***This is BOOK 2 under the FAKE DATING SERIES***
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COPYRIGHT NOTICE:
All Rights Reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored, transmitted, adapted, translated, or distributed in any form or by any means, including but not limited to electronic, digital, or online media, without the prior written consent of the author. Unauthorized use, duplication, or dissemination of any part of this work will constitute a violation of copyright law and may result in legal action.
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Shanaya Thakur had a plan! 

A neatly color-coded, perfectly curated, bullet-journal-approved kind of plan. The kind of plan with checkboxes, motivational quotes scribbled in the margins, and an unhealthy number of post-its. She was going to become Mumbai’s best, boldest, badass lawyer, land a coveted job at the ridiculously prestigious BR Advocates — a firm so elite it practically air-kissed lesser mortals — and slowly take over the world, one perfectly argued case at a time.

Shanaya wasn’t just ambitious.  She was capital-A Ambitious.  

And maybe a little dramatic, excessively sarcastic, and allergic to bullshit. 

So naturally, when she nailed every single requirement BR Advocates asked for — top of her class? Check. Ruthless work ethic? Double check. A sharp tongue capable of verbally decimating anyone who doubted her? Triple, sparkly check — she figured the job was practically hers.

Until the firm pulled a surprise. A New hiring rule: Only experienced, married applicants will be considered.

Married? As in, spouse? Legal binding married? 

She blinked.

Holy crap!

And sure, Shanaya might have aggressively whispered ‘burn it all down’ under her breath in the middle of HR’s lobby. And yes, she might have chucked a high heel at her vision board. But desperation breeds creativity. And Shanaya Thakur? She was nothing if not dangerously creative when backed into a corner.

Which is how the idea was born.

Find a husband! 
Any husband! 
In two weeks.

Which brings us to Yuvaan Grewal: Six-foot-something of maddening calm, devastating looks, and a talent for making tailored suits look illegal. President of Sauvé, one of India’s most successful product companies, Yuvaan is brilliant, emotionally detached, and permanently single — by choice.

A choice his mother hates.

After dodging fifty arranged proposals, eighty dates, and roughly a hundred aunties armed with lovely girls from nice families, Yuvaan’s perfected the art of politely refusing romance and staying unmarried.

Until one scandal, a series of hilariously unfortunate coincidences, and one very desperate law graduate with excellent cheekbones land them both in a situation neither of them asked for:

A fake marriage.

It’s supposed to be simple. A business arrangement. A temporary fix.

But with Shanaya’s sharp mouth, Yuvaan’s smoldering glares, and a growing list of almost-kisses they both pretend not to remember — things are about to get complicated.

Because what happens when the one person you swear you can’t stand starts feeling alarmingly like home?

And Love ? That was never part of the plan. 

But then again… when is it ever?

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DISCLAIMER: The book contains mature content, so please read under the parental guidance. Also, the cover illustration belongs to original creator. NOT me. The cover page was modified using online tools. The story is slow burn, so please bear with the plot. 
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Let's cut the pleasantries and get down to business, shall we? If you're reading this, congratulations—you've survived the literary rollercoaster I've put you on so far. You're deep in this story, craving updates like a law student craves caffeine during finals. And trust me, I feel you. That's no crime—yet.


But here's the deal: life's been a hotmess. I'm juggling a thousand things—deadlines, drafts, existential dread—you name it. Long story short: I won't be able to bless you with new chapters for a month. Yep, a whole 30 days. Go ahead, roll your eyes, shake your fist at the screen—I'll allow it. Just don't lose hope on me yet. Good things come to those who wait, remember?


Now, for the fine print. I'm officially moving this book to Scrollstalk. That's right—Scrollstalk. All the chapters up to 12? Free as air. After that—starting from Chapter 13—it's gonna cost you. But don't panic, I'm not trying to rob you blind; the price will be totally reasonable, like your favorite coffee order.


So, if you want to keep following this wild ride, hop over to Scrollstalk. I'll drop the link once the updates start flowing—after my brief hiatus.


Meanwhile, stalk me on Instagram for all the juicy updates and sneak peeks: [@quillfame_29].


Thank you for your endless love, patience, and that fierce loyalty that makes this all worth it.


Chapter 13 - Author's Note