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 didn’t start this for the right reasons. I wasn’t looking for love. I wasn’t even looking for happiness. I just wanted to get back at my parents.

For as long as I could remember, I’d lived life on my terms: fast cars, late-night parties, luxury vacations. My family’s wealth meant I never had to worry about a thing, and as the only heir to my father’s business empire, I always assumed I’d step into his shoes when the time came.

That’s when they gave me “the talk.”

“Alex,” my father began in that no-nonsense voice he reserved for boardroom negotiations, “it’s time for you to settle down.”

I scoffed, sinking back into the leather chair. “Settle down? You mean get married?”

“Yes,” he said, like it was the most logical thing in the world. “We can’t hand the family business to someone who treats life like a vacation. A wife and a family will show us you’re ready.”

My mother nodded, her expression disapproving as always. “You’re almost 30, Alex. Your father built this company with years of sacrifice. If you can’t show some maturity, we’ll look elsewhere.”

I was furious. They wanted a perfect little businessman, complete with a trophy wife? Fine. I’d give them a wife—but not the one they expected.

That’s how I met Mary.

I found her at a quiet charity event—far from my usual scene. She was standing in the corner, wearing a simple dress, her hair tied back, and an air of calm that felt completely out of place. She wasn’t dazzling or flashy, but something about her still caught my attention.

“Hi, I’m Alex,” I said, introducing myself with my usual cocky charm.

“Nice to meet you, Alex,” she replied, not even sparing me a second glance.

She wasn’t impressed. Perfect.

“So, where are you from?” I asked, trying to learn her story.

“Just a small town,” she said with a polite smile. “Nothing fancy.”

Bingo. She was everything my parents wouldn’t approve of—simple, modest, and clearly uninterested in my world. I decided she was perfect for my plan.

“Mary, I’ll be honest,” I said, cutting to the chase. “I’m looking for someone to marry. It’s complicated, but it’s not about love. What do you say?”

Mary looked at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, to my surprise, she laughed.

“Well,” she said, her voice calm but sharp, “isn’t that funny? I think I could use a marriage too.”

“Really?” I asked, stunned.

“There’s one condition,” she added, her tone turning serious. “No questions about my past. I’m just a small-town girl. That’s all you need to know.”

I grinned. “Deal.”

Introducing Mary to my parents was everything I hoped for. My mother’s lips pursed in a tight, judgmental smile, and my father’s frown deepened as they took in her modest dress and unassuming demeanor.

“So, Mary,” my mother said, trying to sound polite. “What do your parents do?”

“Oh, nothing too exciting,” Mary replied smoothly, folding her hands in her lap. “They’re just simple folks.”

My parents exchanged glances, clearly horrified. I watched with satisfaction as Mary perfectly played her role, answering their questions with quiet politeness. She seemed completely out of place in their extravagant world—and that was exactly the point.

That night, as we left their mansion, Mary turned to me. “Are you sure about this, Alex? Your parents don’t seem thrilled.”

“That’s the idea,” I said with a laugh. “You’re doing great.”

She smiled faintly, but something about her expression nagged at me. I brushed it off. After all, this was a game, and Mary was just helping me win it.

The final test came at a charity ball my parents hosted. It was their grand affair of the year—chandeliers, designer gowns, and a guest list filled with society’s elite. I brought Mary as my date, her simple dress and calm demeanor once again standing in stark contrast to the glittering extravagance around us.

“Remember,” I whispered to her as we entered the ballroom, “just stay quiet and let them squirm.”

“Got it,” she said with a small smile.

Everything was going perfectly until the mayor himself approached us, his face lighting up the moment he saw Mary.

“Mary! I had no idea you were back in town!” he exclaimed, reaching out to shake her hand.

My parents froze. I blinked, completely stunned. The mayor knew Mary?

“It’s good to see you too, Mayor,” Mary replied smoothly, though I noticed a flicker of discomfort in her eyes.

“Your family’s work on the children’s hospital is still making such a difference,” he continued enthusiastically. “You must be so proud.”

My mother’s jaw practically hit the floor. My father looked like he was about to faint.

I managed to pull Mary aside the moment we had a chance. “Okay, what was that?” I demanded. “Your family built a hospital?”

Mary sighed, her calm mask slipping just a little. “Yes, Alex. My family runs one of the largest charity foundations in the state.”

“What?” I stared at her, floored. “You’re rich?”

“I didn’t want you to know,” she said quietly. “I’ve spent my whole life surrounded by people who only see money. When you came along with your ‘fake marriage’ idea, it seemed perfect. You didn’t care who I was—I thought it could give me some freedom, at least for a while.”

“So you knew this was fake all along?” I asked, stunned.

“Of course I did,” she said with a small smile. “You’re not exactly subtle, Alex.”

I stared at her, suddenly seeing her in a completely different light. She wasn’t some simple country girl I’d dragged into my scheme. She was smart, independent, and, in a way, just as fed up with her family’s expectations as I was.

The ridiculous plan I’d started to spite my parents suddenly felt meaningless. Mary wasn’t playing a role—she was choosing her own path. And, to my surprise, I realized I respected her for it.

Later that night, as the ball wound down and we sat alone on a quiet balcony, I turned to her.

“Mary,” I said, my voice softer than before. “Maybe it’s time we stop pretending.”

She looked at me, her expression unreadable again. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… we’re both tired of other people’s expectations. Maybe we should figure out what we actually want.”

For the first time, her guarded expression broke, replaced by a genuine smile. “You know, Alex, that might be the smartest thing you’ve said all night.”

The next morning, we sat my parents down and told them everything. They were shocked, of course, but for the first time, I didn’t care what they thought. Mary wasn’t the woman they’d expected, but she was exactly the person I needed.

In the end, my parents didn’t win. Neither did I.

We did.

Mary and I had started as a scheme, a way to escape our families’ demands. But somewhere along the way, we’d found something real. And this time, I wasn’t about to let it go.