough attention to Lena’s.
Then the charity ball came. My parents went all out—chandeliers, white tablecloths, shiny silverware.
Lena walked in next to me, her simple outfit standing out among the glitter and gowns. Exactly what I planned.
“Just remember,” I whispered. “Tonight’s the last test.”
She looked up. “I know the drill.”
I stayed close to her as she talked softly, smiled gently, and stayed quiet. My parents glanced at her a few times but didn’t say much.
Then, suddenly, the mayor came up to us, smiling wide.
“Lena! What a surprise!” he said, shaking her hand.
My parents’ jaws dropped. I froze. The mayor knew Lena?
Lena gave a polite smile but looked a bit stiff. “Good to see you too, Mayor.”
“You know, people are still talking about that children’s hospital your family helped build,” he said. “Your support meant a lot.”
Lena nodded. “I’m glad to hear that. We just want to help.”
He moved on, leaving us in silence. My mom finally asked, “Alex… what was that?”
Before I could speak, Jack, a family friend, came over looking shocked. “Lena! I didn’t know you were back!”
Lena gave a short laugh. “I didn’t tell many people. I came for… my wedding,” she said.
Jack looked at me, half-laughing. “Alex, you’re marrying Lena the ‘Charity Princess’? Her family is one of the biggest donors in the state!”
My mouth went dry. I’d heard the name before—everyone had. I just never made the connection.
Later, I pulled Lena aside. “So… ‘Charity Princess’?”
She sighed. “Yes. My family runs the biggest charity in the state. But I stay out of all this.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Same reason you didn’t tell me your plan. I have my reasons too.”
“You knew this was fake?” I asked.
She nodded. “I’m tired of my parents pushing me to marry for power. I wanted to make my own choice. When I met you, I thought I could help us both.”
I stared at her. This wasn’t just a shy girl from nowhere. She was strong, smart, and independent.
While I played games, she gave up her family name to live free. She agreed to this setup just to escape her cage.
One night while we planned an event, I watched her quietly.
“What?” she asked.
“I just didn’t know you were this strong,” I said. “You’ve handled this better than me.”
She smiled softly. “I’m not doing it for them. I’m doing it for myself.”
Right then, I knew things had changed. What started as a joke had become real. I respected her. I wanted to be with her.
“Lena,” I said, “maybe we should tell them the truth.”
She nodded. We weren’t pretending anymore.
The next day, we asked our parents to sit down. As we got ready to explain everything, I felt strangely calm. I wasn’t afraid. I just knew I was ready—to be honest, and to move forward—with Lena by my side.