Mr. Stranger, My Arranged Husband
fleeing
Male Lead (ML): Alexander
Education: A brilliant graduate student at the state conservatory, specializing in classical music performance. He is currently fighting to secure an international scholarship to study advanced film music composition in Canada.
Work / Career: A gifted classical violinist and composer. He performs in local orchestral showcases, teaches violin to younger students part-time, and creates indie music tracks on the side. He refuses to settle down into a boring, predictable desk job in Belarus.
✦ Female Lead (FL): Scarlett
Education: Holds a degree in Literature and Creative Writing from a prestigious local university.
Work / Career: She is a passionate, independent creative writer and digital fiction author. She writes serialized romantic dramas for popular online story platforms, building a massive global fanbase under a secret pen name. Her parents look down on it as a "silly hobby," but it’s her true passion and her ticket to financial freedom
Scarlett (fl)
You cannot be serious right now, Mom," I said, staring at my parents in absolute disbelief.
..
We are completely serious, Scarlett," my dad replied, not even looking up from his newspaper. "The arrangement is finalized. His family is coming to meet you officially next week."
Scarlett (fl)
Next week?! I am twenty-five years old!" I slammed my hands onto the dining table. "You don't just 'arrange' a marriage for me without my consent! This isn't the 1800s
...
Lower your voice," Mom snapped, her expression icy. "He is from a good, wealthy family. You've been wasting your time with your silly digital writing projects, and it's time you settle down. This is what's best for you.
Scarlett (fl)
Best for me? Or best for your social status?"
..
That's enough, Scarlett!" Dad yelled, finally dropping the paper. "Go to your room. We are not arguing about this. The wedding is happening, and that is our final word."
I choked back a sob, turning on my heel and storming down the hallway. I threw my bedroom door shut and locked it, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird.
I am not doing this. I am not letting them control my entire life.
I paced the room, panic rising in my throat. Then, my eyes locked onto the glass doors leading to my veranda
I rushed outside, the cool night air instantly hitting my face. I looked over the edge of the iron railing. Below, the dark alleyway was empty. There was a thick drainage pipe running down the brick wall right next to the balcony, and an old tree just a few feet away.
...
"Scarlett?" Mom’s voice suddenly echoed from the hallway, followed by a sharp knock on my door. "Open this door. We need to discuss the guest list.
Scarlett (fl)
"I'm changing, Mom! Leave me alone!" I shouted back, my voice trembling.
I didn't have time to pack. I wasn't going to wait around to be sold off to a stranger. I kicked off my tight shoes, grabbed the sturdy metal railing, and swung my legs over the edge.
...
Scarlett? I hear you moving around in there. Open up right now!" The doorknob rattled violently.
Taking a deep, terrifying breath, I reached out and wrapped my arms and legs tightly around the drainage pipe. My skin scraped against the rough metal, but I didn't care. I slid down as fast as I could, my feet hitting the gravel alleyway with a sharp thud.
I stumbled, scraping my palms on the dirt, but I forced myself right back up. Without looking back at the house, I bolted into the shadows of the night.
ML POV: Alexander
I was doing dinner with my family, completely exhausted after a grueling eight-hour violin practice session at the conservatory. I just wanted to eat my food in absolute silence.
Alexander Rybak(ml)
Pass the chicken, Lisa," I mumbled, staring blankly at my plate.
My sister didn't even blink. She was completely glued to her phone, her thumb flying across the screen.
Alexander Rybak(ml)
Lisa. The chicken. Now," I repeated, my voice dropping an octave
...
Oh, calm down, Alex," Lisa snapped, blindly grabbing the platter and shoving it toward me without ever breaking eye contact with her screen. "Mom spent two hours cooking it. If you eat the whole thing before she sits down, she’s going to murder you
Alexander Rybak(ml)
I'm not eating the whole thing, I'm just starving," I sighed, rubbing my aching temples.
The kitchen door swung open, and Mom walked in, wiping her hands on her apron. She sat down at the head of the table, but she didn't touch her food. Instead, she fixed her eyes directly on me with a smile that was entirely too sweet. It instantly made my stomach turn.
...
Alexander," Mom started, leaning forward. "I saw Mrs. Ivanova today."
Alexander Rybak(ml)
I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth. "Mom, please. Don't."
...
Just listen to me!" Mom insisted, waving her hand dismissively. "Her niece's daughter is back in town. Oh, Alex, she is a vision. A beautiful, creative girl. Her name is Scarlett. I already spoke to her mother.
...
Lisa instantly dropped her phone onto the table, her eyes lighting up with sudden drama. "Ooh, a blind date? Who is she?"
...
"She is well-educated, well-behaved, and perfect for you," Mom continued, her voice growing more excited. "Alexander, you are twenty-five. You cannot keep living with your head in the clouds. It is time to marry. I really want you to meet her next week."
I slammed my fork down onto the porcelain plate. The sharp clink echoed through the dining room.
