The words hit her like a physical blow. “You’re not ugly. You just need to dress better and marry me. ” Lise Hansen stood frozen, her hand still rummaging in a trash can on Store Torv in Aarhus for scraps of food.
She was sure she had misheard. Then the impeccably dressed man knelt right there in the middle of the bustling square, holding out a small red box with a ring that glinted in the evening sun. “I know you don’t know me,” he said, ignoring the stares of passersby who had started to gather. “My name is Frederik Møller, and I desperately need your help.
”
Lise took a step back, clutching the plastic bag with her few belongings. Her tangled brown hair and torn, dirty clothes told the story of the last six months on the street. But her brown eyes still held a spark of intelligence, and that spark was what had caught his attention. “Are you insane?
” she whispered, looking around at the small crowd forming. “Get up, you’re making a fool of yourself. ”
“I’m not insane. I’m desperate,” Frederik replied without moving.
“I have to be married before the end of this month. Otherwise, I lose everything I’ve built. ”
Lise felt a mix of anger and shame. How dare this man appear out of nowhere with such a humiliating proposal?
She had been a respected lecturer at Aarhus University. Now she was being treated like someone who needed charity. “I don’t need your pity,” she said, trying to walk past him. “Find someone else for your game.
”
But Frederik quickly rose and blocked her path, always maintaining a respectful distance. “It’s not pity. It’s a business deal. A contract.
You help me, I help you. Simple. ”
“What kind of help could a man like you need from someone like me? ” she challenged, crossing her arms.
“My grandfather left a clause in his will. To inherit the family company, I must be married before I turn forty. I have exactly 23 days to find a wife. Otherwise, everything goes to my cousin, Pernille.
”
Lise studied his face. He had sharp features, piercing blue eyes, and looked to be around forty. His suit was clearly expensive, and the watch on his wrist looked like it cost more than she used to earn in a year. But there was something in his expression that didn’t seem false.
“And why me? ” she asked, still suspicious. “There are thousands of women in Aarhus who would marry you for your money. ”
“Because you don’t want my money,” Frederik replied, putting the ring box back in his jacket pocket.
“I’ve seen you here on the square for weeks. Always polite to everyone. Always grateful even when people treat you badly. You have dignity.
That’s rare. ”
Lise felt a knot in her chest. It had been so long since anyone had spoken about her with respect that she’d almost forgotten what it felt like. “You know nothing about me,” she muttered.
“I know you weren’t always like this,” he said, gesturing at her clothes. “I know something happened in your life that brought you here, and I know you’re not here by free will. ”
Tears began to form in Lise’s eyes, but she held them back with force. She would not cry in front of a stranger.
“Even if I wanted to help you, what you’re suggesting is insane. ”
“Marriage won’t be real,” Frederik explained. “It’s a business arrangement. You marry me, help me secure the inheritance, and after a few months, we get divorced.
In return, I’ll give you enough money to restart your life. ”
Lise looked around the square. One by one, people lost interest and continued on their way. The sun was setting, and soon she’d have to find a safe place to spend another night.
Six months on the street had been enough to crush any romance she might have had about life. “How much? ” she asked, surprising herself. “500,000 Danish kroner.
”
Lise felt her legs give way. That was enough money to start over completely. Maybe even enough to get away from Aarhus and build a new life somewhere else. “And what exactly would I have to do?
”
“Live in my house. Attend some social events with me. Meet my family. Convince my grandfather we’re a real couple.
”
“How long? ”
“Six months at the most. After that, we cite irreconcilable differences and go our separate ways. ”
Lise took a few minutes to digest the proposal.
It was risky, but what alternatives did she actually have? Continue sleeping on benches, digging through trash, fleeing from dangerous people at night? “I have conditions,” she said finally. “Name them.
”
“No physical intimacy. Separate bedrooms. And when this is over, you help me with something I need. ”
“What kind of thing?
”
Lise hesitated. Could she trust this man? She’d trusted people before, and it had gone very wrong. Very wrong.
“I need my name cleared. I was falsely accused of something I didn’t do, and it destroyed my career and my life. ”
Frederik observed her carefully. There was a deep pain in her eyes, a wound that still hadn’t healed.
“I accept your conditions,” he said. “When would you like to start? ”
“Not now,” she replied quickly. “I need time to think.
