When Jessica introduced her daughter Emma to her boyfriend Alex, she expected a warm welcome. Instead, Emma screamed in terror, convinced by her father’s warnings that Alex was a threat who would take her away forever.
I never imagined it would turn out this way. The sound of my daughter, Emma, screaming for help still rings in my ears. It was supposed to be a happy day, the day I introduced her to Alex, the man I’d been dating for over a year. But instead, it was a disaster.
Woman with tears in her eyes | Source: Pexels
Alex and I met at a charity event. He was charming and kind, always ready with a smile or a joke. We clicked immediately, and our relationship grew strong. We were serious, and I knew it was time for him to meet the most important person in my life – my daughter.
But I was scared. My divorce from Tom, Emma’s father, had been rough, and I worried about how she’d react to a new man in our lives.
Sad Emma with her bear | Source: Midjourney
Tom and I had shared custody of Emma. He usually babysat when I was out with Alex. Tom had already met Alex a few times and didn’t seem to have any problems with him. Or so I thought.
I spent days planning the perfect introduction. I made Emma’s favorite brunch – pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. I even bought a new dress, wanting everything to be perfect. Alex arrived right on time, holding a gift and wearing his most welcoming smile.
“Hey, Alex, come on in,” I greeted him, my voice shaking slightly.
Man in a suit | Source: Pexels
“Thanks, Jess. I’m excited to finally meet Emma,” Alex said, handing me the gift. “I hope she likes this.”
“She will,” I replied, hoping it was true. “Let me go get her.”
I walked to the bottom of the stairs and called out, “Emma, sweetheart, can you come down here for a moment? There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Happy woman with a broad smile | Source: Pexels
I heard the sound of little feet running down the stairs. But as soon as she saw Alex, she stopped dead in her tracks. Her face went pale, and she looked terrified.
“No! Mommy, please, no!” Emma screamed, tears streaming down her face. She ran to me, hiding behind my legs. “Don’t let him take me! Please, Mommy!”
I was stunned. Alex looked as confused as I felt. I knelt down to Emma’s level, trying to calm her down.
Scared Emma | Source: Midjourney
“Emma, honey, it’s okay. This is Alex. He’s a friend,” I said softly, stroking her hair.
“No! He’s bad! He will take me away! I don’t want to go!” she sobbed, clinging to me tightly.
“Why do you think he’ll take you away?” I asked, my heart breaking at her fear.
“Daddy said he will! Daddy showed me pictures and told me to run if I ever see him!” Emma cried.
Shocked woman | Source: Pexels
I felt a surge of anger and confusion. Tom had done this? Why would he scare her like that?
Alex knelt down beside me, his face full of concern. “Emma, I’m not going to take you away. I promise. I just want to be your friend,” he said gently.
Emma didn’t respond. She just cried and held on to me tighter. I stood up, holding her in my arms, and turned to Alex.
Jess hugs Emma | Source: Midjourney
“I think we need to figure out what’s going on here,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Yeah, we do,” Alex agreed, looking worried.
I carried Emma to the living room and sat down with her on my lap. Alex sat across from us, keeping his distance so as not to scare her further.
“Emma, can you tell me exactly what Daddy said?” I asked softly.
Sad man in a chair | Source: Pexels
She sniffled and nodded. “Daddy said if I see Alex, he will take you and me away, and we will never see Daddy again. He showed me pictures of Alex and said he’s a bad man.”
I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. “Emma, Daddy was wrong to say those things. Alex is not a bad man. He’s kind and he cares about us.”
Emma looked at me with wide, scared eyes. “But Daddy said…”
Sad woman sits on the couch | Source: Pexels
“I know, sweetheart. But sometimes grown-ups make mistakes. Daddy made a mistake,” I said, trying to reassure her.
Alex leaned forward slightly. “Emma, I promise I would never do anything to hurt you or your mommy. I just want us all to be happy together.”
Alex leans to Emma | Source: Midjourney
Emma didn’t say anything, but she seemed a little calmer. I knew this was just the beginning of a long process to help her feel safe and secure around Alex. I looked at Alex, who gave me a small, supportive smile. We had a lot of work ahead of us, but I was determined to make this right.