Alexander Rybak(ml)
Mom! Stop it!" I shouted, the frustration that had been building up for months finally exploding. "How many times do I have to tell you? I am not looking for a wife! I don't care if her name is Scarlett, or if she's the most beautiful girl in Belarus!"
...
Don't you dare raise your voice at me at this table!" Mom scolded back, her warmth instantly turning into a furious glare. "I am your mother, and I am trying to secure your future!"
Alexander Rybak(ml)
My future is not here, getting forced into a marriage with a stranger!" I stood up so fast my chair scraped loudly against the floorboards. "I want to study more! I’ve been working my fingers to the bone for the international scholarships. I am leaving Belarus, Mom. I am going to Canada!"
...
Mom stood up too, her face flushing bright red. "Canada?! That is halfway across the world! You think you can just pack up your violin, desert your family, and run away to some random country? You are being incredibly selfish, Alexander! Life isn't just about your degrees!
Alexander Rybak(ml)
It's my life!" I yelled back, my chest heaving. "You want me to stay here, buy a tiny apartment, and live the exact same boring life as everyone else? I want more than this! I am going to Canada, and a marriage is just a trap to keep me stuck here forever!"
...
A trap?!" Mom gasped, looking deeply insulted. "Family is not a trap! You are an ungrateful, spoiled boy!"
Alexander Rybak(ml)
I'm done," I snapped coldly
...
Alexander, sit back down and finish your dinner right now!" Mom ordered, her voice shaking with anger.
Alexander Rybak(ml)
I'm not hungry anymore."
I grabbed my jacket from the back of the chair, snatched my violin case from the hallway, and marched straight out the front door, slamming it behind me. The cool night air hit my face, but my blood was still boiling as I stormed down the street into the dark.
.
I crouched behind a rows of thick bushes three blocks away from my house, my hands trembling as I pulled out my phone. My palms were still covered in dirt from sliding down that drainage pipe, but I didn't care. I needed a plan. I needed to leave the city tonight.
I dialled my best friend, Maya. It rang three times before she picked up, her voice groggy.
...
Scarlett? Do you know what time it is?
Scarlett (fl)
Maya, you need to listen to me," I whispered frantically, looking over my shoulder at the empty street. "My parents just told me they arranged a marriage for me. I ran away. I’m out on the street right now."
...
Wait, what?!" Maya was suddenly wide awake. "You ran away? Are you insane? Where are you going?"
Scarlett (fl)
"I’m going to the hill area. The remote resort town up north," I said, my voice determined. "I can hide out there in a quiet cabin, write my digital novels, and completely disappear from their radar until they cancel this stupid arrangement. Pack a bag. Come with me.
...
To the hills? Right now?" Maya gasped, sounding completely terrified. "Scarlett, no way. I can't do that. My parents would murder me if I just disappeared into the mountains in the middle of the night! Plus, I have a massive exam tomorrow morning!"
Scarlett (fl)
Maya, please! I can't go alone!"
...
"I’m sorry, babe, I really am," Maya sighed, sounding genuinely guilty. "I want to help you, but going to a remote hill area right now is crazy. Just come over to my place and hide in my room for the night. We can figure it out tomorrow."
Scarlett (fl)
No, my parents will check your house first thing in the morning," I said, tears of frustration stinging my eyes. "If you won't come, I'll go by myself
I hung up before she could argue further. Shoving my phone into my pocket, I stared down the dark road. I was terrified, but I wasn't turning back.
ML POV: Alexander
I marched down the sidewalk, the heavy strap of my violin case digging into my shoulder. My blood was still absolutely boiling from the shouting match with my mom at the dinner table.
Alexander Rybak(ml)
A marriage? Next week? To a total stranger named Scarlett?
I let out a bitter, dark laugh into the night air. It was a blatant trap. My mom knew I was applying for international music scholarships to Canada. She knew I wanted to leave Belarus to study advanced film score composition. This "perfect arrangement" was just her desperate attempt to tie me down to a domestic life before I could ever buy a plane ticket
Alexander Rybak(ml)
I am not letting her ruin my life," I muttered to myself, stopping under a flickering streetlight.
I couldn't go back home tonight, and I couldn't stay at a friend's place because my mom would call every single conservatory student she knew until she tracked me down. I needed to get completely out of her reach. I needed a place where I could clear my head, practice my violin in absolute peace, and finish my scholarship portfolio without being emotionally blackmailed every single day.
The hills.
The remote hill area up north was only a few hours away by the night bus. It was quiet, isolated, and completely disconnected from the chaotic social circles my mom ran in. She would never think to look for me in a sleepy mountain village.
Alexander Rybak(ml)
Perfect," I whispered, tightening my grip on my violin case.
I turned my heels toward the central bus terminal. I was going to the hills, completely oblivious to the fact that my unwanted future was already heading to the exact same destination.
robbed
I stood by the curb of the dimly lit main road, my heart practically in my throat every time a pair of headlights approached. Finally, a yellow taxi with its glowing roof light rounded the corner. I stepped off the sidewalk, waving my arms frantically.
