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

Terry's gaze darkened, and after a moment of silence, he said calmly, "Then break the contract."


"Don't you think I'm stupid?" Winnie asked softly.


"Stupid," Terry answered directly, "but it doesn't matter. You're always a smart person, and if you can make this decision, it means Raven hasn't treated you well. How much is the contract termination fee?"


"Compensation and penalty, a total of 150 million. Can you lend me 20 million? I'll pay the rest off within three years."


"Okay, and what about the rest?" Terry asked calmly. "Even with the 20 million, you're still far short."


"The rest..." Winnie gave a self-deprecating smile. "Although some people won't lend me the money, I still have friends. I can always gather the rest."


Chapter 114