NewEraCulture

A high-society romance where pretense turned into reality.
 
Van, the heir to a top-tier fortune and a regular on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, had been mocked for being perpetually single, with even rumors swirling about his "dysfunction."
 
Winnie, a Hollywood superstar desperate to escape her constant barrage of scandals, encountered this billionaire worth tens of billions. To her surprise, Van presented her with an unexpected proposal:
 
"Pretend to date me for a year. You won't have to do anything else. I'll pay you $100 million after taxes."
 
She planned to laugh it off but couldn't ignore the man's chiseled features—the way his shadowed face was lit up as he casually raised an eyebrow and lit a cigarette in the glow of firelight, his voice steady and laced with danger.
 
She remembered their first meeting in a torrential downpour—the man reclining in a silver Maybach, eyes half-closed, exuding charm yet utterly unattainable. She also remembered later, when everyone had believed him to be unshakable and untouchable, he had appeared alone, worn and weary, at her remote desert film set, quietly asking:
 
"Do you really have to shoot this kiss scene?"
 
Behind this contract lay something far deeper than money—a fixation, a love that had turned real, or perhaps an irresistible force neither of them had recognized.
 
$100 million had set the stage for a high-stakes battle of love and hate that would ultimately unravel.

A Love Confession from Las Vegas

Van had just finished a round of golf with the chairman of TRENDEE, Kingswell.


The autumn afternoon sun was intense, but not as blinding as in the summer. The two of them returned to the shade of the canopy to rest, while their subordinates and the caddies put away their umbrellas and stood off at a distance.


"I was in Las Vegas last month and had a rare chance to catch up with your father. From what he said, it seems he's still reluctant to let you come to L.A. and expand your business here," Kingswell chatted casually.


"Please don't mind," Van gave a small smile. "In the past couple of years, my father and I have grown to be somewhat at odds. Now that I'm in LA, he's probably breathing a sigh of relief."


Kingswell chuckled warmly. "I remember how your father was really struggling with your marriage situation. So, how about it? Any new ladies in the picture?"


When an elder asks about marriage and relationships, it's usually a sign of further inquiries.


Chapter 21