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

Early on the third day, Winnie arrived at Anne's studio.


Anne's studio was filled with clothes, shoes, and jewelry. Three sides of the room were lined with racks full of dresses, all potential options for Winnie.


Winnie had already looked at the lookbook earlier, so she had a general idea of what to expect for today's outfits. Anne had done her best.


"For an event like the Fashion Gala, with your status, you have to wear haute couture, but I've already asked everything I could..." Anne swiped through the lookbook on her iPad and handed it to her. "Ready-to-wear is no problem. I can offer runway pieces, and I have a few off-season ones as well. But you need to be prepared, ready-to-wear can't compare to the elaborate craftsmanship of haute couture."


"What about Sum from last time?" Wendy asked.


Chapter 70