When Nadia returns home from college abroad, she has no choice but to agree to an arranged marriage to a wealthy man—a man chosen by her parents. But as the tentative date for their wedding draws closer, Nadia decides to test him, to truly understand who she’s marrying.
I never imagined that I’d find myself disguised as a homeless woman, sitting on a sidewalk outside of a restaurant. I sat there, hunched with a shawl wrapped around my shoulders.
A woman sitting on the floor | Source: Pexels
People passed me without paying any attention, as I watched for the sleek black car that often carried my fiancé, Danny.
Despite it being the 21st century, in my culture, arranged marriage still holds its own.
A black Mercedes-Benz | Source: Pexels
But I had been studying in America for the past four years, and my ideal of independence and personal freedom was something very different from what I had left home with.
Now, I found myself rebelling at every turn.
A woman in a red coat | Source: Pexels
When my parents first broke the news of my engagement to Danny, I was still ensconced in the States—my mind buzzing with new ideologies and lectures on autonomy.
“Now that you’ve been abroad and have studied,” my mother said, “it’s time for you to become a wife.”
I tried to protest, but it always fell on deaf ears.
A smiling woman in a white dress | Source: Pexels
“Nadia,” my mother said, “there is no choice here. Your father and I have done our research. Danny is a good one. He will take care of you.”
My mother moved around the kitchen, mixing a concoction of spices as she began to cook dinner.
Assorted cooking spices | Source: Pexels
“And that’s just it?” I asked, making some tea. “I have to marry this man?”
She nodded and smiled at me.
“Nadia, your father and I did it—we had an arranged marriage, and everything turned out well for us.”
A bride and groom holding hands | Source: Pexels
Now, I was faced with meeting a stranger whom I was going to marry—a stranger and his affluent family.
“You’re going to meet him soon, and his family. They own a line of restaurants, darling. They’re always going out of their way to help people.”
Restaurant interior | Source: Pexels
A few days later, we were all settled around the dining table. It was the first time that I was meeting Danny, and I had no idea what to expect.
When I stepped out of the house, he was there in the driveway, dressed in a suit—holding a gift bag and flowers.
A bouquet of roses | Source: Pexels
On first impression, he was good-looking, but I needed him to be more than just a nice face to look at.
This man was going to be my husband. I was stuck with him. And judging from the way my parents were behaving, I didn’t have a choice in the matter.
A man wearing a suit | Source: Pexels
As my father welcomed Danny and his parents into our home, my mother brought out a tray of tea and sweets.
“I didn’t know what you’d like,” she said, “so I got everything.”
Tea on a tray | Source: Unsplash
Danny smiled at her; he seemed to genuinely care about impressing my parents. We exchanged polite conversation during the tea, and when it was time for us to have dinner, we sat around the table.
“Danny,” my father said, pointing to the head of the table, “sit here.”
My mother began to fuss over Danny and his family, ensuring that she piled their plates high with food.
A table full of food | Source: Pexels
“I need you to leave here knowing that you’ve been fed,” she said.
I poured myself a glass of juice. It was going to be a long meal.
“Why did you decide to study in America?” Danny asked me, frowning over his glass of water. “Didn’t you want to stay around family?”
Juice in glass bottles | Source: Pexels
“I applied not thinking that I could get in,” I admitted. “But then I did, and I wanted it to be a new challenge for me.”
“But being away for so long?” he pressed. “I bet you spent time in the library.”
“It was just four years. I came home a few times anyway.”
A library | Source: Pexels
“Family is very important to me, Nadia,” he said firmly.
I looked at my mother, who refused to meet my eye. Without me replying to Danny, the silence took over for a few moments. Only the sound of scraping cutlery and chewing could be heard.
A woman eating | Source: Unsplash
“Tell Nadia about your charity,” my father said, beaming at me.
“Oh!” Danny’s mother exclaimed, quickly putting her fork down.
She went on at length about how Danny feeds homeless people all the time, and that he had scheduled a roster for different areas around us.
Bags of food | Source: Unsplash
“Nobody will go hungry if we can help it,” Danny’s mother said.
My goodness, I thought to myself as I dug into my chicken. Do I really need to bear this for the rest of my life?
The dinner ended, and my husband-to-be left the house.
A plate of food | Source: Unsplash
“Don’t you love him?” my mother asked as we washed up the dishes and cleaned the kitchen.
