Fake Fiancé Turned Real

On my birthday, I accidentally found out that the boyfriend I had secretly loved for three years and happily dated for one was actually hired by my father. It was a one-year contract with an eight-figure payout, and his mission was to make me realize the hardships of dating for love so that I’d accept an arranged marriage. Standing at the corner of the corridor, I overheard my boyfriend on the phone with my father. “Don’t worry, Mr. Hill. Everything is going exactly according to plan. I’ll crush her hopes. I guarantee that before the contract expires, she will be entirely done with me. After that, she’ll willingly marry whoever you’ve arranged for her.” I quietly followed him back to his private room, only to hear his friends teasing him. “Man, that heiress is so incredibly gullible. You put on a little show, and she bought it. She’s so naive.” “You didn’t actually fall for her, did you? How much longer do you have to keep this up anyway? Ruby has been waiting for you for a long time!” He let out a low grunt in agreement. “She’s just a client, and a client whose contract is about to expire, at that. Besides, her dad just paid way too much to pass up.” The group paused for a second and then burst into a collective roar of laughter. Standing outside, I smiled too. I had heard of renting a girlfriend before, but this was my very first time encountering a professional boyfriend. Since everyone here was such a brilliant actor, it would be a shame not to play this game to the bitter end. After all, wouldn’t it be a waste of Mr. Hill's massive investment otherwise? Chapter 1 I composed myself and put on a mask of sweet, spoiled innocence as I pushed open the door to the private room. The moment the door swung open, the roaring laughter inside instantly died. When Jacob Grey saw me, a flash of panic crossed his eyes, but it was quickly masked by his usual, deeply affectionate facade. “Nat, what took you so long?” He walked over, naturally reaching out to take my hand. I resisted the urge to pull away, letting him hold it. In fact, I even leaned against his shoulder and said sweetly, “Overtime ran a little late today. What was everyone chatting about that made you all laugh?” Ruby Meyer sat opposite us, holding a glass of red wine. There was a triumphant smugness hidden in her eyes. “We were just talking about Jake’s past,” she said in a coy voice. “Nat, you have no idea. Back in our school days, Jake was the ultimate heartthrob. His suitors would practically line the street, but his standards were so high that he didn’t care for any of them.” With that, she shot me a loaded look. “Who would’ve thought that a wealthy heiress like you would be the one to snag him in the end?” If this had been before, I would’ve felt jealous over that subtle claim of ownership, and I probably would have picked a fight with Jacob. Yet now, I felt like I was watching two monkeys fight over a banana. I let out a soft chuckle. Slipping my hand out of Jacob’s grasp, I picked up a glass of water from the table and took a sip. “Well, of course. After all, the Hill family just offered far too much to pass up.” My tone was rather nonchalant. The room instantly fell dead silent. Jacob’s face froze for a second, his expression shifting. “Nat, what do you mean by that?” “Exactly what it sounds like,” I replied, blinking at him innocently. “Didn’t my dad just invest in your project? Don’t tell me it wasn’t because of me?” Jacob’s pride was clearly hurt. He hated nothing more than people suggesting he relied on the Hill family. Frowning, his tone turned cold. “Natalie, I thought you understood me. I got that investment based on my own merit, not through a relationship.” “Right, you’re the most capable one here.” I nodded dismissively, too lazy to argue. Seeing this, Ruby quickly stepped in to smooth things over while subtly taking a jab at me. “Nat, Jake has been under a lot of stress lately. You shouldn’t use money to pressure him like this. He has a lot of pride, and you’re going to hurt his feelings.” “Oh?” I turned my gaze toward Ruby, looking her up and down. Finally, my eyes landed on the necklace she was wearing, the very one Jacob had gifted her just last week. “Since you’re so considerate, Miss Meyer, why don’t you cover the tens of millions of dollars in his funding gap instead?” Ruby’s face turned pale, and she bit her lip, silenced. Jacob stood up abruptly. He grabbed my wrist and tried very hard to suppress his anger. “Natalie, what is wrong with you today? Do you have to make everyone miserable?” he snapped. Looking at his face, the face of a man who desperately