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

Winnie froze for a moment, then softly replied, 'Yes." Her eyes became slightly misty, and tears almost fell, sliding down her cheek and eventually landing on the back of Van's hand.


'Why are you crying so much?" Van gently wiped the tear from under her eye, his tone tinged with a hint of affection.


'I'm best at crying scenes," Winnie answered calmly, a faint smile curling at her lips. 'Who told you not to watch my movies?"


She pursed her lips and smiled slightly.


Van raised his hand slightly, his fingertips brushing her temple, gently gliding across her cheek. 'I have to catch my flight. I need to go. Rest well on the way."


Van got off the plane alone, and Winnie watched him leave, only seeing his tie fluttering in the cold wind, like the storm that had come with him.


The flight attendant couldn't resist teasing, 'Why didn't you kiss him goodbye? Are you embarrassed with me around?"


Chapter 89