“I don’t know him, Mom,” I said.
“But you will,” she replied, drying the plates with a dish towel. “You will get to know him soon.”
A person washing a glass | Source: Pexels
I didn’t have the energy to deal with it further. I went to my bedroom and sat down, wondering how I could just give in to tradition after having been away and free for so long.
I yearned for my college dorm and the liberation that had come with it. But I also knew that I would have to let go of that.
A woman in her room | Source: Pexels
Instead, I had to wait for the day of my arranged marriage. As the months closed in, the wedding drew closer, and I began to get anxious—needing pills to sleep.
I didn’t know how I was going to marry Danny, knowing only the bare minimum about him.
One morning, while pouring myself some cereal, I decided that I would dress like a homeless person and wait outside the restaurant that Danny was based at. I needed to see how he would react to someone in need.
A bowl of cereal | Source: Pexels
As the car approached, I huddled into my disguise, my voice hoarse as Danny stepped out of the car.
“Excuse me, Sir,” I said. “Could you spare…”
Danny paused, his brows furrowing slightly.
“Ma’am, what do you need? I can’t just hand you money or food for the day. We need to help you long-term.”
A man frowning | Source: Pexels
My heart tightened.
“There’s a shelter not far from here,” he said. “I can take you there, my mother volunteers there, too. You’ll be safe there. You can get a meal, a shower, clean clothing, and we can talk about getting you on your feet.”
I stood up and pulled my shawl away, revealing myself to him.
“Nadia?” he exclaimed, his eyes wide. “What are you doing?”
A shocked man | Source: Pexels
“I was testing you, Danny,” I said. “I wanted to see if you really are the person they say you are. I just needed to know. How else can I marry you?”
Danny looked stunned, then a wry smile spread across his face.
“I guess I should be honest too, then. I’ve been horrible on purpose, hoping you’d call off the wedding.”
His candidness took me aback.
A smiling man | Source: Pexels
“Why would you do that?” I asked.
Danny sighed, running a hand through his hair as he silenced his ringing phone.
“Because I thought it was all a farce. I didn’t want to be part of an arrangement. Not really. I knew that it needed to be done, because of my age. But I’ve wanted love. I’ve wanted to marry for love.”
A man holding a phone | Source: Pexels
As we sat down on a nearby bench, Danny opened up about his past.
“The parents you met are my adopted parents. My mother died when I was very young, and they took me in. I’ve built my entire persona to help people who are where I once was. It’s not just philanthropy—it’s personal.”
His words echoed in the cold air—each syllable heavy with emotion.
“Yes, I am successful. But I never wanted to use that success as leverage for a marriage. I wanted someone to see me, not my money or my past.”
Flowers on a grave | Source: Pexels
We talked through the evening, unraveling the misunderstandings and the pressure from our families. It was the first time we truly connected, seeing each other beyond the expectations set upon us.
In the weeks that followed, we began dating—real dates, filled with genuine laughter and shared dreams. Our parents saw the change in us, the way we looked at each other with newfound respect and affection.
Soon, we’ll be married, but now, I’m content with the reality of it.
A couple holding hands | Source: Pexels
What would you have done?
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When Elle’s mother passes away, she moves through the funeral in a daze. But then, she stumbles upon a man who closely resembles her. When he approaches her, he reveals that he is her biological father—who had been hidden away all this time. Elle doesn’t know whether she should tell her father and risk losing the only other parent she has ever known.
Read the full story here.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
We Baptized Our Baby – Priest’s Whispered Words Changed Everything!
Daniel thought his life was perfect. He had a loving wife, a newborn daughter, and a family baptism to celebrate their joy. But everything changed when the priest held their baby and whispered, “This is impossible.” His words sent a chill through the church, unraveling secrets and causing Daniel’s world to fall apart.
I stood by the nursery window, watching the morning light shine through the lace curtains. It created a soft glow around Brittany’s crib. I couldn’t help but smile; this was everything I had ever wanted.
Daniel felt like the luckiest man alive as he looked down at his newborn daughter, Brittany. She was so peaceful and small; she was perfect. For years, he had dreamed of this moment—being married, becoming a dad, and living in a house he helped design. It all seemed like a dream when he first met Nadine in college.
