My Parents Demanded That I Get Married to Keep the Family Business, So I Chose a Fresh off the Farm Girl to Spite Them

I’ll admit it—I started this whole thing for all the wrong reasons.
I wasn’t looking for love. I wasn’t dreaming of a perfect wife. No, I was looking for a loophole—a way to keep my inheritance without giving up my freedom.
Because my parents? They had other plans for me.
The Ultimatum That Changed My Life
“Alex, it’s time you settled down.”
My father leaned forward, his voice calm but firm—like he was closing a business deal, not discussing my future.
“You’re almost 30,” he continued. “If you want the company, we need to see some commitment. A wife. A family. You can’t run a business alone.”
I nearly laughed in his face.
“So, what—you’re telling me to get married or lose everything?”
“Precisely,” my mother chimed in, her eyes scanning me like I was one of her failed investments. “We can’t trust the company to someone who treats life like a party.”
The Perfect Rebellion: Finding “The Wrong Girl”
I was furious. My entire life, they had controlled everything—where I went to school, who I associated with, what my future should look like.
Now they thought they could force me into marriage?
Fine. I’d get married.
But not to the polished, high-society woman they expected.
No, I’d find someone who would make them regret giving me that ultimatum. Someone who didn’t fit into their world at all.
And that’s when I met Mary.
The Small-Town Girl with a Mysterious Past
Mary was not from my world.
I found her at a charity event, quietly setting up tables, dressed in a simple, unassuming dress—no designer labels, no flashy jewelry, just pure confidence wrapped in mystery.
I introduced myself, expecting the usual reaction—a flicker of recognition, maybe even excitement.
But she barely glanced at me.
“Nice to meet you, Alex,” she said, her voice polite but unimpressed.
I liked her immediately.
“So, Mary,” I asked casually, “how do you feel about marriage?”
She raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. “Excuse me?”
“I know it sounds strange,” I admitted. “But I need a wife. And you… you might be perfect for the job. No real commitment, just a favor. You’ll need to pass a few ‘tests’ first, but after that, we both get what we want.”
Instead of laughing in my face, she studied me for a long moment.
Then, to my surprise, she smiled.
“Isn’t that funny?” she mused. “I was just thinking I could use a little ‘marriage’ myself.”
The Deal of a Lifetime
“No questions about my past,” she added, her voice calm but firm. “I’m just a girl from a small town. That’s all anyone needs to know.”
I grinned.
“Perfect.”
The Plan in Motion—And a Growing Mystery
I introduced Mary to my parents expecting chaos.
I was not disappointed.
My mother’s smile tightened the moment she saw Mary’s plain dress and quiet demeanor.
“Oh… Mary, is it?” she said, struggling to mask her horror.
Dad’s frown deepened. “Alex, this… this isn’t exactly what we had in mind.”
“Well, you wanted me to settle down,” I said gleefully, wrapping an arm around Mary. “And Mary’s perfect. She’s calm, humble, and doesn’t care about all this fancy stuff.”
But here’s the thing—Mary was too good at this.
Every time my parents threw a condescending question at her, she answered smoothly, effortlessly.
And every once in a while, I’d catch this glimmer of amusement in her eyes—like she was in on some joke I didn’t understand.
I brushed it off. She was playing the part. That’s all that mattered.
Until the charity ball—when everything fell apart.
The Night It All Unraveled
The ballroom was breathtaking—chandeliers dripping with crystals, tables lined with pure silk, silverware polished to perfection.
I leaned into Mary as we walked in. “Tonight’s the final test. Just blend in.”
“I know the drill,” she murmured.
And then—the mayor walked up to us.
“Mary! I’m delighted to see you here!”
Wait. What?
I froze as the mayor grinned at my “humble” wife-to-be, shaking her hand like they were old friends.
“Your family’s contributions to the children’s hospital have been extraordinary,” he continued. “Everyone still talks about your generosity!”
Generosity? Contributions?
My parents were gaping at her. So was I.
Then, like dominoes falling, more people approached—businessmen, old-money elites, even a member of Congress.
And they all knew Mary.
“Mary,” one of them said, laughing, “I had no idea you were back in town! Your family must be thrilled!”
Mary forced a small smile, shifting uncomfortably.
That’s when Jack, an old family friend, turned to me, eyes wide with amusement.
“Alex, you’re marrying Mary the Charity Princess? Her family’s one of the largest philanthropists in the state!”
The room spun.
Mary. The Charity Princess.
The “small-town girl” who was supposedly beneath my parents’ expectations… was richer than I was.
The Truth Comes Out
As soon as we could slip away, I cornered Mary in a quiet hallway.
“So… Charity Princess?” I asked, my voice half-laughing, half-stunned.
She sighed. “Yeah. My family runs the biggest charity fund in the state. But I left that world years ago.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because,” she said simply, “you never asked.”
I let out a shaky laugh. “You knew this was fake all along?”
“I suspected,” she admitted. “But I had my own reasons for playing along.”
And suddenly, it all made sense.
Mary had never needed my money. She had never needed anyone’s approval. She had been escaping expectations—just like I had.
And as I looked at her, really looked at her, something in me shifted.
My stupid, childish plan to rebel against my parents had led me to someone incredible. Someone independent, strong, and far more powerful than I had ever guessed.
The Unexpected Ending
A few nights later, as we sat going over charity event plans, I caught myself watching her.
She glanced up. “What?”
I hesitated.
“I think we should tell them the truth.”
She studied me, then nodded. “Yeah. I think we should.”
And for the first time since this whole ridiculous game began, I realized—
I didn’t want it to end.