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

Before Winnie could get more gossip, a waiter entered carrying a pile of large boxes. Dust bags, paper bags, and shoe boxes bearing various logos filled the living room to the point where there was barely any space to move. Silk, satin, tulle, sequined, and beaded gowns of all styles were spread across the couch. A few sales assistants were busily using portable steamers to smooth out the wrinkles from transport before hanging the dresses on rolling racks.


Winnie stood there, stunned by the scene before her. Meanwhile, Anna inspected the clothes and explained, 'There are three more batches on the way—everything from red-label to blue-label brands."


Anna checked her watch. 'Since we're short on time and you're still recovering, we won't try everything. Just try on the ones you like."


Chapter 79