Chapter 1

Penelope MonroeWeddings had always been my escape. Something about organizing every intricate detail and crafting that perfect day made me feel like I had control, when life had otherwise thrown me curveballs. Financial struggles? Check. Heartbreaks? Check. A series of almost-but-not-quite successes? Definitely. In the wedding world, I was the queen, clipboard in hand, calling all the shots. Here's your passage with a smoother flow, sharper wit, and a bit more punch:My phone rang for the third time, Tara again."Penny, I know you're in a meeting, but—" she started, her voice edged with nerves.I pressed the elevator button, silently praying the call wouldn't drop. "Penny, I know, we haven't paid the office rent, the vendors are breathing down our necks, and they've been patient only because they respect you. But now they need the money, and they're only giving us one more month."I exhaled, my grip tightening around my phone. "Don't stress. I'll handle it—like I always do." Even

Last Updated : 2026-04-14

Chapter 2

Penelope Monroe The clock flashed 7:00 AM as I lazily brushed my teeth, already dreading the day ahead. Today, I had to meet him, the arrogant asshole who had made me wait over a month for a meeting that should have been important enough for him to prioritize. But no, to him, this was just another business transaction.The audacity of it made my blood boil.I finished brushing and glanced at the weighing scale in the corner of my room. I hated that thing. Especially now, knowing I had gained at least ten pounds after Christmas.And all because of plum cakes. Once I start eating them, there's no stopping me. It's like they possess me. But honestly, I don't discriminate, I love sweets, I love savoury. If food had a dating profile, I'd swipe right every time. It's the love of my life, and everything else is just background noise, which isn't a good thing as my metabolism is very slow.But none of that mattered right now. What mattered was the fact that I had to face Ethan Rutherford tod

Last Updated : 2026-04-18

Chapter 3

Penelope MonroeI stood in front of the mirror, staring at the pile of dresses I had tried on and discarded. Nothing felt right. Everything looked too forced, too much or too little, and I had no idea why I was suddenly overthinking something as simple as what to wear.I knew why.I hadn't dated anyone in three years. No dates, no flings, not even a drunken mistake that I could chalk up to bad decisions. Nothing. And now, here I was, stuck in a self-imposed dry spell, all while working alongside one of the most frustratingly attractive men I had ever met.It was unfair.My life was already complicated enough without dealing with Ethan Rutherford. The man was impossible—ruthless, detached, logical to the point of insanity. And yet, he was so effortlessly handsome that it made my head spin. He exuded power, the kind of confidence that was both aggravating and dangerously appealing.I finally settled on a simple green dress, something understated but elegant. I didn't need to stand out t

Last Updated : 2026-05-21

Chapter 4

Penelope Monroe I curled up on my couch, hugging Ethan's blazer tighter around me, my fingers gripping the expensive fabric like it was some kind of security blanket. The scent of him, rich cedar, a hint of leather, something warm and masculine: wrapped around me, filling my senses, making it impossible to focus on anything else. I took another sip of wine, exhaling heavily. What the hell am I doing? I should have taken this thing off the second I got home. I should have tossed it on the chair and forgotten about it. But instead, here I was wrapped up in him, inhaling him like some love-struck idiot. I groaned, rubbing my face. I am too old for this. I wasn't some teenager pining over my first crush. And yet, the way Ethan had touched me earlier, the way his hands had lingered, the way his eyes had darkened when my dress strap had snapped, I let out another frustrated groan. This was going to be a problem. My phone buzzed on the coffee table, snapping me out of my spiralling t

Last Updated : 2026-05-21

Chapter 5

Penelope MonroeI had decided to hold my second meeting with a prospective bride in an environment I knew he'd like. This time, I was playing my own psychological tricks on him. I had studied my client meticulously, and now, I was giving him exactly what he wanted.Because no matter how much I tried to deny it, something was happening between us, something I couldn't afford to let spiral out of control. I needed to find him someone, fast. I needed to end this torturous back and forth before I did something really stupid."So, where's the handsome devil?" My junior associate, Tara, asked with a giggle. She was like a younger sister to me, and I had brought her along today for one sole reason to keep things strictly business."Don't call him that. He's just a client," I muttered, trying to sound indifferent."Yeah, but this is literally a business luncheon. Why are we doing this here?" she asked, waving a hand at the fancy venue, clearly unimpressed."Because," I smirked, leaning back,

Last Updated : 2026-05-21

All Chapters of The Borrowed Bride : Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5