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

Wyatt sat in the car smoking, looking down at Yulia from above. "Morning."


Such a casual greeting left Yulia momentarily speechless. She quickly asked, "Are you looking for Winnie?"


"Open the door first," Wyatt commanded.


Yulia hurried back to the car, and just as Winnie woke up, she heard her say, "How did Wyatt get here? He must have found out from the company."


The electric gate slowly opened, and the SUV in front drove in. Yulia turned the steering wheel and sluggishly followed behind.


Winnie's gaze stayed fixed on the back of Wyatt's car for a long time. Eventually, she sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Forget it. Just call him and tell him to wear a mask."


Chapter 42