The Marriage Effect Novels & Stories

finances. "What’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine," he said, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Isn’t that what marriage is about?" Maria wanted to believe him. So she said yes. Again and again, she said yes. Until one day, there was nothing left of her but his wife. A shadow lingering in his vast, gleaming empire. Three years into the marriage, Maria began to wonder. Why wasn’t she getting pregnant? She and Edwards had never used protection.

Then Marisa shifted tactics again, her tone turning almost conversational. “You said your libido is low,” she said, nodding toward the tea. “That can affect a marriage.” Alejandro frowned. “That’s not the issue here.” Marisa ignored him. “A woman who doesn’t desire her husband… it creates distance. Frustration. Weakness.” Amelia folded her arms. “Or maybe the problem isn’t the woman.” Marisa’s eyes sharpened. “Explain.” Amelia tilted her head slightly, her gaze sliding deliberately to Alejandro and back.

It was all up to Sherman whether or not to believe him. “I believe him.” Sherman paused for a moment, and then continued. “I want to believe him. If you were me, would you believe him?” Summer shook her head. “Sherman, you may be empathetic, but not this time. You can’t know a person completely and what he is thinking.” Marriage is a life event. It is not about going to a shopping mall and seeing a piece of clothing and asking you whether it is beautiful. They are incomparable, and things are not as simple as that.

“And everything stops.” There it was. The real play. Not just chaos. Leverage. I let out a slow breath, my gaze steady on his. “You think marriage fixes this?” I asked. “I know it does,” he replied. “Explain,” I said. He leaned back again, like he had all the time in the world. “Two powerful families aligning publicly stabilizes the market,” he said. “Confidence returns. Investors stop panicking. The narrative shifts.” He wasn’t wrong.

"Willow, I've been waiting for you for a long time." Out of nowhere, my nose started to sting and my eyes welled up with tears. I never imagined I would meet someone who looked at me like I was their whole world. And I certainly never thought that an arranged marriage would lead me to somewhere I felt safe and loved instead of completely miserable. When the officiant asked if I was willing to marry Nathan, I didn't hesitate. I nodded and said yes. The officiant joked, "The groom may be a powerhouse in the business world, but today he's a total softie!"

Dominico sat stiffly across from Celeste, Clarisse and Adam, his face hard and unchanging. The long dining table between them shone under the chandelier but the brightness did nothing to ease the tension in the room. Adam sat still and silent with his calm posture showing no reaction while Clarisse leaned forward with tone insistent as if trying to defend her daughter with every word. For most of the meeting, Dominico listened without interrupting. Then Celeste spoke about the benefits of Victor and Naomi’s union while Clarisse stressed that the marriage would bring stability. They talked about alliances, reputation and mutual gain, treating the matter like a transaction rather than acknowle

“You okay?” Amara considered that. “She thinks I’m a pawn.” “You’re not.” “She said the board is watching you. That this marriage is a bluff.” He didn’t reply right away. Instead, he walked to the window and stared out at the endless stretch of manicured lawn and glittering fences. “It is a bluff,” he said finally. “But it’s also real. Once you sign, we get married. Legally. Publicly. For one year.” Amara walked over to him. “Why did she say this wouldn’t be enough?”