I never expected to fall in love with Jason. Our parents arranged our marriage to strengthen their business partnership, giving us only two months to get to know each other before the wedding. I was twenty, and Jason was twenty-one. Neither of us knew whether two strangers could build a happy life together.

A few months after the wedding, I discovered I was pregnant. Although we were both surprised, Jason supported my decision to keep the baby. When our daughter, Lily, was born, he took a year off work to help raise her. He attended every doctor’s appointment, stayed awake through sleepless nights, and became a loving, devoted father. Still, I sometimes wondered whether he was truly happy with our marriage.

During a family visit to Jason’s parents, I overheard him talking to his mother in the kitchen. “I don’t know what I’d do without Aria and Lily, Mom,” he said. “Before them, I only cared about parties and having fun. Now I wake up grateful for the life I have. Aria has made me a better man, and Lily has taught me what real love means.”

His mother smiled and admitted she had once worried about their arranged marriage. Hearing those words brought tears to my eyes. I had spent months worrying that Jason regretted marrying me, never realizing how much he appreciated our family.

That evening, I told Jason what I had overheard. He gently held my hand and reassured me, saying, “Everything I said was true, Aria. You and Lily are my whole world.”

The following evening, I prepared his favorite dinner, decorated the house with candles, and left little love notes for him. As we spent the evening together, I finally understood that although our marriage had been arranged by our parents, the love we shared was something we had built ourselves.