”
“How much time? ”
“Two days. ”
Frederik took a card out of his pocket and handed it to her. “This is the address to my house.
If you decide to accept, come Thursday at 7 PM. If you don’t show up, I’ll understand. ”
Lise took the card. The paper was thick, expensive, with embossed gold letters.
The address was in Risskov, one of the city’s most exclusive areas. “What if I steal something from your house? ” she asked, testing him. “Then I’ve chosen the wrong person,” Frederik replied with a half-smile.
“But I don’t think you will. ”
He turned to leave but stopped and looked back. “Lise, that’s your name, isn’t it? ”
She nodded, surprised he knew.
“Whatever your decision, there’s a shelter two streets away that serves dinner until 8 PM. The food is good, and the people are decent. ”
And with that, he was gone, leaving Lise alone with the card in her hand and her head full of confusing thoughts. That night, lying on a bench on Store Torv with her bag as a pillow, Lise couldn’t sleep.
Frederik’s proposal echoed in her mind. It was a chance to escape this terrible situation, but it also seemed too good to be true. How many times in life does someone appear out of nowhere and offer a magical solution? She knew fairy tales well.
She had been teaching children’s literature for years. In real life, things didn’t work like they did in books. There was always a price to pay. There was always a hidden trap.
But 500,000 kroner was enough money to properly investigate what had happened at the university, to hire a competent lawyer, to have the resources to fight against the lies that destroyed her career, to prove she had never plagiarized anything. On Thursday at 7 PM, Lise stood in front of the gate to Frederik’s mansion. She had spent the past two days obsessively thinking about the proposal, weighing the pros and cons until she got a headache. The house was even more impressive than she’d imagined.
Three floors, immaculate garden, electric gate with an intercom. It was the kind of place she never imagined she’d set foot in. A woman in her fifties opened the door. “Good evening.
I’m Kirsten, the housekeeper for the Møller family. Frederik is waiting for you in the living room. ”
Frederik was seated in a leather armchair, reading some papers. When he saw her, he stood up immediately.
“Lise, how wonderful that you came. ”
“I said I’d come,” she replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt. He gestured to the sofa. “Please, sit.
Would you like something to drink? ”
“I’m fine, thank you. ”
“I imagine you’ve thought a lot about my proposal. ”
“I have.
And I have some more questions. ”
“Of course. Ask anything. ”
“Will your family know the marriage is a sham?
”
“No. And they can’t know. My grandfather is very traditional. If he finds out it’s a farce, he won’t just disinherit me—he could sue me for fraud.
”
“And if I change my mind mid-process? ”
“We’ll talk and find a solution. I don’t want anyone to feel trapped in this arrangement. ”
“And the money?
When will I receive it? ”
“Half now. Half when we get divorced. ”
Lise took a deep breath.
It was a fair deal, given the circumstances. “I accept,” she said finally. Frederik smiled for the first time since they met. “Excellent.
We’ll need to get married as soon as possible. I was thinking a civil ceremony on Monday, if that works for you. ”
“That soon? ”
“The longer we wait, the greater the risk my grandfather starts asking questions.
He’s already suspicious because he’s never seen me with a serious girlfriend. ”
“I understand. And where would I stay until the ceremony? ”
“Here, if you’d like.
Or I can pay for a hotel. ”
Lise looked around the luxurious living room. The prospect of sleeping in a real bed for the first time in months was tempting, but it also made her nervous. “I think a hotel is better.
At least until we’re officially married. ”
“No problem. Kirsten can drive you to a good place. ”
Frederik went to a desk in the corner, opened a drawer, and took out a thick envelope.
“Here is the first half of the payment,” he said, handing it to her. “250,000 Danish kroner. ”
Lise took the envelope with trembling hands. She’d never had so much money in her life.
It was surreal. “Thank you,” she whispered. “There’s one more thing we need to discuss,” Frederik said, sitting back down. “Tomorrow morning, we need to buy you some clothes for social events and for meeting my family.
”
Lise looked at her own clothes and blushed. Of course, she’d need an appropriate wardrobe to play the role of a rich businessman’s wife. “I’ll pay,” Frederik added quickly, noticing her discomfort. “It’s part of the deal.
And we also need to agree on our story. How we met, how long we’ve been together. We need to be consistent when people ask. ”
The next morning, they spent three hours at the shopping center.
