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

The private jet took off from the international airport, breaking through the thick evening clouds. The cabin temperature was just right, and even the air oxygen levels were higher than those of a regular commercial plane, providing a perfectly refreshing, cool sensation.


Since Van's private jet travels frequently, the onboard services weren't outsourced to a public charter company but were directly handled by a full crew of his own. The captain, co-pilot, and flight attendants were all his people. They were familiar with his travel needs, personal habits, and work routines, as well as with his associates, Eric, his secretary, and the bodyguards traveling with him.


Noticing Winnie's confused and distracted glances, Van called to her, "Come over here."


Winnie walked over to Van's seat and, with ease, sat down on his lap.


Chapter 71