When my wealthy parents said I had to marry to inherit the family business, I rebelled. At a small charity event, I met Mary — modest, quiet, and seemingly unimpressed by my lifestyle. Perfect for my plan. I proposed a marriage of convenience, and she agreed, on one condition: no questions about her past.
My parents were shocked when I introduced her. She didn’t fit their vision of the perfect daughter-in-law, and that was exactly what I wanted. But at a charity ball, the mayor recognized her immediately and praised her family’s massive donations. Moments later, an old friend revealed the truth — Mary was the “Charity Princess,” heir to one of the most respected philanthropic families in the state.
When I asked why she never told me, she admitted she was escaping her own parents’ pressure to marry for status. We were both using each other to dodge family expectations, but I began to see her in a new light — smart, strong, and completely her own person.
By the time we told our parents the truth, I no longer cared about their approval. What began as a petty scheme had turned into something real. I hadn’t just found a way to stand up to my family — I’d found a partner worth standing with.