Frederik was patient, encouraging her to try different options. “That dress suits you beautifully,” he commented when she came out of the fitting room in a navy blue midi dress. At the hair salon, the transformation was even more dramatic. When she looked in the mirror at the end of the day, Lise could barely recognize herself.
The woman staring back was elegant, sophisticated, beautiful. It was the woman she used to be, before everything fell apart. “You’re beautiful, Lise,” Frederik said when she came out of the salon. It had been a long time since anyone had called her beautiful.
On the way back to the hotel, Frederik casually mentioned, “Tomorrow night, we have dinner at my grandfather’s house. He wants to meet you. ”
Lise felt her stomach turn. “Already?
”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have much time. He called this morning and said he wants to meet my girlfriend as soon as possible. ”
“And if he doesn’t like me? ”
“He will like you.
You’re intelligent, well-educated, have an interesting story. Just relax and be yourself. ”
Dinner at Robert Møller’s house was even more formal than Lise had expected. The 73-year-old patriarch had white, well-groomed hair and piercing blue eyes like his grandson.
He bombarded Lise with questions: where was she born, where did she study, what books did she like. Then came the question she was dreading. “Frederik tells me you were a university lecturer,” Robert said, cutting into his salmon. “Why did you stop teaching?
”
Lise felt her throat dry up. “I had some problems at my last job,” she answered carefully. “I decided to take a break to reconsider my career. ”
“What kind of problems?
”
Before Frederik could interrupt, Lise looked Robert directly in the eye. “I was falsely accused of academic plagiarism. Someone forged evidence to hurt me, and I couldn’t prove my innocence in time to save my career. ”
“That’s terrible,” Robert said, and for the first time that evening, his expression softened.
“Injustice is one of the things I despise most in this world. ”
“That’s why I’m focused on clearing my name and proving the truth,” Lise continued. “Even if it takes time. ”
“And Frederik helps you with that?
”
Lise glanced at Frederik, who nodded almost imperceptibly. “He offers me support, both emotionally and practically. ”
“Excellent. That’s how it should be.
A couple should stand together in difficult times. ”
When they were driving back to the hotel, Frederik was clearly relieved. “You handled that perfectly. My grandfather really liked you.
He’s never praised any woman I’ve presented to him. He always found a flaw—too interested, too frivolous, too fake. ”
“And I’m none of those? ”
“You’re the most genuine person I’ve met in a long time.
”
On Monday morning, they were married at the civil registry office. The ceremony was simple, with only the obligatory witnesses. When the official asked if they accepted each other as husband and wife, both answered with firm voices but avoided looking at each other. The kiss that sealed their marriage was quick and chaste.
Afterward, they returned to Frederik’s mansion. Lise was shown to a spacious suite on the second floor with its own bathroom, walk-in closet, and a small sitting area. “Frederik’s room is at the end of the hall,” Kirsten explained. “Thank you, Kirsten.
And sorry if all this is a bit confusing. I know the situation is unusual. ”
The housekeeper studied her for a moment. “It’s not my place to judge Frederik’s decisions.
But I can say he seems happier since he met you. ”
That evening during dinner, Lise asked, “May I ask you something? ”
“Of course. ”
“Why did your grandfather put that condition in the will?
The one about getting married? ”
Frederik sighed and put down his fork. “My grandfather is a very traditional man. He married at 22 and was with my grandmother until she passed away.
For him, marriage and family are the foundation of a stable and successful life. ”
“And your parents? ”
“They died when I was 15. Car accident.
My grandfather raised me from that day on. ”
“I’m sorry to hear that. ”
“Thank you. It’s been a long time, but it’s still hard to talk about.
”
Lise understood perfectly. She had also lost important people and knew that some wounds never fully heal. “Is that why you never married before? ” she asked.
“Because you lost your parents early and are afraid to form attachments? ”
Frederik looked at her with surprise. “That’s a very astute observation. ”
“I was a psychologist before I became a literature lecturer.
I took two degrees. ”
“I didn’t know that. Why did you switch fields? ”
“Because I discovered I preferred analyzing fictional characters to real people.
Characters don’t lie about who they are. Real people lie all the time, to others and to themselves. ”
Frederik grew thoughtful. “And what do you lie to yourself about?
