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

She tossed the laptop aside and turned to Winnie. "I've been looking for a field I enjoy, and artist management and film production are very appealing to me. Would you give me a chance? We could collaborate, with an investment split of 8 to 7. I'll put in 10 million, and the remaining shares will be split 50/50. We can start fresh together."


The actions of young people are inevitably deeply influenced by the figures they admire.


Winnie squinted slightly and looked at Wendy, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity rising in her heart.


Thinking back to her time in Anne's studio, Wendy had always been confident, speaking in a calm and composed manner, as though victory was certain. When she suggested Anne choose Viktor, she had been just as unruffled, never showing any sign of hesitation.


Winnie spoke softly, "Since you want to collaborate with me, you need to tell me your true identity first."


"My surname is Lee," Wendy answered simply.


Chapter 115