Family gatherings were the worst for Lara, especially since her sister, Emily, constantly mocked her love life. Determined to sit through her father’s birthday dinner without humiliation, Lara decided to hire a boyfriend for the night. Little did she know, a romantic comedy was about to play out.

Lara found Jake through an agency, and he seemed perfect. They rehearsed their story, ensuring everything was believable. When they arrived at the dinner, Emily immediately tried to belittle Lara, but Jake’s charm quickly won over the family.

During dinner, Emily made snide remarks, but Jake deflected them with humor and grace. The real turning point came with dessert when Emily made another jibe. Jake stood up, raising his glass to toast Lara, praising her intelligence, kindness, and infectious laugh. Lara felt tears welling up, touched by his words.

After the toast, Lara pulled Jake aside to thank him, but Jake revealed he wasn’t acting. He admitted he had been falling for her since they met and wanted to try a real relationship. Lara, surprised but hopeful, agreed.

Months later, Lara and Jake were still together and happy. They never told the family about how they met, letting them believe Jake had swept Lara off her feet. Emily, surprisingly, apologized for her behavior, revealing she had been bitter due to her own broken engagement.

Lara and Emily’s relationship began to mend, showing that sometimes, the most unexpected events can lead to the most profound changes.