”
Lise hesitated. It was a deeper question than it seemed. “About being fine alone. About not needing anyone.
About having gotten over what happened to me at the university. Completely. ”
It was more honesty than she’d intended to share. But something about the way Frederik listened made her feel safe opening up.
“And you? ” she asked. “What do you think you lie to yourself about? ”
Frederik raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean? ”
“I mean,” Lise said, “that you seem to think being satisfied with your professional success is enough to make you happy. That you’re not lonely in this oversized house meant for one person. ”
It was Frederik’s turn to be surprised.
He set down his coffee. “How do you see that? ”
“It’s the way you look at things when you think no one is watching. It’s the same look I had when I still lived alone in my apartment, before everything fell apart.
”
For a few minutes, they sat in silence, digesting the unexpected revelations they had shared. “Lise,” Frederik began, “now that we’re married and living together, I want to ask you something personal. ”
“Yes? ”
“What actually happened at the university?
Who hurt you, and why? ”
Lise felt her chest tighten. It was a topic she avoided thinking about, but it never fully left her thoughts. “There was an older professor at the institute—Allan Sørensen.
He had an interest in me, but I always made it clear I wasn’t interested. When I started being considered for a permanent position that he also wanted for one of his protégés, he decided to sabotage me. ”
“How? ”
“He forged documents to make it look like I had copied parts of my PhD dissertation from other authors.
He planted evidence on my computer, bribed people to testify against me. When the investigation began, I couldn’t prove my innocence, and the university accepted the evidence without question. ”
“Didn’t you appeal? ”
“I did, but Allan was very respected and influential.
He had friends in important positions. I was just a young lecturer without political connections. I was fired. My name was publicly tarnished.
Other universities wouldn’t hire me. I lost my apartment because I couldn’t pay the rent. My friends drifted away, not knowing whether to believe me or the accusations. ”
Lise felt tears beginning to form, but she held them back.
“In a few months, I lost everything. Career, home, friends, reputation. When the money ran out, I ended up on the streets. ”
“And you never tried to fight it?
”
“I did. I hired a lawyer with the little money I had, but we didn’t find enough evidence to overturn the situation. He advised me to accept a settlement and move on, maybe change cities and start a new career. ”
“But you didn’t accept it.
”
“No. Because accepting it would mean admitting I’d done something wrong. And I hadn’t. ”
Frederik rose and walked to the window, standing with his back to her for a few moments.
“Lise,” he said without turning around, “if you could get another chance to prove your innocence, would you take it? ”
“Of course, but I don’t see how that’s possible now. ”
Frederik turned to face her. “And if I told you I know people who could help—private investigators, specialized lawyers, people with resources to find the truth?
”
Lise felt her heart race. “Why would you do that? Our deal didn’t include you spending money on trying to clear my name. ”
“Because it’s the right thing to do.
”
“And why? ”
“Because I like you, Lise. As a person, as a friend. And friends help each other.
”
She sat quietly, absorbing what he’d said. It was a generous offer, but also dangerous. It meant opening herself up again, reliving all the pain and humiliation of the past. “I need to think about it,” she said finally.
“Of course. There’s no rush. The offer will still stand. ”
A few days later, while Frederik was at work, Kirsten came to find Lise with a worried expression.
“Fru Lise, there’s a person here who wants to speak with you. A man who says his name is Allan. He says he knows you from the university. ”
Lise felt her blood freeze in her veins.
Allan Sørensen. The professor who had destroyed her life. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. She could not show weakness.
“Tell him I’ll be right down. ”
Allan Sørensen was standing by the window in the living room, looking out at the garden. He was a man in his fifties with neatly combed hair and a distinguished appearance, dressed in a suit and tie as always. When he saw her, he turned with a smile she knew well and always hated.
“Lise, my dear, how are you? ”
“Different. What do you want, Allan? ”
“Oh, how cold you are.
You won’t even greet me properly? ”
“Talk. Why are you here? ”
Allan sat down uninvited, crossed his legs, and assumed a casual posture.
“I heard you married a rich businessman. Congratulations. I always knew you were smart. ”
“How did you know about my marriage?
”
“Oh, Lise, Aarhus isn’t that big. News spreads. A lightning marriage between an influential businessman and a former university lecturer creates a stir. ”
Lise remained standing, keeping her distance.
