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 Serengeti plains were in the midst of the rainy season. Life was flourishing, and the scent of spring filled the air. Animals braved the treacherous journey across the Mara River, finally returning to the lush grasslands abundant with water and greenery.


In a local government office, a woman dressed in a traditional long skirt and a vibrant veil was arguing with the clerk behind the counter.


Winnie was on the verge of breaking down, her voice rising in frustration. "I was robbed! My wallet, my passport, my phone—and your damned bus! It was supposed to leave at two, and now it's already three-twenty!" She jabbed her finger at her watch, emphasizing her outrage.


The clerk finally seemed to understand, shrugging nonchalantly and waving his hand. "Miss, here, time has only one hand—the sun. Relax. Don't let your watch control you."


"What?!" Winnie was stunned. "You're saying time doesn't matter?"


Chapter 96