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 jeep finally arrived at its destination. It was a research institute primarily focused on protecting wild African elephants, though it also helped with other endangered animal populations.


The rainy season was the time for animal mating and reproduction, so the institute was busy, and only a tall, thin white man came out to greet them. He had gray-white curly hair, appeared to be over sixty, his skin was quite red, and he wore overalls and rubber boots. There was a strong scent of animals about him. Yep... the kind that comes from fresh manure.


"Van, long time no see." He took off his gloves and shook hands with Van, his smile warm and familiar.


Winnie couldn't stop staring. He had definitely just shovelled some poop!


Van shook his hand without a change in expression, even giving him a shoulder pat and a hug.


After the greeting, Van turned around and noticed Winnie had withdrawn into herself.


Chapter 102