“You still haven’t told me why you’re here. ”
“I came to make you an offer. A peace offering, so to speak. ”
“What kind of offer?
”
“I’m willing to publicly admit that the accusations against you were exaggerated. I could even help clear your academic name. ”
Lise felt her heart beat faster but forced herself to maintain a neutral expression. “In exchange for what?
”
“A symbolic amount. 500,000 kroner to cover some inconveniences I’ll have to deal with to rectify the situation. ”
“Trying to extort me? ”
“I prefer to think of it as a business opportunity.
You now have access to resources through your husband. 500,000 is a pittance for a man in his position. ”
Lise felt rage rising like hot lava. “You destroyed my life.
You made me lose everything I had. And now you want me to pay you to admit you lied? ”
“Let’s be practical, Lise. Do you want your name cleared?
This is your chance. Otherwise, I can assure you the doors to the academic world will remain closed to you forever. ”
“Get out of my house. ”
“Think carefully about my offer.
You have until I decide otherwise. ”
Allan rose and walked to the door, but stopped before leaving. “Oh, and Lise—does your husband know about your past? About the accusations?
It would be a shame if he discovered he married someone with a questionable reputation. ”
And he was gone, leaving Lise shaking with rage and fear. She ran up to her room and locked herself in. Her hands were trembling so much she could barely press the buttons on her phone.
“Lise, did something happen? ” Frederik answered. “I need to talk to you. It’s urgent.
”
“I’m in an important meeting. Can it wait until I get home? ”
“No. It’s about my past.
About the person who hurt me at the university. ”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “I’m leaving now. I’ll be home in twenty minutes.
”
Frederik arrived in fifteen minutes and found Lise still locked in her room. He led her to the armchairs by the window and sat opposite her. “Tell me everything, from the beginning. ”
Lise recounted the conversation, every word, every hidden threat.
Frederik listened in silence, but she could see the anger growing in his eyes. “He’s trying to blackmail you,” he said when she finished. “I know. But what if he follows through on his threats?
What if he tells your grandfather about the accusations? Even if they’re false, it might be enough to ruin everything. ”
“It won’t ruin anything. My grandfather is not the kind of person who judges anyone without knowing the facts.
But Allan can invent convincing evidence. He’s done it before. ”
Frederik thought for a moment. “Lise, do you trust me?
”
“Yes, I think so. ”
“Then let me handle this. I have resources and contacts that can help deal with men like him. First, I’ll hire a private investigator to find out everything we can about Allan’s recent activities.
If he’s trying to blackmail you now, he’s probably done it to others before. ”
“And then? ”
“And then we’ll reveal the truth the right way, with solid evidence that can’t be challenged. ”
“Why are you doing this?
This goes far beyond our original agreement. ”
Frederik stood and walked to the window, his back to her. “Because you don’t deserve to live in fear of someone who unjustly hurt you. And because I care about what happens to you.
”
There was something in his voice that made Lise think he wasn’t just speaking as a helpful friend. That afternoon, Frederik canceled all his appointments and spent hours on the phone. Within hours, he had hired one of the best private investigators in Aarhus and arranged a consultation with a lawyer specializing in academic law. The very next morning, they met with the investigator, Mikkel Christensen, a former police officer with an unremarkable appearance.
“I need all the details about this professor,” Mikkel said, opening a notebook. “Full name. Where does he work now? What are his habits?
Who are his friends and contacts? ”
Lise provided all the information she could remember about Allan. Mikkel took careful notes, asking specific questions. “And with regard to the accusation period, who else was involved in the process?
”
“An investigation committee of five professors. The coordinator was a close friend of Allan’s. ”
Mikkel seemed satisfied. “I’ll begin by investigating Allan’s current activities.
If he’s trying to blackmail you, it’s probably not his first time. Men like him have behavior patterns. ”
“How long will it take? ” Frederik asked.
“A week for preliminary information. A month to build a solid case. If he follows through on his threats before then, we’ll be ready to strike back immediately. ”
A few days later, Mikkel Christensen called with his first findings.
He arrived at the house with a folder full of documents and photographs. “Our professor has been busy,” he began, spreading the papers out on the coffee table. “I’ve discovered he’s perpetrated the same fraud on at least two other people in the past three years. ”
“What do you mean?