wanted the money but still wanted to play the noble saint, my illusion of him shattered. I calmly brushed his hand away as I replied, “I’m a little tired, so I’ll head out first. Enjoy your dinner.” With that, I walked out of the room, shutting his stunned expression behind the door. At the entrance of the pub, I stood quietly for two seconds. Then, I pulled the expensive watch I had bought for Jacob out of my bag and casually tossed it into a nearby trash can. It landed with a dull thud among the leftovers, just like my ridiculous relationship over the past few years. For Jacob’s sake, I had engaged in screaming matches with my father and moved out of my family home. My credit cards had been cut off, and I had forced myself to learn how to be an ordinary girl. I took the subway, ate at cheap diners, and cooked for him in a tiny 500-square-foot studio. I had thought I was fighting for love and standing up against the tyranny of my father. However, as it turned out, I was nothing more than a clown in their script. My father had spent an eight-figure sum to hire a man specifically to disgust me and crush my illusions of romance. For that, he truly was a scheming capitalist. Chapter 2 I went back to our rented apartment. One by one, I tore down the photos covering the wall and fed them into the paper shredder. At eleven o’clock that night, the door clicked open. Jacob pushed the door open, bringing with him a faint woody scent. It was the exact perfume Ruby always wore. He loosened his tie, his brow furrowing slightly as he put on a show of exhaustion. “Nat, get me a glass of water.” In the past, I would’ve rushed over to him out of worry and handed him a glass of water. Now, I just sat on the sofa, completely still. “Get it yourself,” I said, my voice flat. Jacob paused, a look of impatience crossing his eyes. However, he quickly suppressed it, walking over to ruffle my hair. “What’s wrong? Are you mad because I had too much work today and forgot your birthday?” he said dotingly, but his eyes were lifeless. He was simply going through the motions. “No,” I said, tilting my head to avoid his hand. “I forgot too.” Jacob’s hand froze in midair before he slowly pulled it back. Then, he sat down next to me on the couch. “Ruby got back from her business trip today, so I went to pick her up from the airport,” he said, bringing it up voluntarily as if testing the waters. “It’s not easy for her to be on her own. We grew up together, and I can’t just ignore her. Be reasonable, and don’t overthink things.” What a classic line. A perfect mix of belittling and guilt-tripping, all perfectly aligned with Mr. Hill’s KPIs. He was already starting to push the progress bar of breaking my heart. I stared at the face that had made my heart flutter for three years, and my stomach churned. “Sure, I’ll be reasonable,” I said, forcing a smile. Jacob clearly didn’t expect me to be so calm. He blinked in surprise, but then smiled with satisfaction. “I knew you were the best.” With that, he got up to take a shower. Watching him, I pulled out my phone and dialed the number I had blacklisted a long time ago. “Mr. Hill,” I said calmly. On the other end of the line, my father’s voice carried his usual, high-and-mighty authority. “What? Have you had enough of a hard time out there? Are you ready to bow your head?” “I’m willing to consider the arranged marriage,” I replied as I stared out at the neon lights of the city. “But I want to meet Louis Lane myself.” My father laughed. “I’m glad you’ve finally come to your senses. Tomorrow night, there is a private yacht party at Victoria Harbour. The head of the Lane family is not someone to be trifled with, so leave your spoiled heiress attitude at home.” Once the line went dead, I snickered. Louis Lane, the head of Lanes Corporation, was notorious in our circle for being a cold-blooded tycoon. Rumors in the business circles claimed he was decisive, ruthless, and indifferent to women. He was the exact marriage partner my father was so desperate to pack up and ship off to bed. My father figured that by giving me to Louis, he could control me while securing the Lane family’s massive resources. However, what he didn’t know was that I had stopped playing the prey a long time ago. Since the destination was going to be Louis, why should I be the bargaining chip dragged to the negotiating table? If I were going to play, I would be the one sitting at the head of the table, dealing the cards. The night wind at Victoria Harbour carried the salty scent of seawater. Dressed in a striking red gown and holding a glass of champagne, I stood on the second-floor deck