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

When Winnie finished her shower and returned, the bedroom was dimly lit. She walked over to Van's side of the bed, crouched down, and rested her hands on her knees, gazing at him in the faint glow. His features were striking, his profile deeply defined.


Without warning, Van's eyes opened. He grabbed her arm and, in one swift motion, pulled her up and into his embrace.


A soft moan escaped Winnie's lips. The thin silk of her nightwear offered little barrier, and she could feel the heat of his body against hers. Her heart pounded so fiercely it felt as though it might burst.


The soft moan made Van's breath catch, and he could no longer hold back, pulling Winnie into a deep kiss while his other hand began to caress her chest. Van's fingers easily pinched, teasing her nipples. He kissed her from her lips to her neck, from her neck to her collarbone. Moving further down, his kisses stopped, his breathing paused, but the heat remained, scorching against her delicate skin.


Chapter 86