THEY FORCED HER TO MARRY A POOR MAN BECAUSE SHE WAS ADOPTED

 THEY FORCED HER TO MARRY A POOR MAN BECAUSE SHE WAS ADOPTED... Final part

The next day, Ruth withdrew some money and went to the market to shop for clothes for Mark. When Mark returned that evening, Ruth handed him all the clothes she had bought for him, asking him to check them out, and he gladly did. She also asked him to get a new haircut and shave his beard, and Mark promised to do so .

Mark smiled, and for the first time, Ruth realized how much she had come to depend on him—not just financially, but emotionally. He had become the person she could rely on, the person she could trust. As her heart slowly opened to him, she couldn’t help but smile as well.

Ruth knew that things were changing between them. What had started as an arrangement of convenience was now something deeper, something more meaningful.

She had always been wary of love, always running from it, because of how those she had loved turned out  to hurt her so deeply, but with Mark by her side, she was beginning to realize that she could love and be loved back.

Just as Mark had promised, he shaved his hair and beard. When he came home that day looking neat and refreshed, Ruth couldn’t help but notice the change. There was something different about him—he looked more confident, more himself. The ruggedness that once defined him had softened, replaced by a polished version of the man he had always been, but hidden beneath layers of struggle.

Mark stood in the doorway for a moment, unsure of how to approach Ruth. His heart was racing, and for the first time in a while, he felt vulnerable. He had been waiting for this moment—the right moment to finally open up to her, to share his feelings, and to be honest about how much she meant to him. It wasn’t just about the clothes, the haircut, or the things he had done for her; it was about the love that had quietly grown between them.

Ruth, noticing the nervousness in his eyes, smiled gently. “You look great,” she said, appreciating his new neat appearance. "You look different… in a good way."

Mark smiled shyly, feeling a surge of warmth at her words. The tension in his chest seemed to ease as he gathered his thoughts. "Ruth, I’ve been thinking a lot about us... about how much you’ve done for me. I care about you, more than I’ve ever said. I don't want to hide it anymore. I really want to be with you."

Ruth’s eyes softened, her heart racing as she processed his words. She had felt it too, the growing connection, the quiet moments that spoke volumes. She stepped closer to him, her voice steady yet filled with emotion. "I feel the same way, Mark," she said softly. "I never expected this... but I care about you, more than I ever thought I could."

In that moment, it felt as though the air between them shifted. What had begun as an unlikely arrangement had blossomed into something real, something meaningful. Mark and Ruth stood there, a mutual understanding passing between them—no more barriers, no more uncertainty. Just two people, finally honest with each other, ready to face whatever came next together.

Meanwhile Back at the Ezeh’s house, the family had moved on completely forgetting about their daughter Ruth.

Focusing on their own children, Mara and their only son.

Mark stood quietly for a moment, taking a deep breath. He had kept this secret for so long, and now it felt like the right time to finally share it with Ruth. He looked into her eyes, the warmth and trust between them making his heart swell. “Ruth,” he began, his voice steady but with a hint of vulnerability, “there’s something I need to tell you. I haven’t been entirely honest with you.”

Ruth furrowed her brow, her heart pounding slightly as she waited for him to continue.

He took a deep breath before speaking again. “I didn’t come from nothing. The big mansion you’ve seen—well, it’s mine too. I’ve been living this way, under the disguise of being someone else, because I wanted to find someone who would love me for who I truly am, not for my wealth. I didn’t want anyone to care about me just because of what I had.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “I wanted to see if I could find love on my own, without any of the luxuries that come with my name. I’ve been living as just Mark, not the man everyone thinks I am.”

Ruth stood frozen, her eyes wide in disbelief. She tried to process what he was saying, the man she had grown to love, the one she had seen as nothing more than an honest, hard working person, was hiding something so big. But as she looked into his eyes, she saw no malice, no desire for attention or praise. He just wanted to be loved for who he was. Slowly, her shock turned to understanding. She stepped closer to him, her heart opening even more. “I can’t believe this… But, Mark, I’m glad you trusted me enough to tell me. I don’t care about the mansion or what you have. You’re the person I’ve come to love. It’s you I care about.”

Mark smiled, his heart lifting in that moment. “Thank you, Ruth.”

The next day, Mark and Ruth drove to the Ezeh’s house, arriving in an expensive car, dressed in elegant clothes. They looked every bit the successful, wealthy couple that Mark truly was. The Ezeh family, who had once adopted Ruth, were shocked when they saw the couple arrive. They had cast Ruth aside long ago, wanting her out of their lives because they were focused on their own biological children, and Ruth had never really fit in. 

But now, seeing Ruth and Mark looking prosperous and confident, they realized the mistake they had made. The realization hit them like a wave—they had pushed away the one person who had truly loved them, the one person who could have brought them joy.

“We were wrong,” Mr. Ezeh said, his voice full of regret. “Please, Ruth, we’ve made a terrible mistake. We shouldn’t have cast you out. We were wrong to treat you like that. Come back to us.”

Ruth stood tall, her heart no longer burdened by their rejection. She had forgiven them long ago for their actions, but she could never go back. “I forgive you,” she said, her voice steady. “But I will never come back. I’ve found my place with Mark now, and I’m happy. I have a family of my own, one that truly loves and values me.”

The Ezehs were desperate, pleading with her to reconsider, but Ruth remained firm. She could never return to a family that had thrown her away so easily. Mark stood by her side, offering his quiet support, and Ruth knew that, together, they had built something far more meaningful than what she had left behind.

As they left the Ezeh household, Ruth looked up at Mark, her heart filled with gratitude and love. He had been there for her, just as she had been there for him. They had both come a long way, and now, with no more secrets, no more doubts, they were ready to begin their life together.

Months later, Mark and Ruth were officially married, their love solidified in front of family and friends. Ruth had finally found the love she had been searching for—not in a mansion or riches, but in a man who saw her for who she truly was. And together, they would face the world, side by side, stronger than ever.

THE END