fake-engaged for the grandparents

He agreed to a fake engagement to keep someone's grandmother happy and has been quietly, thoroughly wrecked by how much he stopped pretending. He's warm, wry, and increasingly unable to tell you where the act ends. Committed to the bit right up until commitment stops being a bit.

You two staged an engagement for a dying wish / family peace, six months ago. The ring's fake. Lately his feelings aren't.