My wealthy parents demanded I marry to inherit the family business, so I chose a “country girl” named Mary just to spite them. I thought she was plain, humble, and perfect to irritate them. What I didn’t know was that Mary was hiding a secret.At the charity ball, the mayor greeted her warmly, praising her family’s donations.
My parents froze. Then an old family friend revealed the truth: Mary was the so-called “Charity Princess,” heir to one of the state’s most powerful philanthropic families.When I confronted her, Mary admitted she’d played along because she too was tired of her family’s expectations.
My plan to rebel had accidentally paired me with someone who understood me better than anyone else.What began as a spiteful arrangement slowly grew into something real. I respected her strength, her independence, and the way she stood up to both our families.
And when she smiled at me and said, “I’m not doing this for them,Alex. I’m doing it for me,” I realized I didn’t just want her in my scheme—I wanted her in my life.In the end, I didn’t just outsmart my parents. I found the one person who made me want to change—for love, not revenge.