My parents, tired of my carefree lifestyle, demanded I settle down if I wanted to inherit the family business. “You need a wife, Alex,” my father said firmly. My mother added, “We can’t trust the company to someone treating life like a party.” Furious, I decided to retaliate. If they wanted me married, I’d marry someone who defied their expectations.

At a charity event, I met Mary—quiet, modest, and seemingly uninterested in wealth. When I proposed a marriage of convenience, she agreed on one condition: “No questions about my past.” She was perfect for my plan.

Mary played her role flawlessly, bewildering my parents. But at a high-profile charity ball, cracks formed. The mayor greeted her warmly, praising her family’s philanthropy. An old family friend revealed the truth: Mary was the “Charity Princess,” heiress to one of the state’s largest charitable funds.

Confronting Mary, I learned her motives mirrored mine. She wanted freedom from her family’s expectations and saw our fake marriage as a way out. “Guess we have more in common than we thought,” she said.

As we spent time together, my perspective changed. Mary’s strength and independence inspired me. What began as a scheme became something real. Together, we decided to reveal the truth to our parents—not out of rebellion, but with honesty and mutual respect.