of the yacht. Jacob hadn’t looked for me tonight. Instead, he had sent a text saying there was an issue with a project and he had to work through the night. Yet, just moments ago, I had scrolled past a post from Ruby on my feed. It was a photo of two coffee cups with the caption, “With you by my side, working overtime doesn’t feel tiring at all.” I liked the post and locked my screen. Even drama gets boring after a while, and I had much more important things to do tonight. The sound of steady footsteps echoed behind me. I didn’t turn around. I simply watched the tall, commanding figure draw closer through the reflection on the glass door. It was Louis. “Miss Hill, it’s quite windy out here,” said a deep, cold voice behind me. Chapter 3 I turned around, my eyes locking onto his deep, dark gaze. He was wearing a flawlessly tailored black suit, his tie knotted with absolute precision. The man practically radiated an icy, untouchable aura of self-control. “Mr. Lane.” I offered him a gentle smile and took a step forward, closing the distance between us. As the hem of my red dress brushed against his suit trousers, I felt his entire body tense up. “I heard that my father has been bringing up my name to you quite a bit lately, Mr. Lane?” I tilted my head back to look him directly in the eyes and teased him casually. Louis looked down at me, his gaze dark and unreadable. “It seems you’re not particularly thrilled about that, Miss Hill.” “Why wouldn’t I be?” I let out a soft laugh. Holding my champagne glass, I let my fingertips brush against his cufflink as if by accident. “I just think my father’s sales pitch is a bit outdated. Since we’re talking about a potential partnership, why don’t we just cut straight to the chase?” Louis’s gaze fell to my fingertips, and he replied in a deeper voice, “How direct do you want to be, Miss Hill?” “For example…” I leaned in closer, my warm breath brushing against his cheek. “We leave my father out of this and negotiate directly between ourselves. You act as my fiancé in name, helping me swallow Hill Group whole. Once the deal is done, all of Hill Group’s overseas distribution channels will belong entirely to Lane Corporation.” I expected him to weigh the pros and cons, or perhaps even mock me for overestimating myself. After all, to the outside world, I was just a brainless heiress who had run away from home for some poor guy. However, Louis merely took off his glasses and began wiping the lenses in a calm, unhurried manner. “Natalie.” He called me by my name, his voice low and raspy. “Do you have any idea who you’re negotiating with?” With our faces inches apart, I stared into his eyes and said, “With the notorious tycoon of the business world.” I reached out, my fingertips sliding slowly upward until they rested right against the knot of his tie. “Would you take the bet, Mr. Lane?” Louis hesitated for a moment before suddenly grabbing my wrist. His grip was incredibly tight, his dark eyes looking as though they were about to swallow me whole. “Natalie Hill,” he warned, using my full name. “Do you even know what you’re doing? What about that boyfriend of yours?” Without a care in the world, I leaned against his chest. I even went as far as to wrap my arms around his neck. “His contract is about to expire,” I whispered right next to his ear. “Would you like to inspect the goods in advance, Mr. Lane?” Louis’s breath hitched instantly. The hand resting on my waist tensed, and his gaze turned fiercely possessive. Just as I thought he was either going to push me away or lean down to kiss me, the yacht’s party lights caught his face. I saw it clear as day. The notorious tycoon of the business world had ears so red they looked like they were burning. I froze for a second, barely holding back a laugh. As it turned out, beneath that untouchable, icy exterior lay a surprisingly innocent soul. Just as I was about to tease him some more, Louis suddenly let go of me. He pulled off his suit jacket and put it around my shoulders, bundling me up tightly. “Miss Hill, you’re drunk,” he said, his voice raspy as he tried to hold himself back. “I’ll have someone drive you home.” Watching him leave in a hurry, I pulled his warm jacket tighter around myself. The smile in my eyes only deepened. I said to myself, “Louis, you aren’t getting away.” Later that evening, Jacob sent me a message telling me to pick him up from Twilight Bar. By the time I arrived, the private booth was a haze of smoke and alcohol. Jacob was leaning back on the sofa. Sitting right next to him was Ruby, who had a glass of wine in her hand as she delicately fed it to his lips. “Jake, do