The Reluctant Fiancée Hoax follows Olivia Parker, a woman whose life takes an unexpected turn when she agrees to pretend to be engaged to her charming but complicated ex-boyfriend, Ethan Montgomery. As they navigate the complexities of their fake relationship to fend off prying families and an ex-girlfriend determined to stir trouble, Olivia finds herself grappling with her feelings and the thin line between pretense and reality. Amidst unexpected complications and mixed signals, the two must confront their past and decide if what started as a simple hoax could lead to a genuine second chance at love.
Chapter 1 A Proposal Gone Wrong
Ethan Montgomery never imagined his proposal would end in disaster.
Yet here he was, standing in the middle of The Grand Oak, one of the most elegant restaurants in the city, staring at the woman he had planned to spend his life with-only to see panic flicker across her face. The small velvet box in his hand felt heavier than it should. The engagement ring inside, something he had spent months picking out, now felt like a mistake.
A hush had fallen over the restaurant. Conversations had died down, forks and knives had paused mid-air, and all eyes were now on Olivia Reynolds.
The woman who was supposed to say yes.
Instead, she looked as though he had just asked her to walk a tightrope over a pit of fire.
"Ethan..." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but he could hear the unease in it.
His heart pounded. He had expected nerves. He had expected maybe even a few tears. But not this. No hesitation.
"Olivia," he said, keeping his voice steady. "I love you. We've been together for two years, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"
The words hung in the air.
Olivia sucked in a breath.
Her hands gripped the edges of the white linen napkin on her lap.
And then, the worst possible thing happened.
She shook her head.
Not an immediate, forceful no-but a slow, conflicted shake that made his stomach drop.
Oh God.
A murmur rippled through the nearby tables. A waiter holding a tray of champagne flutes hesitated mid-step. Even the pianist in the corner, who had been playing soft background music, seemed to falter over a note.
"Ethan," Olivia said, her voice filled with regret. "I... I can't."
His throat went dry.
She can't?
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
This was the moment where she was supposed to smile through happy tears, say yes, and throw her arms around him. Where the restaurant would break into applause and their love story would take its next perfect step forward.
Instead, he was standing here, ring in hand, as the woman he loved told him she couldn't marry him.
"Olivia," he said, still trying to process what was happening. "What do you mean?"
She closed her eyes briefly before meeting his gaze. "I mean... I'm not ready for this."
His chest tightened. "We've been together for two years."
"I know." She exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "And I love you, Ethan. But marriage? We've never even talked about it."
"I thought it was obvious," he said, voice clipped. "I thought we were serious."
Her lips pressed together. "Seriously, yes. But marriage is a huge step. And this-" She gestured around them, the candlelit table, the champagne bucket, the quiet crowd of spectators hanging onto every word. "This is a lot."
His fingers curled into a fist around the box.
A lot?
He had planned this moment for weeks.
He had imagined this proposal a hundred times in his head.
He had never imagined this.
"So you're saying no." The words felt like acid in his throat.
She hesitated. "I'm saying... not right now."
The distinction didn't matter. It still felt like rejection.
The pity in her eyes was unbearable.
Ethan forced himself to nod. He snapped the box shut, shoved it into his pocket, and reached for his wallet. The moment he dropped a few bills on the table and pushed back his chair, Olivia's eyes widened.
"Ethan, wait-"
But he was already standing, already stepping away. "Enjoy your dinner," he said tightly.
And then he walked out, leaving behind the love of his life, a table full of uneaten food, and the remnants of a shattered dream.
Chapter 1 A Proposal Gone Wrong
16/03/2025
Chapter 2 The Desperate Deal
16/03/2025
Chapter 3 Striking a Bargain
16/03/2025
Chapter 4 Rules of the Pretend Game
16/03/2025
Chapter 5 A Ring and a Lie
16/03/2025
Chapter 6 Facing the Families
16/03/2025
Chapter 7 The Ex Factor
16/03/2025
Chapter 8 Under One Roof
16/03/2025
Chapter 9 Mixed Signals
16/03/2025
Chapter 10 Public Displays of (Fake) Affection
16/03/2025
Chapter 11 Whispers and Wedding Plans
16/03/2025
Chapter 12 Jealousy Sparks Fire
16/03/2025
Chapter 13 Dancing on the Fire
16/03/2025
Chapter 14 A Weekend Getaway Disaster
18/03/2025
Chapter 15 The Almost Kiss
18/03/2025
Chapter 16 When the Lie Feels Real
18/03/2025
Chapter 17 A Heart Divided
20/03/2025
Chapter 18 The Ultimatum
20/03/2025
Chapter 19 A Wedding That Wasn't Supposed to Happen
20/03/2025
Chapter 20 A Truth Too Late
20/03/2025
Chapter 21 Falling for the Hoax
20/03/2025
Chapter 22 Falling for the Hoax
20/03/2025
Chapter 23 The Grand Gesture
20/03/2025
Chapter 24 Happily Ever (For Real) After
20/03/2025
Chapter 25 A Marriage Built on Uncertainty
20/03/2025
Chapter 26 The Cold Reality of Love
21/03/2025
Chapter 27 When Business and Love Collide
21/03/2025
Chapter 28 Olivia's New Life as a Montgomery
21/03/2025
Chapter 29 Past Ghosts Resurface
21/03/2025
Chapter 30 Temptation and Doubts
21/03/2025
Chapter 31 The Business Rivalry Heats Up
21/03/2025
Chapter 32 Love or Obligation
21/03/2025
Chapter 33 The Return of Vanessa
21/03/2025
Chapter 34 When Trust Is Tested
21/03/2025
Chapter 35 A Secret from the Past
21/03/2025
Chapter 36 A Scandal That Could Destroy Everything
21/03/2025