Anna had always lived under her father’s rule—a life of privilege shaped by his unyielding expectations. Her father, a man of power and wealth, saw everything as a calculated business move. To him, she was another asset, meant to secure alliances, not find love.

“I’m doing this for you, Anna,” he’d say in his cold, commanding voice. “One day, you’ll thank me for the stability I’ve given you.” But with each passing year, his “stability” felt more like a cage, leaving her isolated, her life mapped out as
another strategy.

One autumn day, desperate to escape her suffocating reality, Anna took an aimless walk through the city. That’s when she saw him: a young janitor with a gentle demeanor, sweeping leaves in front of a row of shops. His movements were calm, almost rhythmic, and something about his quiet presence drew her in.

Without thinking, she approached him. “Would you marry me?” she blurted, her heart pounding. He looked at her in disbelief, searching her face for signs of a joke.“I need to get away from my family’s control,” she explained, her voice shaky. “I just need a break.”After a pause, he extended his hand. “Ethan,” he said simply. “If you’re serious, I’m in.”