you really have to waste a whole year dealing with that heiress?” Ruby’s voice wasn’t particularly loud, but it was just loud enough for me to hear from the doorway. Jacob didn’t push her away. He simply looked up and said nonchalantly, “When you take a man’s money, you do what he asks.” The moment they noticed me standing at the door, the booth fell silent. Ruby feigned surprise, shrinking back into Jacob’s chest. “Miss Hill, please don’t misunderstand. I was just joking around with Jake…” Jacob frowned, looking at me with his usual disapproving glare. “What are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you to wait downstairs?” I looked at him. If this had happened in the past, my eyes would have been red with tears as I demanded answers. Now, watching him play his little part, I could only sneer to myself. “It’s raining outside. It’s a little cold,” I replied flatly, suppressing the mockery in my eyes. “If you’re cold, put on more layers. If you can’t even handle this little bit of hardship, how do you expect to survive in the future?” With a cold face, Jacob stood up, took off his jacket, and draped it over Ruby’s shoulders. “Ruby can’t handle the cold. Take a cab back yourself. I’m driving her home.” Holding Ruby close, he brushed past me without a moment of hesitation. As I stood there watching them leave, I couldn’t even bring myself to feel angry. Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Louis, containing an image of a transfer agreement for the core shares of Hill Group with a line of text. [It’s raining. Do you need me to pick you up?] Looking at the screen, the corners of my mouth curled into a smile. [Sure, my fiancé.] Chapter 4 Jacob’s mind games were becoming increasingly blatant. To speed up the process of breaking my heart, he began stepping on my boundaries at every single turn. I was running a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit, shivering all by myself in my rented apartment. I called him, and the call rang six times before he finally picked up. “Jacob, I have a high fever. Can you please take me to the hospital?” My voice sounded incredibly weak. Half of it was from being genuinely sick, and the other half was just me playing along with the script. The background on his end was loud, and Ruby’s laughter came through the speaker as clear as day. “Just take some painkillers. You’re a grown-up. How are you still so needy?” Jacob said impatiently. “Ruby is moving into her new place today, and I can’t leave. Figure it out yourself.” With a click, he hung up on me. I tossed the phone aside and poured myself a glass of water, my face expressionless. Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. Thinking it was the medicine I had ordered online, I pulled open the door, only to find myself stunned. Louis was standing right outside. His suit jacket was draped over his arm, his tie was loosened, and his usually immaculate hair was a little messy. There were even beads of sweat on his forehead. “What are you doing here?” I asked, completely caught off guard. Without saying a word, he took a big step inside, slammed the door shut behind him, and immediately pressed his warm palm against my forehead. “You’re burning up,” he said with his brow furrowed, his voice dropping to a terrifyingly low register. “Get your coat. We’re going to the hospital.” I was carried and put into his car. Once we arrived at the hospital, he handled everything, from getting the IV drip set up to picking up the prescription, with a stone-cold face. He didn’t say a word, but his movements were incredibly gentle. The hospital room was dead quiet. I leaned back against the headboard of the bed, watching him clumsily blow on a spoonful of chicken soup to cool it down before bringing it to my lips. “Do you usually do this for other people?” I couldn’t help but tease before taking a small sip. Louis froze and then lowered his gaze, avoiding my eyes. “Only for my fiancée.” I let out a soft laugh and reached out to poke the back of his hand. It was just a simple gesture, but he recoiled instantly as if an electric shock had struck him. The tips of his ears flushed red, and the blush quickly spread all the way down his neck. “Stop moving around,” he muttered, his voice slightly raspy and betraying his panic. Seeing him flustered, I secretly laughed to myself. My father really managed to pick an absolute gem for me this time. Right then, my father called. “I heard you’re sick, Nat,” he said, his voice filled with fatherly affection. “That broke kid can’t take care of you at all. Once you’ve had enough of playing around, come home. Next