Forced by my parents to marry the rich, pot-bellied neighbor next door, I was in tears and couldn’t smile on my wedding day.

My parents forced me to marry the rich, pot-bellied neighbor next door, I was in tears and couldn’t smile on my wedding day. My parents were in debt, so when the rich, pot-bellied neighbor, nearly 20 years older than me, proposed, they immediately nodded. I was forced into a corner, tears in my eyes, trying to force a smile at the wedding but couldn’t hide my reluctance. On the wedding night, I had already made a “defense” plan: wearing 4 layers of clothes, from shirts, hoodies, long nightgowns to thin coats, completely covered. I thought to myself: Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t do anything! As soon as the lights went out, I turned around to find a comfortable position to lie down, then… I sat on something bulky right under the mattress. I gently reached down… it was a thick envelope. I silently took it, feeling shaky. In my head, I thought: Maybe it’s “fun” money to make me less uncomfortable? But when I opened it, I held my breath — inside were four plane tickets to foreign countries, along with a brand new passport and visa… bearing my name. I could only chuckle, pretending to sneak into the bathroom to “change clothes” but in reality, it was to carefully read the note stuck in the envelope: “If you want to leave this marriage, just take the flight tomorrow morning. I will take care of all the divorce procedures and keep it a secret from your parents. This is my real wedding gift.” It turned out that the neighbor did not want to force me, but married me only to help my family pay off the debt and… give me back my freedom. Forced by my parents to marry the rich, pot-bellied neighbor next door, I was in tears and could not laugh on my wedding day. On the wedding night, I wore four shirts and pulled the blanket tightly around me before daring to fall asleep. But as soon as the lights went out, I sat right on something bulky and cold on the edge of the bed. Startled, I gently touched it and found… a thick stack of papers stuck in an envelope. He turned around, his face serious: – That… put it away, and don’t tell anyone tomorrow morning. I was suspicious, sneaked into the bathroom to open it, inside was not money but a stack of bright red papers – the red book of the house and the sales contract with the signatures of… my parents. Right on the last note, I saw some scribbled words: “Selling daughter – with the condition of paying off all debts”. I trembled, both angry and amused at my life. It turned out that this wedding was not to marry me off to a rich man, but to free my parents from a debt of hundreds of millions. But before I could regain my composure, from the crack in the bathroom door, I heard my husband talking softly on the phone: – Yes, it’s done. Now wait for him to sign the transfer papers and it’s done. You just prepare to buy that house and land… I’ll “clear” it soon. I was stunned, realizing that not only were my parents selling me, but my new husband was also plotting to get rid of me to take all the property. A plan of revenge suddenly flashed through my mind on the very night of my wedding…

I stood frozen in the bathroom, my hands clutching the bright red papers. All the humiliation, resentment, and bitterness of the day condensed into a chill down my spine.

I knew that if I just cried or whined now, I would become docile prey for both my parents and my new husband. But if I stayed awake, I could turn the tables tonight.

I opened my phone, took a picture of all the documents in the envelope, and immediately sent it to a lawyer friend. I included the message:

“If I don’t contact you tomorrow, give these photos to the newspaper and the police.”

Then, I quietly turned on the recording mode, put the phone in my pocket, opened the door and walked out. He was sitting on the bed, looking smug. I pretended not to know anything and said calmly:

— “Would you like some tea? I’ll make you a cup.”

While he was sipping tea, I sat next to him and deliberately started a conversation:
“So… where is the land you were talking to earlier?”

He laughed, thinking I was “obedient”:
— “Right in the city center. Your parents sold you to me to pay off their debt. But in fact, marrying you is just a stepping stone. Once you sign the transfer papers… you disappear.”

I nodded, pretending to be innocent:
— “Oh… I see…”

A few minutes later, I excused myself to “review the paperwork to sign early” and went to change. But instead of turning around, I quietly slipped out the back door — where my lawyer friend had called a taxi for me.

The next morning
when he woke up, both I and the red papers were gone. While he was screaming on the phone, his phone suddenly vibrated continuously — dozens of messages and calls from unknown numbers.

It turned out that last night’s recording and photos of the documents had been sent to the investigation agency, the press, and the ward women’s association.

In just one morning, the story of “selling daughter to pay debt” spread all over social media. My parents were heavily criticized by neighbors, and my new husband was summoned by the police for questioning on suspicion of property fraud and defrauding.

As for me, I was sitting comfortably on the long-distance bus, a new passport that my lawyer had arranged for me in my hand, heading to another city — where I would start over.

I know, my life has just lost a family, but at the same time I have escaped a dirty trap. And this time… I will not let anyone decide my fate anymore.