” Lise asked. “A lecturer from Aalborg University and a researcher from the University of Southern Denmark. Both were accused of plagiarism under very similar circumstances to yours. In both cases, Allan was involved in the investigation committees.
”
Mikkel also showed them photographs of Allan going in and out of expensive buildings, dining at upscale restaurants, and driving a car that cost far more than he could afford on a professor’s salary. “His lifestyle doesn’t match his official income,” the investigator observed. “That’s always a red flag. ”
Over the following days, Mikkel managed to contact the other two victims.
Both expressed interest in cooperating when they heard there were other victims of Allan’s schemes. Their stories were remarkably similar to Lise’s. Lise felt less alone for the first time in months. There were other people who understood exactly what she had been through.
A week after Allan’s initial visit, he reappeared at the mansion while Lise was alone. “Time’s running out, Lise,” he said, his tone menacing. “I hope you’ve thought about my offer. ”
“Yes, I have.
And my answer is no. ”
Allan’s expression shifted instantly. The false smile disappeared, revealing something darker. “I hope you don’t come to regret that decision.
”
“I won’t. ”
“We’ll see. Does your dear husband know he married an academic fraud? A woman who stole from other professors’ work?
”
Lise locked eyes with him. “He knows the truth about what you did. ”
Allan seemed genuinely surprised. “Oh, really?
And what exactly do you think you can prove? ”
“More than you could ever imagine. ”
Lise closed the door and immediately called Frederik. He was home within ten minutes, along with Mikkel Christensen, who had been summoned for an emergency meeting.
“He’s feeling pressured,” the investigator noted. “That’s good. Pressured people make mistakes. ”
“What kind of mistakes?
” Frederik asked. “They try to speed up their plans. Maybe contact their accomplices carelessly or try to get rid of evidence in a hurry. And if he tries to hurt Lise publicly before we can expose him, we’ll be ready to strike back immediately.
”
Mikkel had prepared a strategy for that possibility. He had contacts in the media who could publish the true version of the story if Allan tried to spread lies. But then came a more alarming development. Mikkel called for an urgent meeting.
“I arranged this meeting here because I suspect your house might be under surveillance,” he explained. “Allan has hired a private investigator to find out everything he can about you, especially about your marriage. ”
Lise felt her blood run cold. “He suspects our marriage is fake?
”
“Not just suspects. He has evidence. ” Mikkel opened a folder and showed them several photographs. Lise saw herself in the pictures—from the days she was living on Store Torv to the moment she got into Frederik’s car for the first time.
“He’s probably been following you for weeks, maybe months. Perhaps since you left the university. ”
“What’s he planning to do with this? ” Frederik asked darkly.
“Pressure you both. If he can prove the marriage is fraudulent, he can ruin your reputation and cause you to lose the inheritance. And for Lise, it would be even worse. She’d be seen as a con artist who exploited a rich man.
It would destroy any chance she has of regaining her academic reputation. ”
The situation had become much more serious than any of them had imagined. “What options do we have? ” Frederik asked.
“Few, and all risky. We can try to expose his crimes before he exposes you. Or you could consider making the marriage real. ”
“What do you mean?
” Lise asked. “If you truly love each other and want to be together, the marriage stops being fake. Allan will have nothing left to use against you. ”
Lise and Frederik looked at each other.
It was a logical solution, but it carried enormous emotional implications. “We need to think about it,” Frederik said. “We don’t have much time,” Mikkel warned. “According to the information I’ve received, Allan intends to act in the coming days.
”
On the way home, Lise and Frederik barely spoke, each lost in their own thoughts. Once home, they sat in the library, facing each other. “Mikkel is right,” Frederik said finally. “If we decide we truly want to be together, Allan can’t hurt us.
”
“But what if we make this decision only out of fear, not genuine love? How can we be sure of what we feel in the middle of all this pressure? ”
“Maybe we can’t have absolute certainty. Maybe we have to trust what we feel right now and hope it’s real.
”
Lise stood and walked to the window, looking out at the garden. “Frederik, can I tell you something? ”
“Of course. ”
“In the past few days, I’ve imagined what it would be like to continue living here with you.
Not for the money or security, but because… because I feel at home by your side. ”
Frederik rose and walked over to her. “I’ve been thinking about that too.
This house has always been too big and too quiet for me. Since you came, it finally feels like a home. ”
They stood side by side at the window, not touching, but aware of each other’s presence. “So what do we do?
