My wealthy parents told me I had to get married to take over the family company, so I chose a “regular girl” just to get under their skin. But before long, I learned she was keeping a huge secret.
I’ll be honest. I’m not proud of how I kicked this off. I wasn’t after a real relationship, not even close. I only wanted to tick off my parents.
Here’s the thing: I’d always done whatever I felt like, no limits. Parties, fast cars, luxury trips. And why wouldn’t I? My family had money, and I knew I’d run my dad’s business someday.
Then my parents sat me down for “a serious talk.”
“Listen, Arlo,” my dad said, leaning in like he was closing a sale. “Your mom and I think it’s time you grew up.”
“Grew up?” I laughed, leaning back. “You mean get married?”
“Exactly,” he said with a firm nod, eyes locked on mine. “You’re nearly 30. If you want the company, we need to see real maturity. That means a wife, a home. You can’t run a business living like this.”
My mother chimed in, shaking her head. “Your father built this from nothing, Arlo. We can’t hand the future to someone who treats life like a joke.”
I was furious. They wanted a wife? Fine. I’d give them one. If they thought they could control me, I’d prove them wrong. I’d bring someone into their world who’d make them wish they never asked.
That’s when I met Ved.
Ved wasn’t from the usual spots where I met women. I spotted her helping out at a low-key charity event. She looked plain, maybe even reserved, in a basic dress with her hair tied back. No designer labels, just calm and… genuine.
When I said hi, she just nodded and replied, “Nice to meet you, Arlo.” She barely glanced at me, like she wasn’t impressed at all.
“So, where are you from, Ved?” I asked.
“Oh, just a small town,” she said with a faint smile. “Nothing special.” Her voice was quiet, and her eyes stayed guarded.
Perfect.
“So, Ved,” I jumped in, cutting to the chase. “What do you think about marriage?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Sorry?”
“I know it sounds strange,” I said, faking a grin. “But I’m looking for someone to marry. I… have my reasons. But you’d need to pass a few ‘tests’ first.”
Ved looked at me, then laughed. “Well, that’s funny,” she said, her eyes glinting in a way I couldn’t read. “I was just thinking I might try some ‘marriage’ myself.”
“Really?” I asked. “So… deal?”
Ved studied me, then shrugged. “Alright, Arlo. But promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“No questions about my past. Let’s keep it simple. Just a girl from a small town, that’s all they need to know. You good with that?”
I smiled. “Perfect.”
When I brought Ved to meet my parents, they looked stunned. My mom’s eyebrows shot up when she saw Ved’s plain dress and quiet vibe.
“Oh… Ved, is it?” she asked, forcing a smile.
Dad frowned. “Arlo, this… isn’t quite what we had in mind.”
“Well, you wanted me to settle down,” I said, grinning wide. “And Ved’s perfect for me. She’s calm, honest, and doesn’t care about all this rich-people nonsense.”
Ved played the part perfectly. Every polite reply, every unsure glance during fancy talk—my parents couldn’t stand it.
But still… something about her felt off. She fit my plan too well, but sometimes I’d catch a strange look in her eye—something like… amusement.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Arlo?” she asked me one night after dinner with my parents.
“More than ever,” I laughed. “They’re losing it, Ved. It’s working.”
“Well,” she said, her voice soft, almost too soft. “Glad I could help.”
I was so caught up in my parents’ reactions that I didn’t notice Ved’s.
Then the charity ball arrived. My parents went all out—chandeliers, white tablecloths, gleaming silverware.
Ved walked in beside me, her simple outfit sticking out among the sparkle and gowns. Exactly what I wanted.
“Just remember,” I whispered. “Tonight’s the final test.”
She looked up. “I know the plan.”
I stayed close as she spoke softly, smiled gently, and kept quiet. My parents glanced at her a few times but didn’t say much.
Then, suddenly, the mayor walked up to us, grinning wide.
“Ved! What a surprise!” he said, shaking her hand.
My parents’ jaws dropped. I froze. The mayor knew Ved?
Ved gave a polite smile but looked a bit tense. “Good to see you too, Mayor.”
“You know, people are still talking about that children’s hospital your family helped build,” he said. “Your support meant a lot.”
Ved nodded. “I’m glad to hear that. We just want to help.”
He moved on, leaving us in silence. My mom finally asked, “Arlo… what was that?”
Before I could speak, Boden, a family friend, came over looking shocked. “Ved! I didn’t know you were back!”
Ved gave a short laugh. “I didn’t tell many people. I came for… my wedding,” she said.
Boden looked at me, half-laughing. “Arlo, you’re marrying Ved the ‘Charity Princess’? Her family is one of the biggest donors in the state!”
My mouth went dry. I’d heard the name before—everyone had. I just never connected the dots.
Later, I pulled Ved aside. “So… ‘Charity Princess’?”
She sighed. “Yes. My family runs the biggest charity in the state. But I stay out of all this.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Same reason you didn’t tell me your plan. I have my reasons too.”
“You knew this was fake?” I asked.
She nodded. “I’m tired of my parents pushing me to marry for power. I wanted to make my own choice. When I met you, I thought I could help us both.”
I stared at her. This wasn’t just a shy girl from nowhere. She was strong, smart, and independent.
While I played games, she gave up her family name to live free. She agreed to this setup just to escape her cage.
One night while we planned an event, I watched her quietly.
“What?” she asked.
“I just didn’t know you were this strong,” I said. “You’ve handled this better than me.”
She smiled softly. “I’m not doing it for them. I’m doing it for myself.”
Right then, I knew things had changed. What started as a joke had become real. I respected her. I wanted to be with her.
“Ved,” I said, “maybe we should tell them the truth.”
She nodded. We weren’t pretending anymore.
The next day, we asked our parents to sit down. As we got ready to explain everything, I felt strangely calm. I wasn’t afraid. I just knew I was ready—to be honest, and to move forward—with Ved by my side.