over with an astonished expression. “Mary!

It’s been ages since I last saw you. I didn’t know you were back in town.”

Mary forced a small laugh. “I, uh, didn’t exactly announce it.

I came back for my… wedding,” she said.

Jack turned to me, his face half-amused, half-incredulous. “Alex, you’re marrying Mary the Charity Princess? Her family’s one of the largest philanthropists in the state!”

My mouth went dry.

Charity Princess. I’d heard the name, of course. Everyone had.

But I had never bothered to meet her or even look her up.

The moment we could slip away from my parents’ glares, I pulled Mary aside to a quiet corner. “So… Charity Princess?” I asked, crossing my arms.

She sighed, glancing away. “Yes.

My family owns the biggest charity fund. They run in these circles, but I don’t. I’ve been avoiding all this for years.”

I ran a hand through my hair, still trying to wrap my head around it.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because,” she said slowly, “it’s the same reason you didn’t tell me you wanted a ‘fake’ marriage to spite your parents. I have my own reasons, Alex.”

“You knew this was fake all along?” I asked, trying to sound calm, but my voice gave me away.

She took a deep breath. “I got sick of my parents pushing me to marry someone for status.

I wanted my own life, without all the expectations. When you came along, I figured I could help you and solve my own problem at the same time.”

“Let me get this straight,” I said, still amazed. “You agreed to this whole thing because you’re trying to escape your family’s expectations, just like I am?”

Mary nodded.

“Guess that’s one thing we have in common.”

I stared at her, realizing for the first time how much I didn’t know about her. This wasn’t some naive “country girl” here to make my parents uncomfortable. She was intelligent, strong, and just as independent as I was.

Maybe more.

My original plan suddenly felt childish. While I’d been playing games to annoy my parents, Mary had been quietly navigating a world she didn’t want to be part of, giving up her family’s wealth and influence to stand on her own two feet. She’d agreed to my ridiculous scheme just to win her freedom.

I couldn’t help but respect her for that.

One evening, as we were going over some plans for the charity events my mother insisted we attend, I caught myself watching her. She looked up, catching my gaze. “What?”

“I just… I guess I didn’t realize how strong you were,” I admitted, feeling surprisingly nervous.

“You put up with all this, and you never once complained. You’ve done more than I would’ve in your position.”

Mary smiled, a little softer than I’d ever seen. “I’m not doing it for them,” she replied.

“I’m doing it for me.”

And in that moment, I realized my feelings had shifted. What started as a plan to shock my parents had become something else entirely. I respected and admired her, and, yes, I wanted to be with her for real.

“Mary,” I said slowly, “maybe it’s time we told them the truth.”

She nodded, understanding exactly what I meant.

We weren’t just playing a game anymore.

The next day, we asked our parents to sit down with us. As we prepared to reveal everything, I felt a strange calm. I wasn’t worried about what they’d say.

I just knew that, for once, I was ready to do things honestly and with Mary by my side.

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