” Lise asked. “We decide whether we want to try to make this work for real. Independent of Allan. Independent of the inheritance.
Independent of all the practical reasons that brought us here. ”
“And what do you want? ”
Frederik turned to look at her. “I want to try.
I want to see if what I feel is real and lasting. I want to give us a chance. ”
Lise felt her heart beat faster. It was what she wanted too, but she’d been afraid to admit it.
“And if it doesn’t work out? ”
“Then at least we’ll know we tried. That’s better than spending the rest of our lives wondering ‘what if. ’”
Lise took a deep breath and made a decision.
“Okay. Let’s try. ”
Frederik smiled for the first time that day. “Really?
”
“Really. ”
He came closer and gently touched her face. “May I kiss you for real this time? ”
In response, Lise leaned into him.
The kiss was soft at first, tentative, as if they were both still testing the boundaries of this new dynamic between them. Then it deepened, filled with the pent-up tension and emotion they had both been trying to ignore. When they parted, Frederik rested his forehead against hers. “So now we’re really married.
”
“I think so. ”
“How do you feel? ”
“Scared. Hopeful.
Happy. You? ”
“All of the above. ”
The next morning, Mikkel Christensen called with a risky proposal.
“I want to confront Allan directly with the evidence we have about his crimes,” he said. “If we do it right, we might be able to force him to back off without having to expose your private marriage details. ”
The meeting was arranged for late afternoon at a discreet hotel in the city center. Frederik insisted on attending, along with Mikkel Christensen.
Allan arrived with a confident expression that quickly disappeared when he saw he wasn’t just dealing with Lise. “What is this? ” he asked as they sat down. “A conversation about uncomfortable truths,” Mikkel replied, opening a folder full of documents, “specifically about your illegal activities over the past five years.
”
Allan’s expression changed completely as he saw photographs, bank statements, and testimonies from other victims spread out on the table. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. ”
“Then let me be specific,” Mikkel said calmly. “Helene Berg, Aalborg University.
Rasmus Kolding, University of Southern Denmark. Three lecturers falsely accused of academic plagiarism in situations where you had privileged access to the investigation processes. ”
Allan was visibly pale. “That proves nothing.
”
“No? And what about the irregular payments you received from companies interested in favoring certain candidates in academic competitions? Or the forged documents we found in your office at the university? ”
It was a bluff, but Mikkel presented it with such conviction that Allan believed it.
“What do you want? ” he finally asked. “We want you to stop pursuing Lise,” Frederik said, speaking for the first time. “We want you to publicly admit that the accusations against her were false.
And we want you to retire quietly from academic life before we decide to reveal everything we know about you. ”
“And if I don’t accept? ”
Mikkel leaned forward. “Then all the country’s universities will receive a detailed report about your activities tomorrow morning.
The media will also receive copies. And the police will receive evidence of federal crimes related to corruption in higher education. ”
Allan sat silent for several minutes, clearly calculating his options. “And if I do as you ask, what guarantee do I have that you won’t come after me afterward?
”
“Because we’re not interested in destroying your life,” Lise answered. “We just want you to stop destroying others’. ”
“I need time to think. ”
“You have 24 hours,” Mikkel said.
Allan left the meeting visibly shaken. Mikkel was confident he would accept the deal. “Men like him are fundamentally cowards. When they realize they could lose everything, they always choose to save what they can.
”
But Lise wasn’t so optimistic. “What if he decides to hurt us before he backs down? He still has those photographs from our wedding. ”
“Then we’ll be ready to strike back immediately,” Frederik replied.
“We have enough evidence to destroy his credibility faster than he can destroy ours. No, we’ll destroy him before he can even whisper a word. ”
The next morning, Mikkel Christensen called early with the news. “Allan accepted our terms.
He’ll sign a confession admitting he forged the evidence against you, Lise, and he’ll retire from the university early. ”
Lise felt a mix of relief and disbelief. “Just like that? ”
“We uncovered even more charges last night,” Mikkel explained.
“Evidence he was involved in far worse schemes than we initially thought. Once we showed him that, he realized he had no choice. ”
In the following days, Allan’s confession spread quickly through the academic world. The university issued an official statement clearing Lise’s name and apologizing for the treatment she had received.
