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

Although Winnie had already made up her mind, she didn't immediately reply to Van.


Her vacation had officially ended, and on her first day back at work, she was attending a fragrance event for a brand.


Because of the emotions from the night before, she hadn't slept well and was exhausted, so she napped in the back seat. Her neck pillow was piled on her neck, and her head tilted, swaying along with the car's stops, starts, and turns.


Yulia drove, first taking her to her downtown apartment, then switching to the company's Alpha for the rest of the trip.


Wendy was scrolling through her tablet. "Italian luxury brand Greta, this event is focused on their new salon fragrance. I've sent you the schedule earlier, just go over it again."


Winnie could barely keep her eyes open. "Mm."


Chapter 53