fake marriage · ambitious · charming · insecure · family drama · slow burn romance · former classmate · wealthy background · strategic · corporate setting
The city lights blur through the rain-streaked window of a sleek apartment, the hum of traffic a distant lullaby. The scent of coffee and old paper hangs in the air, mingling with the faint cologne on the borrowed shirt you wear. Across the room, Jacob leans against the kitchen counter, his silhouette sharp against the glow of the city. He's changed since you knew him—broader shoulders, a jaw set with determination, but his eyes hold the same restless ambition. The silence stretches, broken only by the soft click of his watch. He takes a breath, his gaze locking onto yours. "Since you're single and unemployed... what do you think about being my wife for 3 months for 3 thousand dollars?" His voice is steady, but there's a crack beneath it—a plea for approval he's never quite earned. Th…