As soon as Emma was settled in her room, I grabbed my phone and dialed Tom’s number, my hands shaking with anger. He answered on the third ring.
Man taps on his phone | Source: Pexels
“Jess, what’s up?” he said casually.
“Tom, what on earth did you tell Emma about Alex?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.
“What do you mean?” he replied, feigning ignorance.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Tom. Emma just had a meltdown because she thought Alex was going to take her away. She said you told her that,” I said, my anger rising. I felt tears fill my eyes.
Angry woman talks on her phone | Source: Pexels
“Well, maybe I did,” he admitted after a pause. “I don’t trust that guy, Jess. He’s going to take you and Emma away from me.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Tom, that’s not true, and you know it. You had no right to scare her like that. You’ve lost your babysitting privileges until further notice.”
Tom’s voice turned defensive. “Oh, so now I’m the bad guy? I was just looking out for her. What do you know about this Alex guy anyway? What if he’s not who you think he is?”
Angry man on his phone | Source: Pexels
“That’s not your decision to make, Tom. Alex and I have been together for over a year. He’s a good man, and he cares about us. You had no right to interfere like that,” I said, trying to keep my frustration in check.
“So, I was right after all. As soon as she met that man, I was cut out of her life,” he snapped.
“No, Tom. You did this to yourself. You manipulated our daughter and filled her with fear. That’s unacceptable,” I replied, my voice shaking with anger.
Woman shouts on the phone in front of her laptop | Source: Pexels
Tom sighed, and I could hear the frustration in his voice. “I’m her father, Jess. I have a right to protect her.”
“Protect her from what? A man who’s done nothing but be kind to us? You’re projecting your own insecurities onto Emma, and it’s not fair to her,” I said firmly.
“Fine, maybe I overreacted. But I don’t want to be pushed out of her life,” he said, his tone softening slightly.
Man talks on the phone in his office | Source: Pexels
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Tom, you’re not being pushed out. But you need to understand that what you did was wrong. From now on, every time you see Emma, Alex will be there too. We’re going to work on this together. Emma needs to see that Alex is not a threat.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Finally, Tom spoke, his voice resigned. “Alright, Jess. I’ll play along. But if he does anything to hurt her, you’ll be the one to answer for it.”
Woman talks on her phone in her office | Source: Pexels
“Nothing like that is going to happen, Tom. We’re doing this for Emma’s sake. She needs stability and to know that the adults in her life can get along,” I said, hoping he would understand.
“Okay, fine. I get it. I’ll cooperate,” he muttered, clearly unhappy but accepting.
“Thank you, Tom. This is what’s best for Emma,” I said, feeling a small sense of relief.
“Yeah, whatever. Just… keep me in the loop, alright?” he said before hanging up.
Man in striped shirt talks on the phone | Source: Pexels
I ended the call, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. I knew this was going to be tough, but I was determined to make things right for Emma. I returned to the living room, where Alex was waiting, looking concerned.
“How did it go?” he asked.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but we’ll get through it. We’re going to take it one step at a time, and we’ll do it together,” I said, feeling a bit more hopeful.
Man runs with his little daughter | Source: Pexels
Alex nodded. “I’m with you, Jess. We’ll make this work.”
I smiled, grateful for his support. It wasn’t going to be easy, but with Alex by my side, I knew we could overcome this. We just had to be patient and strong for Emma. The road ahead was uncertain, but we were ready to face it together.
If you liked this story, consider reading this one. Secrets, sleep-talking, and mysterious items are all the things that had me following my daughter when she left the house. I was unaware that where she was going would open up five-year wounds I thought were dead and buried.
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.
I Married the Woman My Father Chose for Me — On Our Wedding Night, She Shocked Me by Saying, ‘From Now On, You Must Do Everything I Tell You’
Forced into an arranged marriage to save my family’s business, I expected awkward small talk on my wedding night. But then Adriana gave me an order: “From now on, you must do everything I tell you.” Was this a joke? No. It was a power play — and if I refused, my family would lose everything.
“Son, I wouldn’t ask this of you if there was any other way,” my father said, his voice lacking its usual commanding tone.
A man seated at a desk in a corner office | Source: Midjourney
“You’re certain the only way to save the business is for me to marry some woman I’ve never met?” I couldn’t keep the disbelief from my voice.
