Anna lived a life of privilege, controlled by her powerful, wealthy father. To him, she was an asset to secure alliances, not someone meant to find love.
“I’m doing this for you, Anna,” he’d insist, his tone cold. “One day, you’ll thank me for the stability I’ve given you.” But to Anna, his “stability” felt like a prison, isolating her and dictating every aspect of her life.
One autumn day, desperate for freedom, Anna wandered through the city. That’s when she saw him—a young janitor with a calm, gentle presence, sweeping leaves. Drawn to his simplicity, she impulsively approached him.
“Would you marry me?” she blurted out, heart racing.
Startled, he looked at her, searching for any sign of a joke.
“I need to escape my family’s control,” she explained, her voice shaky.
After a pause, he extended his hand. “Ethan,” he said. “If you’re serious, I’m in.”
They married that afternoon, sealing their union with a simple signature. Returning to Ethan’s modest apartment, Anna felt liberated for the first time. Ethan introduced her to the joys of a simple life—cooking, budgeting, and living without the shadow of family expectations.
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