When I proposed marrying a homeless stranger, I thought I had it all figured out. It seemed like the perfect arrangement to please my parents unconditionally. But little did I know the shock I’d be in for when I walked into my house a month later.
My name is Miley, I’m 34, and this is the story of how I went from being a happily single career woman to being married to a homeless man, only to have my world turned upside down in the most unexpected way.
A woman in her bedroom | Source: Midjourney
For as long as I can remember, my parents have always urged me to get married. It feels like there’s a ticking clock in their heads, counting down the seconds until my hair starts to turn white.
As a result, every family dinner turned into an impromptu matchmaking session.
“Miley, honey,” my mother, Martha, began. “Remember the Johnsons’ son? He just got promoted to regional manager at his company. Maybe you two should grab coffee sometime?”
A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney
“Mom, I’m not interested in dating right now,” I said. “I’m focusing on my career.”
“But darling,” my father, Stephen, would add, “your career won’t keep you warm at night. Don’t you want someone to share your life with?”
“I share my life with you and my friends,” I replied. “That’s enough for me for now.”
But they wouldn’t let it go. It was a constant barrage of “What do you think of…?” and “Have you heard of this nice young man?”
One evening, things took an even more serious turn.
A close-up of chairs in a house | Source: Pexels
We were having our usual Sunday dinner when my parents dropped a bombshell.
“Miley,” my father said seriously. “Your mother and I have been thinking.”
“Here we go,” I mumbled.
“We’ve decided,” he continued, ignoring my sarcasm, “that unless you’re married before your 35th birthday, you won’t see a cent of our inheritance.”
“What?” I snapped. “You’re not serious!”
“We are,” my mother added. “We’re not getting any younger, darling. We want to see you happy. And we want grandchildren while we’re still young enough to enjoy them.”
A woman looking at her daughter | Source: Midjourney
“This is crazy,” I spat. “You can’t blackmail me into marriage!”
“It’s not blackmail,” my father insisted. “It’s, uh, it’s incitement.”
I stormed out of their house that night, unable to believe what had just happened. They had given me an ultimatum, implying that I had to find a husband within a few months or kiss my inheritance goodbye.
I was angry, but not because I wanted the money. It was more about the principle of the thing. How dare they try to control my life like that?
A woman looking at her mother | Source: Midjourney
For weeks, I didn’t answer their calls or visit them. Then, one evening, I had a great idea.
I was walking home from work, thinking about spreadsheets and deadlines, when I spotted him. A man, probably in his thirties, was sitting on the sidewalk with a cardboard sign asking for change.
He looked rough, wore an unkempt beard and dirty clothes, but there was something in his eyes. A kindness and a sadness that made me think.
A homeless man | Source: Pexels
That’s when an idea struck me. It was crazy, but I felt like it was the perfect solution to all my problems.
“Excuse me,” I said to the man. “This may sound crazy, but, um, would you like to get married?”
The man’s eyes widened in shock. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Look, I know this is weird, but listen to me,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I need to get married as soon as possible. It would be a marriage of convenience. I would provide you with a place to live, clean clothes, food, and some money. In return, you would only have to pretend to be my husband. What do you say?”
He stared at me for what seemed like an eternity. I was sure he thought I was joking.
A close-up of a man’s face | Source: Midjourney
“Madam, are you serious?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” I assured him. “My name’s Miley, by the way.”
“Stan,” he replied, still looking baffled. “And you’re seriously proposing to marry a homeless man you just met?”
I nodded.
“I know this sounds crazy, but I promise you, I’m not a serial killer or anything. Just a desperate woman with meddling parents.”
“Well, Miley, I have to say this is the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
A homeless man sitting outside | Source: Pexels
“So, it’s a yes?” I asked.
He looked at me for a long moment, and I saw that sparkle in his eyes again. “You know what? Why not. You have a deal, future wife.”
And just like that, my life took a turn I could never have imagined.
I took Stan shopping for new clothes, took him to a salon, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that underneath all that grime was a rather attractive man.
A man who smiles | Source: Midjourney
Three days later, I introduced him to my parents as my secret fiancé. To say they were shocked would be an understatement.
“Miley!” my mother exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Oh, you know, I wanted to make sure it was serious before I said anything,” I lied. “But Stan and I are so in love, aren’t we, honey?”
Stan, to his credit, played the game wonderfully. He charmed my parents with invented stories of our whirlwind romance.
A month later, we got married.
A newly married couple | Source: Pexels
I made sure to get a rock-solid prenup, just in case my little plan backfired. But to my surprise, living with Stan wasn’t so bad.