He sighed. “Adriana is Victor’s daughter. The merger with his company is the only thing that can save us now. And he’s… traditional. He wants to unite the families.”
“So I’m just a bargaining chip?” The words tasted bitter.
“James, please understand—”
“No, Dad. I understand perfectly.”
An unhappy man in an office | Source: Midjourney
“You built this company, made all the decisions that led to this point, and now I have to clean up your mess by selling myself like some medieval prince.”
His face fell. “Just meet Adriana before you decide.”
I wanted to refuse. But the desperation in my father’s eyes stopped me.
“Fine,” I conceded. “I’ll meet her. But I’m not promising anything.”
A serious-looking man | Source: Midjourney
We met in a restaurant a few days later. Adriana was breathtakingly beautiful with a voice like honey and eyes that assessed everything in seconds.
“I appreciate you agreeing to meet me,” she said as she took her seat. “This situation is… unconventional, but I think we can make it work.” She smiled faintly and twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “Let’s get better acquainted first. What would you like to know about me, James?”
A smiling woman in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
The conversation flowed freely after that. Adriana was intelligent, witty, and surprisingly easy to talk to. By the time we parted ways, I found myself rethinking my opposition.
“She’s incredible,” I told my father the next day.
Relief washed over his face. “So you’ll do it?”
I hesitated. Something still felt wrong, but seeing the hope in my father’s eyes…
“Yes,” I finally said. “I’ll marry Adriana.”
A man in an office smiling faintly | Source: Midjourney
Our wedding was a business transaction disguised as a celebration. Corporate partners filled the pews, the vows felt like contract terms, and even the kiss seemed negotiated — brief, proper, for show.
The reception dragged on until finally, we were alone in the presidential suite of a five-star hotel.
Adriana kicked off her heels and sat on the edge of the massive bed. I adjusted my tie, unsure of what came next in this strange arrangement.
A man adjusting his tie | Source: Pexels
Adriana locked eyes with me. “From now on, you must do everything I tell you.”
“Excuse me?” I laughed, certain she was joking. “Right. And what’s your first command, Your Highness?”
Her expression didn’t change. “I’m hungry. Go get me a burger from the McDonald’s on Grant Street. Walk there.”
“Adriana, it’s almost midnight. Grant Street is nearly two miles away.”
An incredulous man | Source: Midjourney
“I’m aware.” Her smile was cold. “Better get going.”
I stared at her, waiting for the punchline. It never came.
“You can’t be serious.”
“Dead serious, James. My father only agreed to this marriage because your father promised you’d do whatever I wanted. That was the deal. So, you can either be my servant… or watch your family go bankrupt.”
A smirking woman | Source: Midjourney
I was stunned. Within a few hours, Adriana had transformed from a witty, easygoing woman into an authoritative stranger. One I couldn’t refuse without risking it all.
“Fine. One burger coming up.”
In the elevator, I pulled out my phone and called a taxi. I might be trapped in this marriage, but I wouldn’t be completely powerless.
A man’s finger pressing an elevator button | Source: Pexels
The next morning set the tone for what would become my new normal. Adriana woke me at 6 a.m.
“Press my blue suit,” she instructed. “Then make coffee. Black, one sugar.”
“I’m not your butler,” I protested.
She looked at me with those cool eyes. “No, you’re my husband. Which means you’re whatever I need you to be.”
A woman smiling smugly | Source: Midjourney
Each day brought new demands. Wash her car by hand. Pick up her dry cleaning. Massage her feet after work. Each task was more demeaning than the last.
“Why are you doing this?” I finally asked one evening as I polished her collection of designer shoes.
“Because I can,” she replied simply. “What could be better than having a man who caters to my every need?”
I continued the task in silence, but my mind was racing.
A foot in a high-heeled boot | Source: Pexels
She thought she was breaking me, but she was teaching me instead. Every demand revealed something about her routines and her weaknesses.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I went to my father.
“She’s turned me into her personal servant,” I confessed.
His face fell. “I had no idea, son. But the contract with Victor…”
“Can’t be broken without bankrupting us,” I finished for him. “I know.”
