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

As they entered the master bedroom, Winnie couldn't shake the feeling that it was a bit over the top. The room was as spacious as a top-tier hotel's presidential suite, simple yet elegant, with just a bed and a few uniquely designed columns. The floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the entire room, and the cream-colored sofa, contrasting with the vast space, made it seem almost too empty.


Van still held her, sitting on the sofa without any impatience. Winnie, concerned that his legs might start to ache from sitting too long, tried to pull away, but he gently pulled her back into his arms.


"Did I tell you to leave?" Van's tone was calm, though a hint of affection gleamed in his eyes.


"There's someone outside... we'll be seen," Winnie murmured, feeling a bit uneasy.


Chapter 112