When Zane’s wealthy parents insist he marry to inherit the family business, he chooses a “plain girl” to mess with them. But soon, he discovers she’s hiding a huge secret.
I’ll be honest—I’m not proud of how this started. I wasn’t looking for love, not even close. I just wanted to tick off my parents.
I’ve always lived life my way, no rules. Parties, fast cars, fancy trips. Why not? My family was loaded, and I knew I’d run my dad’s company someday.
But then my parents called me in for a “serious talk.”
“Zane,” my dad said, leaning in like he was closing a deal, “your mom and I think it’s time you grow up.”
“Grow up?” I chuckled, leaning back. “You mean get married?”
“Exactly,” he said, nodding firmly. “You’re nearly 30. If you want the company, we need to see real responsibility. That means a wife, a home. You can’t run a business alone like this.”
My mom chimed in, shaking her head. “Your dad built this company from nothing, Zane. We can’t hand it to someone who treats life like a party.”
I was furious. They wanted a wife? 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 regret it.
That’s when I met Nila.
Nila wasn’t from my usual scene. I spotted her at a low-key charity event, helping out. She looked simple, maybe shy, in a plain dress with her hair tied back. No fancy labels, just calm and… genuine.
When I said hi, she nodded and said, “Nice to meet you, Zane.” She barely glanced at me, like she didn’t care who I was.
“So, Nila, where’re you from?” I asked.
“Just a small town,” she said with a slight smile. “Nothing exciting.” Her voice was soft, her eyes cautious.
Perfect.
“So, Nila,” I got to the point, “what do you think about marriage?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“I know it sounds odd,” I said, flashing a grin. “But I’m looking for someone to marry. I… have my reasons. You’d need to pass a few ‘tests’ first.”
Nila looked at me, then laughed. “That’s funny,” she said, her eyes glinting in a way I didn’t quite get. “I was just thinking I might give ‘marriage’ a try myself.”
“Really?” I asked. “So… deal?”
She studied me, then shrugged. “Alright, Zane. But one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“No questions about my past. Let’s keep it simple. Just a small-town girl, that’s all they need to know. You good with that?”
I grinned. “Perfect.”
When I brought Nila to meet my parents, they were stunned. My mom’s eyebrows shot up at Nila’s plain dress and quiet demeanor.
“Oh… Nila, is it?” she asked, forcing a smile.
Dad frowned. “Zane, this… isn’t what we expected.”
“Well, you wanted me to settle down,” I said, smirking. “Nila’s perfect for me. She’s calm, honest, and doesn’t care about all this rich-people nonsense.”
Nila played her part flawlessly. Every polite reply, every shy glance during fancy talk—my parents couldn’t stand it.
But something about her felt off. She was perfect for my plan, but sometimes I’d catch a strange spark in her eyes—like she was amused.
“Are you sure about this, Zane?” she asked one night after dinner with my parents.
“Absolutely,” I laughed. “They’re losing it, Nila. It’s working.”
“Well,” she said, her voice soft, almost too soft. “Happy to help.”
I was so caught up in my parents’ reactions that I didn’t focus enough on Nila’s.
Then came the charity ball. My parents went all out—chandeliers, crisp tablecloths, gleaming silverware.
Nila walked in beside me, her simple outfit standing out among the glitz and gowns. Just what I wanted.
“Remember,” I whispered, “tonight’s the final test.”
She nodded. “I know the plan.”
I stayed near as she spoke quietly, smiled gently, and kept low-key. My parents glanced her way but said little.
Then the mayor approached, beaming. “Nila! Didn’t expect to see you here!” he said, shaking her hand.
My parents’ jaws dropped. I froze. The mayor knew Nila?
Nila smiled politely but seemed tense. “Good to see you too, Mayor.”
“People still talk about that children’s hospital your family helped fund,” he said. “Your support made a big difference.”
Nila nodded. “Glad to hear it. We just want to help.”
He moved on, leaving us in silence. My mom finally spoke. “Zane… what was that?”
Before I could answer, Tom, a family friend, walked over, shocked. “Nila! Didn’t know you were back!”
Nila gave a short laugh. “Didn’t tell many people. I’m here for… my wedding,” she said.
Tom chuckled, looking at me. “Zane, you’re marrying Nila, the ‘Charity Star’? Her family’s one of the biggest donors in the state!”
My throat went dry. I’d heard the name before—everyone had. I just never connected the dots.
Later, I pulled Nila aside. “So… ‘Charity Star’?”
She sighed. “Yeah. My family runs the state’s biggest charity. But I keep my distance from all that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Same reason you didn’t tell me your plan. I have my own reasons.”
“You knew this was fake?” I asked.
She nodded. “My parents keep pushing me to marry for status. I wanted to choose my own path. When I met you, I thought we could help each other.”
I stared at her. She wasn’t just a shy small-town girl. She was strong, sharp, and independent.
While I was playing games, she’d walked away from her family’s name to live free. She joined this plan to escape her own cage.
One night, as we planned an event, I watched her quietly.
“What?” she asked.
“I didn’t realize how strong you are,” I said. “You’ve handled this better than me.”
She smiled faintly. “I’m not doing it for them. I’m doing it for me.”
In that moment, everything shifted. What started as a prank felt real. I admired her. I wanted to be with her.
“Nila,” I said, “maybe we should come clean.”
She nodded. We weren’t pretending anymore.
The next day, we asked our parents to meet. As we prepared to tell the truth, I felt oddly calm. I wasn’t scared. I was ready—to be honest, and to move forward—with Nila by my side.
