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

Winnie tore open a bag of whole wheat crackers, using them to lightly brush away the lingering thoughts and feelings she wanted to avoid.


She was concerned about water retention, so she had only had an iced Americano for breakfast and was now making do with just two pieces of whole wheat crackers to stave off hunger, eating less than the chickens in a grain field.


The event venue was located in a high-end shopping mall in the city center, with a five-star hotel nearby. The area was filled with pink and white roses, and on a white display stand, the new fragrance line was showcased.


As per the schedule, before the event officially started, Winnie needed to participate in some video and photo shoots to prepare content for later publication. After a while, another guest arrived—Evelyn.


Chapter 54