He remembered how she caught his eye, sitting outside the library with her sketchbook. Daniel knew she was someone special. They fell in love quickly, and now, after five years of marriage, they had their little angel, Brittany, who had just turned four months old.
Daniel should have been happy, and he was, but lately, something felt off. Nadine had been quiet and distant, and he thought it was just the stress of being new parents and her freelance work. But it was wearing on him. He noticed her looking at Brittany sometimes with a tight expression, as if she was carrying a heavy burden.
Today was supposed to be a joyful day—the baptism of Brittany. Daniel hoped it would lift Nadine’s spirits. He turned to look at her as she slept under a blanket, hoping this special day would help.
When they arrived at the church, Daniel felt a sense of home. The old stone walls and the smell of incense were comforting. His family had been coming here for generations, and it was part of their story. Nadine walked beside him, holding Brittany, but she looked pale and didn’t say much. He assumed she was just nervous.
As they walked toward the altar, Daniel asked, “You okay?” She managed a tight smile and replied, “Yeah, just… a little nervous.” He squeezed her hand, thinking everything would be fine.
Father Gabriel welcomed them warmly, and the ceremony began with prayers and blessings. Daniel felt proud to be there with his family, thinking about how everything was finally perfect.
But then, when Father Gabriel took Brittany in his arms, something changed. The atmosphere felt heavy, and Daniel sensed something was wrong. The priest’s hands trembled, and he looked shaken.
“What’s wrong?” Daniel asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Father Gabriel’s face was pale as he replied, “This is impossible… this child… she’s my brother’s.”
Daniel froze, unable to process what he had just heard. “What did you say?” he asked, his voice cracking with disbelief.
Father Gabriel explained that both he and his brother had a birthmark behind their left ear and that Brittany had it too. Daniel felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath him. Brittany was his daughter! He turned to Nadine, but she was backing away, her face as pale as a ghost, and then she ran out of the church without a word.
“Nadine!” Daniel shouted, but she didn’t stop or look back. The church was silent, and all he could hear was the ringing in his ears. Panic surged within him.
Father Gabriel tried to explain that it couldn’t be a coincidence, but Daniel couldn’t understand. Brittany was his baby. He chased after Nadine, feeling the panic grow.
When Daniel reached home, he found Nadine frantically packing a suitcase. “You’re not leaving,” he said coldly. “Not until you tell me the truth.”
Nadine kept packing, trembling as she threw clothes into the bag. “Daniel, I—”
“Is it true?” he demanded, anger boiling over. “Is Brittany not mine?”
She paused, and the room went silent. Slowly, she turned to him, tears streaming down her face. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I never meant for you to find out like this.”
“Find out like this?” Daniel repeated, feeling heartbroken. “How did you expect me to find out? At her graduation?”
Nadine looked down. “I didn’t know how to tell you. It was a mistake. I was lonely, and Matthew… it just happened.”
“A mistake?” he laughed bitterly. “This is our whole life! Was it all a lie?”
She shook her head, sobbing. “I love you, Daniel. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“You’ve already destroyed me,” he whispered, feeling lost.
The truth hurt, and there was nothing left to say. Nadine, the woman he loved, had betrayed him. She took off her wedding ring and placed it on the nightstand.
“What about Brittany? Are you leaving her too?” he asked, stunned.
Nadine sighed deeply. “I’m sorry, but I’m not cut out to be a mother. I don’t even know where I’m going from here.”
Daniel couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but before he could respond, she was gone.
That night, Daniel felt hollow. He sat in the living room, staring at nothing while Brittany slept upstairs. He couldn’t understand how everything had fallen apart so quickly. One moment, he was the happiest man alive, and the next, his life felt like a lie.
Father Gabriel’s words echoed in his mind—“She’s my brother’s.” But when he thought about leaving Brittany, his heart ached. She might not be his by blood, but she was still his daughter. He had been there for her since birth, holding her, feeding her, and comforting her.
He went upstairs and quietly opened the door to her room. Brittany was so peaceful, her tiny chest rising and falling with each breath. He sat beside her crib, tears in his eyes.
“You’re mine,” he whispered. “No matter what, you’re mine.”
Daniel realized that love isn’t just about blood or biology. It’s about being there and giving everything you have. Brittany needed him, and he would never walk away from her.
“This is what God decided,” he murmured as he cradled her in his arms. In that moment, he knew he would see this through, no matter what.
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