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
“Don’t be,” I replied, a plan already forming. “I’ll handle Adriana.”
A determined man | Source: Midjourney
The tiny wireless cameras were easy to install. I put them everywhere: the living room, the kitchen, her study, our bedroom.
For two weeks, I collected evidence of Adriana ordering me around like a dog, threatening to destroy my family if I disobeyed, and laughing on the phone with her friends about how she had me “completely under control.”
All while her Instagram portrayed us as the perfect couple. “Power duo,” she called us in her captions. If only her followers knew.
A woman taking a selfie | Source: Midjourney
The breaking point came on a rainy Tuesday night.
“I want sushi,” she announced from the couch. “From Akira. You’ll walk there.”
“That’s three miles away,” I pointed out.
“So? Take an umbrella.” She didn’t even look up from her phone.
“No,” I said simply.
The word hung in the air between us. She slowly raised her head, eyes narrowing.
A woman on a sofa | Source: Midjourney
“What did you say?”
“I said no, Adriana. I’m not going.”
She stood, her face flushing with anger. “You don’t say no to me. Ever. Or have you forgotten what happens if you don’t play along?”
“Go ahead,” I challenged. “Call your father. Tell him how disappointed you are.”
“You know I will.” She reached for her phone. “And your family will be finished.”
A glaring woman | Source: Midjourney
I smiled. “I don’t think so.”
Her fingers paused over the screen. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Call him,” I urged. “Please. I insist.”
Confusion flickered across her face, but she made the call, putting it on speaker.
“Daddy? We have a problem. James is being difficult. I think we need to reconsider—”
“Adriana.” Her father’s voice was ice cold. “What the hell have you been doing?”
A cell phone | Source: Pexels
She froze. “What do you mean?”
“James sent me videos. Dozens of them. I had no idea this was what you had in mind when you said you wanted him to do everything you said! Is this how I raised you to behave? Like a tyrant?”
The color drained from her face as she looked at me, finally understanding.
“You recorded me?” she whispered.
I nodded. “Every moment. Every demand.”
A man with crossed arms | Source: Midjourney
“Adriana,” her father continued, “you’ve handed your husband enough blackmail material to destroy our family’s reputation, and he made it clear he’ll use it, too. You’re getting divorced. Those were his conditions: a divorce from you that leaves the business arrangement with his father intact. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she managed, her voice small.
When the call ended, she turned to me, eyes pleading. “Please, you can’t do this to me! It will ruin my image if we divorce.”
A teary-eyed woman | Source: Pexels
I smiled. This was an opportunity to teach her a valuable lesson.
“I’ll consider staying,” I replied. “But only if you obey my demands.”
Outrage and fury flickered in her eyes, but she nodded.
For the next two weeks, Adriana got a taste of her own medicine. I didn’t go nearly as far as she had, but I made sure she understood what it felt like to be controlled.
A downtrodden woman | Source: Midjourney
“Fetch my coffee,” I would say. “And remember, two sugars.”
She would comply, her jaw tight, her eyes burning with hatred.
Meanwhile, I had my lawyers working on divorce papers. When they were ready, I left them on the kitchen counter for her to find.
“What’s this?” she asked, picking them up.
A woman holding an envelope | Source: Midjourney
“Divorce papers,” I replied calmly. “Our marriage is over.”
“But, you said you’d stay if I obeyed you!” Her voice shook. “You lied to me!”
“Yes,” I agreed, “and I hope you learned something from it. We might’ve actually been able to make this work, Adriana, if you hadn’t used that business deal as a way to enslave me. Pack your things and get out of my apartment.”
A satisfied man | Source: Midjourney
“And before you go,” I added, “post on your Instagram that we’re separating amicably, by mutual agreement.”
“And if I don’t?” she challenged.
I held up my phone. “Then these videos go public.”
An hour later, her perfectly crafted post appeared. “After much reflection, James and I have decided to part ways. We remain committed to our families’ shared business interests and wish each other well.”
Social media icons on a phone screen | Source: Pexels
The door closed behind her, and for the first time since our wedding day, I could breathe freely again.
This arranged marriage had cost me months of dignity, but it had taught me something valuable: no contract, family obligation, or financial concern was worth surrendering control of my life.
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.
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