He was funny, smart, and always willing to help around the house. We struck up an easy friendship, almost like roommates who occasionally had to pretend to be madly in love.
However, there was one thing that bothered me.
A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
Whenever I asked Stan questions about his past, about how he ended up on the streets, he fell silent. His eyes glazed over, and he quickly changed the subject. He was a mystery that both intrigued and frustrated me.
Then came the day that changed everything.
It was an ordinary day as I was coming home from work. As I entered the house, a trail of rose petals caught my attention. It led me into the living room.
A woman’s hand on a doorknob | Source: Midjourney
The sight that greeted me in the living room left me speechless. The entire room was filled with roses, and a huge heart made of petals lay on the floor.
And there, in the center of it all, stood Stan.
But this wasn’t the Stan I knew. The comfy jeans and T-shirts I’d given him were gone.
Instead, he was wearing a sleek black tuxedo that looked like it had cost more than my monthly rent. And in his hand, he held a small velvet box.
A man standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney
“Stan?” I managed to say. “What’s going on?”
He smiled, and I swear my heart skipped a beat.
“Miley,” he said. “I wanted to thank you for accepting me. You’ve made me incredibly happy. I would be even happier if you truly loved me and became my wife, not just in name but in real life. I fell in love with you the moment I saw you, and this last month we’ve been together has been the happiest of my life. Will you marry me? For real this time?”
A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney
I stood there, eyes wide open, struggling to process what was happening. A thousand questions raced through my mind, but one stood out.
“Stan,” I said slowly, “where did you get the money for all this? The tuxedo, the flowers, and that ring?”
“I guess it’s time I told you the truth,” he said before taking a deep breath. “You see, I never told you how I became homeless because it was too complicated and could have put you in a difficult position. And I loved our life together so much.”
A man talking to his wife in the living room | Source: Midjourney
“I became homeless because my brothers decided to get rid of me and take control of my business,” he continued. “They forged documents, forged my signatures, and even stole my identity. One day, they dropped me off in this town, miles from home. When I tried to go to the police, they pulled strings, and I never got any help. They even bribed my lawyer.”
I listened in silence as Stan told his story.
A woman looking at her husband | Source: Midjourney
How he’d lost everything, how he’d spent months trying to survive on the streets. And then, how meeting me had given him the boost he needed to fight.
“When you gave me a house, clean clothes, and some money, I decided to fight,” he explained. “I contacted the best law firm in the country, a firm my brothers couldn’t influence because it works for their competitors.”
A man talking on the phone | Source: Pexels
“I told them my story and promised them a substantial payment,” he revealed. “At first, they didn’t want to take the case without an advance, but when they realized they could finally outsmart their rivals, they agreed. Thanks to them, a trial is scheduled for next month, and my documents and bank accounts have been restored.”
He paused, looking at me with those kind eyes that had first caught my attention.
A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
“I’ll be honest with you,” he smiled. “I’m not a poor man. I’ve spent my whole life looking for love, but all the women I’ve met have only been interested in my money. You, on the other hand, were kind to me even though you thought I had nothing. That’s why I fell in love with you. I’m sorry I kept all this from you for so long.”
I sank back onto the couch, unable to process his story. I couldn’t believe that the man I’d married on a whim was actually wealthy and had genuine feelings for me.
A woman sitting on a sofa | Source: Midjourney
“Stan,” I finally managed to say, “you really took me by surprise. I feel like I have feelings for you too, but all this new information is overwhelming.”
He nodded understandingly and led me to the dining table. We ate the dinner he had prepared.
I shared my feelings with Stan after we finished eating.
“Stan, thank you for such a romantic gesture. No one has ever done anything like this for me in my life.” I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I spoke.
A woman talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney
“I’ll marry you. It’s my decision now. But could you ask me again in six months? If my decision remains the same, we’ll have a real wedding. First, let’s see how life goes with all this new information for both of us. You have a tough legal battle ahead of you, and I’ll support you through it.”
Stan’s face lit up with a smile. “I’m so happy. Of course, I’ll ask you again in six months. But will you accept my ring now?”
A ring in a box | Source: Pexels
I nodded, and he slipped the ring onto my finger. We hugged, and for the first time, we kissed. It wasn’t a Hollywood kiss with fireworks and music in the background, but it was good.
As I write this, I’m still trying to come to terms with everything that happened. I married a homeless man to please my parents, only to discover he’s actually a wealthy businessman with a heart of gold. Life really does work in mysterious ways.
A couple holding hands | Source: Midjourney
Read also: I’m in love with a homeless man – Story of the day
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the story. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims regarding the accuracy of events or character portrayals and are not responsible for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and all opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the opinions of the author or publisher.
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