Story-[7]

Seven Days to Fall in Love

Day 1

Lillian Williams had always believed love was something that happened to other people—until she found herself sitting across from Ethan Montgomery, listening to the most ridiculous proposal of her life.

He was her senior in university two years ago and she never heard of him being involved with someone so if came off as strange.

"I need a fake girlfriend for a week," he said, stirring his coffee like this was a normal conversation. "Seven days. No strings attached."

Lillian raised an eyebrow. "And why exactly would I agree to that?"

Ethan leaned forward. "Because my ex, who dumped me for my best friend, just invited me to their engagement party. If I show up alone, I look pathetic. If I bring you, I look like I've moved on." He shrugged. "You get free fancy dinners and a getaway weekend. I get my dignity intact."

She laughed. "Wow. You've really thought this through."

"I prefer to call it strategic planning."

It was reckless. Ridiculous. Exactly the kind of thing Lillian didn't do. But he knew her too well and had planned everything for this day.

And yet, something in Ethan's hopeful smirk made her say: "Fine. Seven days. But I expect there is nothing more. "

Day 2

Their first public appearance as a "couple" was at a dinner party with Ethan's friends. Lillian expected awkwardness, but Ethan was annoyingly smooth.

He draped an arm around her shoulders like it belonged there, whispered inside jokes in her ear, and even called her "Lilli" like they had been dating for years.

"You two are adorable," one of the guests cooed. "How did you meet?"

Lillian hesitated.

Ethan smiled. "At a bookstore. We reached for the same copy of Pride and Prejudice."

Lillian turned to him in surprise. That wasn't true—but it was a good story.

"And he let you have it?" the woman asked.

"Of course not," Ethan said , with a knowing glance, winking. "I made her fight for it."

Lillian laughed, despite herself. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

Day 3

Lillian wasn't supposed to enjoy this.

She wasn't supposed to feel the warmth of Ethan's hand on hers or the way her heart skipped when he leaned in just a little too close.

But then came the moment—a quiet street, a lingering gaze, and the way Ethan's fingers brushed against her cheek like he had forgotten this wasn't real.

She thought he was going to kiss her.She thought that she wanted him to.

Instead, he pulled away. "We should go," he said, his voice unreadable. And she wasn't sure if she felt relieved or disappointed.

Day 4

"I was supposed to marry her, you know," Ethan admitted that night, his voice softer than usual.

Lillian looked at him. "What happened?"

Ethan sighed. "She realized she loved someone else."

Lillian frowned. "That must've hurt."

Ethan let out a dry laugh, as his previous relationship only lasted less than a year and they were introduced by friends. "Yeah. But the worst part? I think I knew. Even before she did."

Lillian's heart ached a little. She hadn't expected to like Ethan. But she did. And that was a problem, a huge one at that.

Day 5

Lillian wasn't sure when the fake part of this arrangement started feeling a little too real.

Maybe it was when Ethan laughed at her bad jokes like they were the best thing he'd ever heard. Maybe it was when he ordered her favorite dessert without asking as if he knew what she liked.

Or maybe it was when she saw Ethan's ex at the engagement party, looking too happy to see him.

"Ethan," the ex—Sophia—purred. "It's been too long."

Lillian expected Ethan to falter, but he just squeezed her hand. "Not really," he said smoothly. "Lilli keeps me busy."

Sophia's gaze shifted to Lena, assessing. "She's beautiful. You're lucky."

"I know," Ethan said, without hesitation.

Lillian's heart stuttered. This was pretense. Just pretending. Then why did it feel like it wasn't? As if sbe was missing something.

Day 6

It hit Lillian all at once—like a glass shattering in slow motion. She wanted this to be real.

She wanted Ethan to hold her hand because he wanted to, not because people were watching.

She wanted the way he looked at her to mean something.And the scariest part?

She wasn't sure if Ethan felt the same.

Day 7

Their deal ended at midnight. Seven days, no strings attached.

Lillian should have walked away. Instead, she found herself standing in Ethan's doorway, heart pounding.

"I think I made a mistake," she blurted.

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Did you?"

She took a deep breath. "Yeah. Because I don't think I was pretending. And I don't think you were either."

Silence.

Then, Ethan smiled—a real, breathtaking smile.

"Lilli," he murmured, stepping closer, "do you really think I'd let you go after just seven days?"

And this time, when he kissed her, there was nothing pretend about it.

...

And after a few months, they got married and after many years did she came to know the truth of their relationship. He had liked her from their student days and his ex relationship was in his early uni days, so when she entered they had already broken up.

These things she found in his study- an album filled with her candid shots.