Friday is the Hill family’s gala. Attend it with Louis, and use the occasion to finalize the engagement.” “Sure thing, Dad,” I replied obediently as I looked at Louis standing not too far away. “I’ll do whatever you think is best.” After hanging up, I saw a notification showing that Hill Group’s shares had been officially transferred under my name. Well, I hope my father would be able to keep that smile on his face next Friday. Over the next few days, I continued to play the part of the miserable, heartbroken girlfriend suffering through his cold shoulder. Jacob’s attitude toward me had deteriorated to the point of unmasked disgust. He no longer bothered to hide his intimacy with Ruby. He even went so far as to move her toiletries right into our shared bathroom. “The pipes at Ruby’s place burst, so she’s staying here for a few days,” he offered, his explanation incredibly half-hearted. “Don’t start making a scene out of nothing.” Looking at the matching toothbrushes lined up on the sink, I didn’t feel anything. “Okay.” Seeing my calm face, Jacob’s frown deepened. He thought my reaction was odd. According to his script, I was supposed to be crying and screaming. Then, he would use that as an excuse to break up with me and crush my spirit. However, what he didn’t know was that my tears had long since dried up. On Thursday evening, Jacob unexpectedly approached me on his own initiative. “There’s an investment gala tomorrow night, and your father will be there as well,” he said while looking down at me arrogantly. “You’re coming with me.” I lifted my gaze to look at him. I knew that he was about to reel me in. This was the grand finale that my father had scripted for him: to dump me publicly in front of the entire elite social circle, humiliate me, force me to face reality, and make me crawl home to accept the arranged marriage. “Sure,” I smiled softly. “I’ll dress up for it.” Watching my smile, Jacob’s gaze seemed to waver for a second. However, he quickly forced a stern expression on his face again. “Just don’t dress too cheaply. Don’t embarrass me.” Embarrass him? It remained to be seen exactly who would be embarrassed tomorrow night. … On Friday night, the Park Hyatt top-floor ballroom was filled with people dressed in haute couture and the clinking of champagne glasses. Dressed in the custom gown that Louis had sent over, I stood alone in the shadows of a corner. Up on the second-floor VIP balcony, my father swirled his glass of red wine, looking down at the venue. He was waiting for the satisfying show of my total submission. The doors swung open, and Jacob walked in with Ruby on his arm. Ruby was wearing a loud, flashy red dress, while Jacob was clad in a tailored designer suit. He looked absolutely radiant, cutting the perfect figure of a successful young rising star in the investment world. As they walked into the center of the room, they naturally drew quite a few looks. Jacob scanned the crowd and finally spotted me standing in the corner. Leading Ruby along, he walked straight over to me. “Natalie.” Jacob stopped right in front of me. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was just enough for everyone nearby to hear him clearly. His eyes were cold and filled with a patronizing sense of superiority. “Let’s break up.” Ruby hid slightly behind his shoulder, her lips curling into a smug smile as she chimed in with fake sympathy, “Miss Hill, please don’t blame Jake. You can’t force love.” Up on the second-floor balcony, my father swirled his wine glass, looking thoroughly pleased. Jacob continued to deliver his lines perfectly according to the script. “This past year has been exhausting for me. You’re too immature and, frankly, too naive. We just don’t belong in the same world. The one I truly love is Ruby. She understands me far better than you ever could.” He paused for a moment, waiting for me to break down. He was waiting for me to do what I always did in the past—to clutch his sleeve with tear-filled eyes and beg him not to leave. The entire ballroom fell silent. I looked at the face of the man I had once thought was my saving grace and found the entire situation utterly hilarious. Slowly and deliberately, I opened my clutch, drew out a pre-prepared check, and held it out right in front of Jacob’s face under the bewildered stares of the crowd. “Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Grey,” I said calmly. “This is the final payment of two million dollars, covering your acting fees for the past year plus today’s wrap-up scene. We are officially settled.” Jacob froze and stared blankly at the check. “You… What did you just say?”