Being a single mom means your mind is constantly racing—there’s always something to worry about: lunches, shoes that don’t fit, doctor appointments, bills, and keeping your job. Even in quiet moments, your brain never shuts off. Lying awake at night, you’re thinking about what you forgot, what needs doing, and what might go wrong.
So when my phone rang while I was rearranging Nathan’s schedule, I almost ignored it. But something urged me to answer.
“Hello, this is St. Helena Academy’s admissions office, calling about your daughter, Lily,” a calm voice said. My stomach sank. “Is she okay?” I asked, voice shaky.
“She’s fine. This is about the tuition grant. We regret to inform you that your daughter no longer qualifies.”
My heart raced. “But she’s already enrolled!” I protested.
“They reassessed eligibility. If you want her to stay, the tuition is…”
I hung up, panic rising. The school was her chance. I needed help. There was only one person to turn to. I walked down the hall to Nathan’s office.
“Can I talk to you?” I asked, feeling small.
Nathan listened as I explained the situation. After a pause, he suggested, “I need to get married.”
“What?”
“My grandmother insists I’m not eligible for the family estate unless I marry before her birthday. I need someone I trust—someone like you.”
He proposed a fake marriage. “It’ll cover Lily’s tuition, forever,” he said.
I didn’t know what to think, but when I saw a message from the school, ready to replace Lily, I agreed.
The next day, we arrived at Nathan’s grandmother’s grand estate. The fake marriage became real quickly. Soon, Lily and I were swept up in wedding plans, and I found myself laughing and relaxing for the first time in ages.
As we spent time together, Nathan revealed his past—his complicated relationship with his family. Slowly, our “fake” marriage started feeling real. We connected, shared moments, and eventually, I couldn’t deny my feelings anymore.
The night before the wedding, I overheard a conversation between Nathan and his grandmother. She threatened to cut him off if he married me. I left, heartbroken, but Nathan found me the next morning and told me he’d chosen me and Lily over everything else.
“I’d rather lose everything than lose you both,” he said.
In that moment, I knew our marriage wasn’t fake anymore. It was real, and so was everything that followed.
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