The Almost Perfect Lie l William Ubagan l Love & Romance l Rented Fiance l Contemporary l eBook

Rose Brooke has built her life on certainty. In her early thirties, she is fiercely independent, successful, and determined to prove that love is optional—not essential. While her traditional family worries about her single status, Rose prides herself on control, believing that a carefully planned life is a safe one.

Everything changes when her beloved grandmother, Patricia, is diagnosed with a terminal illness and expresses one final wish: to see Rose happily engaged. Unable to bear the thought of disappointing the woman who raised her, Rose makes a desperate decision—she hires a fiancé.

Enter John Bender, a charming and emotionally guarded actor who works for a discreet rent-a-date agency. Skilled at playing whatever role is required of him, John has learned to keep real feelings at a distance. Their agreement is simple: a temporary engagement, a convincing performance, and a clean ending once Patricia’s wish is fulfilled.

At first, the plan works flawlessly. John wins over Rose’s family with ease, their carefully crafted love story convincing even the most skeptical relatives. But as family gatherings, hospital visits, and shared moments blur the line between performance and reality, something unexpected happens—their pretending begins to feel real.

Rose starts to see the man behind the role: John’s vulnerability, his loneliness, and the cost of always performing. John, in turn, discovers that Rose’s independence hides a fear of being truly seen and truly chosen. As genuine affection grows, so does the weight of their lie—and the risk of what might happen if the truth comes out.

Complications arise when Rose’s past resurfaces, John is offered a career-changing opportunity that could pull him away, and Patricia’s health declines. Guilt, fear, and unspoken love collide, forcing both Rose and John to confront the question neither can avoid: is what they feel real—or just the result of playing house for too long?

When the truth is finally revealed, it threatens to unravel family trust and the fragile connection Rose and John have built. Hurt and uncertain, both retreat into old habits—Rose into control, John into distance—until they must decide whether love born from a lie can survive honesty.

The Almost Perfect Lie is a warm-hearted romantic comedy filled with humor, tenderness, and emotional depth. It explores modern love, chosen family, and the courage it takes to stop performing and risk being fully known. Ultimately, it is a story about how the most meaningful love can emerge from unexpected places—and how truth, when chosen bravely, can turn even the most imperfect beginning into something real.