Alexander's own day gets worse. His father Richard, who owns most of the company, tells him he is out as CEO. Without a wife or an heir, the job will go to his older brother Sebastian. In a panic, Alexander grabs Lena in the hallway and introduces her as his girlfriend, Holly Winters, heiress to a famous family fortune.
Lena first says no, in style. Then her mother calls about her medicine. She comes back with rules: no sleeping together, the deal ends before Christmas, and she gets a million dollars, her job back and a glowing reference. Alexander adds one condition of his own. She has to move in with him.
Alexander's smug older brother, who has spent his life taking whatever his younger brother loves, including the woman Alexander meant to marry.
VickyAntagonist
Alexander's ex, who cheated on him with Sebastian and is now Sebastian's wife.
Richard VossSupporting
The family patriarch, who cares about legacy above everything and will name his heir at Christmas.
Mrs. VossSupporting
Alexander's affectionate mother, thrilled to finally see her son in love and armed with embarrassing childhood photos.
KylaSupporting
Lena's outspoken coworker and friend, who never liked Trent and is not a fan of their boss either.
Mr. and Mrs. WintersSupporting
Proud members of the real Winters family, who are very surprised to hear their niece is engaged.
Spoilers ahead: the full story and the ending
Marry Me By Christmas full story
Living together starts badly. Alexander's apartment is cold and bare, so Lena covers it in Christmas decorations with his credit card. A spider sends her into his bed, where she kisses him in her sleep. Then his parents show up unannounced, and the couple cannot agree on how they met.
To earn her forgiveness, Alexander shows his staff his childhood fairy costume photos, gives everyone time off for the holidays and hands out bonuses. At the office party he finally opens up about the Christmas when he planned to propose to Vicky and found her laughing with Sebastian instead. They kiss, but Lena stops it because she is still engaged.
A visit to the real Winters family nearly ends everything, until Mr. Winters decides Lena must be his relative Claire's daughter and Lena draws herself a matching birthmark. That night she comes home to find Trent with another woman. When he turns violent, Alexander, who heard the door slam, knocks him down. Lena still sends Alexander away.
Alexander takes her to a Christmas market, and Lena shows him the truth: her mother in the hospital and the debt she owes Trent. She hands Alexander her engagement ring. He pays off every cent in a Christmas tree lot, returns the ring to Trent and tells him to stay away. Lena finally lets herself fall for Alexander. But the next morning Trent is at the door, and Sebastian is with him.
How does Marry Me By Christmas end?
At the Voss family's Christmas Eve party, Richard tells Alexander the company is his. Then Lena leaves him a goodbye note and a pair of reindeer antlers. Sebastian has threatened her mother, and she has agreed to humiliate Alexander in front of everyone. Instead, she tells the room she loves him. Trent exposes the fake engagement, and Alexander admits it. When Richard gives the company to Sebastian, Alexander says he does not care. He wants Lena. Trent grabs her, she knees him to the floor, and Alexander proposes for real with his mother's heirloom ring.
The next day Richard reveals that Sebastian planned to sell the company to competitors and throws him out. Alexander sends Sebastian off wearing the antlers. When Richard offers him the company back, he says he has to see about the girl first.
One year later, Alexander sends his own staff home for the holidays and leaves the office with Lena, now his wife. At Christmas their home fills with family: Lena's healthy mother, Kyla, the Vosses, the Winters and the couple's baby son.
