I spent my entire life under my father’s control. He wasn’t cruel, but to him, everything was business, even family. My future husband? He had to be a “strategic partner” to benefit our family, not someone to love.

“You’ll thank me one day,” my father would say. “It’s not about love. Real love comes from stability.”

As I grew older, his words felt like a prison. My life was no longer mine. One autumn afternoon, I couldn’t take it anymore. I stepped out of the house and wandered the city, needing to escape.

That’s when I saw him. A young man with a limp, sweeping leaves in front of a shop. There was something peaceful in the way he worked. I approached him.

“Excuse me,” I said, voice trembling. “I need a husband. How would you feel about getting married today?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You serious?”

“Yes,” I replied. “It’s not for love. It’s to get my father off my back.”

He hesitated. “So you need a fake husband?”

“Exactly. Just a business deal.”

He studied me for a moment. “Name’s Ethan,” he said, shaking my hand. “If it helps, I’ll do it.”

That afternoon, we went straight to city hall. No white dress, no flowers, just a piece of paper and two strangers signing it. I felt both relief and fear. I had married a stranger.

In the following days, Ethan and I settled into a strange but comforting routine. He showed me how to make breakfast without help and budget for groceries.

When my father found out, he was furious. He called me every hour, demanding answers. Finally, I answered.

“What is going on, Anna?” he shouted. “You married a janitor—a stranger! Have you lost your mind?”

“It’s my life, Dad,” I replied, shaking.

“You’ll regret this. I’ll meet this husband of yours tomorrow.”

The next evening, my father arrived at our modest apartment, dressed in his usual designer suit. He looked around with disdain.

“Are you really living here?” he asked.

“This is our home,” I said, folding my arms. Ethan stood calmly behind me.

Then my father turned to Ethan. “You know who she is? Do you have any idea what she’s worth?”

Ethan met his gaze. “Yes, sir. But I know she’s more than her last name or money.”

My father scoffed. “So you’re not in it for the money?”

Ethan stood firm. “I care about Anna. Not your wealth.”

My father sneered. “You’re just a janitor. A nobody.”

Ethan didn’t flinch. “I may be a janitor, but I know honesty and respect. Anna deserves more than being treated like a pawn.”

My father’s face turned red. “And what gives you the right to lecture me?”

Ethan took a breath. “My last name doesn’t mean much to you, does it? What if I told you my father’s name was Andrew?”

My father frowned, confused. “Andrew?”

Ethan nodded. “He was your business partner until you forced him out. He lost everything. That’s how I grew up.”

The shock was palpable. “You’re his son?” my father stammered.

Ethan nodded again. “He never recovered, but he raised me to be better than bitterness.”

My father’s face paled, and he looked away. “Andrew… he was my friend. I was desperate. I had a family to think of.”

There was a long silence. Finally, my father turned to me, regret in his eyes. “Anna, I thought I was doing what was best for you.”

“A future you chose for me,” I said softly. “But I’m choosing my own now.”

Without another word, my father left, his shoulders slumped. I watched him go, feeling a mix of sadness and relief.

Days passed, and I didn’t hear from my father. Then one evening, there was a knock at the door. It was him, standing awkwardly.

“I owe you an apology,” he said to Ethan. “For the past, and for now. I can’t undo what I did, but I see now that I can do better for my daughter.”

Ethan nodded. “We all make mistakes. What matters is what we do after.”

A week later, we all gathered in a park. Ethan’s father, Andrew, had come to town. My father was nervous as they stood facing each other. After a long pause, my father extended his hand.

“Andrew, I’m sorry. I did things I can’t take back. I never meant to hurt you.”

Andrew nodded slowly. “We were different men then. But it’s never too late to be better.”

They shook hands, bridging the gap of years of loss and resentment. I watched as the past faded, and two families embraced a new future together, united by the strength to forgive.