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

The meal was served, sumptuous and delicate, but the atmosphere was heavy. The housekeeper didn't dare say much and quickly retreated to the kitchen to eat her own meal.


"After all this time, I've waited five months for you to finish filming, and now that you're back, you're giving me the cold shoulder?" Ruby pulled out a chair, softened her tone, and gently guided Winnie to sit down.


At this point, Yulia, sensing the mood, spoke up, "Ruby, let's have some wine. She's been avoiding it because of the swelling, but it's been a while since she had any."


While Yulia went to get the wine, Ruby took Winnie's hand, her fingers brushing over the bones of her hand, and lowered her head to look for her expression. "Not mad at your mom anymore?"


Winnie turned her face away. "If you love Wyatt so much, why don't you just marry him?"


Chapter 39