Other universities began contacting her with job offers. “How do you feel? ” Frederik asked one evening while they celebrated with a bottle of champagne. “Free,” Lise answered.
“For the first time in almost a year, I feel completely free. ”
“And what will you do with that freedom? ”
Lise thought carefully before answering. “I want to teach again.
But here in Aarhus, if you’re okay with that. I want to stay close to you. ”
Frederik smiled and kissed her gently. “And what about our original agreement?
The six months, the divorce? ”
“I think we can break that contract. Don’t you? ”
“Absolutely.
”
Six months later, Lise was back in the lecture halls, this time as a permanent lecturer at Aarhus University. Her students adored her. Her colleagues respected her. And she felt, finally, that she was where she was supposed to be.
Frederik had implemented his social projects, including a scholarship program for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who wanted to pursue an academic career. Lise helped him select the recipients, ensuring that talented young people got opportunities that she herself had almost lost. Robert, Frederik’s grandfather, had become one of Lise’s biggest supporters. “She has courage,” he would say to anyone who would listen.
“She’s been through difficulties that would break many people, but she came out stronger. ”
Surprisingly, Pernille also came to respect Lise after learning the full story. “I thought she was just another woman interested in the family money,” she admitted at a family lunch. “I didn’t know you’d been through all that.
”
One evening, while they were sitting in the library reading together, Frederik asked a question that had been on both their minds for weeks. “Lise, do you regret anything about the way everything happened between us? ”
She closed her book and looked at him. “Nothing important.
Do you? ”
“No. Even though our beginning was unconventional, maybe it was exactly as it should have been. ”
“What do you mean?
”
“Because when we met, we were both at vulnerable points in our lives. You with the pressure of the inheritance. Me with my desperate situation. It forced us to be completely honest with each other from the start.
”
Two years later, Lise was pregnant with their first child. “How will we explain to our children how we met? ” Frederik asked one evening with his hands on Lise’s belly. “We’ll tell them the truth,” she replied.
“That sometimes the best things in life happen in the most unexpected ways. And we’ll tell them about standing up for the truth, even when it seems impossible. About how your father was very persuasive. ”
“I’m grateful every day that you took that chance,” Frederik said.
“So am I. ”
Three years after their first meeting on Store Torv, Lise published a book about her experience—*Rebuilding: A Story of Injustice, Love, and Second Chances. * It became a bestseller and was used in courses on academic ethics at several universities. She dedicated it to Frederik, “who taught me that happy endings are possible when you find someone willing to fight by your side.
”
The royalties were donated to a fund that helped people facing unjust academic persecution—a way to ensure that others in similar situations had the resources to fight for their reputations. Allan Sørensen, in turn, disappeared completely from the academic world. Rumors said he’d moved to Jutland and worked in a family business far from any university. None of his victims ever confronted him again.
The truth was enough. Five years after that first meeting, Lise and Frederik took their young son to the same square where it all began. The boy ran laughing and playing between the benches, completely unaware of the dramatic story that had unfolded there years earlier. “Do you remember how you felt that day?
” Frederik asked, pointing to the bench where he’d first seen her looking for food. “I remember,” Lise said, watching their son play. “I felt lost, hopeless, like my life was over. And now?
Now I know that sometimes life has to completely fall apart in order to start over in the right way. ”
Frederik wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Thank you for accepting my insane proposal that day. ”
“Thank you for making it.
Even though it was selfish of you—you were only thinking of solving your inheritance problem—you didn’t know you were also saving me. ”
“Sometimes we do the right thing for the wrong reasons. And sometimes the right people meet at the most unlikely times. ”
They stood there, watching their son play, thinking about all the impossible coincidences that had brought them to this moment.
If Lise hadn’t lost everything, if Frederik hadn’t faced the pressure of the inheritance, if Allan hadn’t been so ambitious, if Mikkel Christensen hadn’t been so competent—any change in this chain of events could have resulted in a completely different ending. “Do you believe in fate? ” Lise asked. “I believe in choices,” Frederik replied.
“I believe that fate can place opportunities on our path, but it’s up to us to decide whether to take advantage of them. ”
“And do you think we took advantage of our opportunity well? ”
Frederik looked at his son, his wife, the life they had built together from an absurd proposal on a square in central Aarhus. “I think we used it perfectly.
”