The cab screeched to a halt right in front of me. Relief washed over me so fast I almost burst into tears. I grabbed the rear door handle at the exact same millisecond a tall, dark figure lunged from the shadows and grabbed the front passenger handle.
Scarlett (fl)
Hey! What do you think you're doing?" I yelled, glaring at the guy through the darkness. He was wearing a dark jacket and carrying a heavy, rectangular black case strapped to his shoulder. "I called this cab!"
Alexander Rybak(ml)
Excuse me? I’ve been standing under this awning waiting for twenty minutes," the guy snapped back, his voice dripping with pure irritation. "Get your own ride, lady. I'm in a hurry."
Scarlett (fl)
Lady? I am twenty-five, not a lady!" I marched up to the front door, blocking him. "And I literally clicked 'request' on my app right as he pulled up. Step back, violin boy!"
Alexander Rybak(ml)
He let out a bitter, mocking laugh, turning to look down at me. "Listen, I don't care about your app or your attitude. I am trying to escape a family nightmare right now, and I need to get to the northern bus terminal. So back off."
Scarlett (fl)
Oh, you're escaping a nightmare? I'm literally fleeing for my life!" I shouted, my temper completely exploding. "You think you're the only one with problems? Get out of my way!"
Alexander Rybak(ml)
Move, you stubborn old woman!" he yelled back, tossing his hands up in frustration.
Scarlett (fl)
"Old woman?!" I screeched, my jaw dropping. My face flushed with absolute rage. "I am twenty-five! How dare you call me an old woman! You're an arrogant, rude, childish jerk!"
The cab window rolled down, and a tired-looking driver poked his head out, looking completely disgusted with both of us.
..
Hey! Shut up! Both of you! You're making a scene in the middle of the night. I'm not taking either of you. Get away from my car!"
Scarlett (fl)
"No! Wait!" I panicked, realizing this was the only taxi on the street. I looked at the rude guy, then back at the driver. "Look, we are both going north, okay? We will both go! Just split the fare!"
The guy rolled his eyes but didn't argue, clearly realizing he didn't have another option either. "Fine. Just get in before I lose my mind."
I slammed the front passenger door shut, my blood pressure reaching dangerous levels. First my mother, and now this crazy, screaming girl on the street. Could this night get any worse?
The taxi driver grumbled, shifting into drive and pulling away from the curb. The silence inside the car was thick and suffocating. I stared out the front windshield, while Miss Dramatic was in the back seat, sniffing loudly and looking out the side window.
We had been driving down a dark, isolated stretch of the highway for about fifteen minutes when the taxi suddenly sputtered. The engine groaned, and the car began to slow down.
Scarlett (fl)
What's happening?" the girl asked from the back, her voice laced with panic.
..
"Engine's overheating," the driver muttered, pulling the cab onto the dark, gravel shoulder of the empty road. He cut the lights and grabbed a flashlight from the glove compartment. "I have to check under the hood. Stay inside."
He stepped out, and a moment later, I saw the glow of his flashlight through the gaps of the raised hood.
Suddenly, the driver let out a sharp cry. The hood slammed shut with a deafening bang.
Through the windshield, two men in dark hoodies appeared out of the shadows, one of them holding a thick iron pipe. They had the driver pinned against the front of the car. My heart violently thudded against my ribs.
Before I could even think, the passenger side door was ripped open. A cold, sharp blade was thrust directly into my face.
..
Phones! Wallets! Give them over right now or you don't make it to morning!" a raspy voice shouted.
Alexander Rybak(ml)
"Okay, okay! Take it!" I raised my hands in surrender, my mind racing. I reached into my jacket pocket, pulled out my smartphone and my wallet, and shoved them into the robber's gloved hand.
The second robber yanked the back door open. The girl screamed, a high-pitched, terrifying sound that echoed in the enclosed car.
..
"Shut up! Hand over the bag
The man roared, snatching the leather tote bag right out of her arms. He reached into the front seat, snatched my phone and wallet from his partner, and then they both bolted into the thick woods lining the highway, leaving the driver groaning on the dirt.
Scarlett (fl)
No! No, wait! My laptop! My writing!" the girl wailed from the back seat.
I scrambled out of the car, checking on the driver who was holding his bruised shoulder, before opening her door. She was curled into a ball on the leather seat, burying her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
Alexander Rybak(ml)
"Hey," I said, my voice dropping its angry edge for the first time tonight. I felt a sudden, heavy pit in my stomach. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
Scarlett (fl)
My whole life was in that bag!" she cried, her shoulders shaking violently as tears streamed down her face. "My phone, my money, my documents... everything is gone! I have nothing left!"
I stood there in the dark, looking down at her, completely frozen. I had my violin, but my phone and money were gone too. We were stuck on the side of a deserted road in the middle of the night, completely stranded, and entirely dependent on each other.
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