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

Winnie awkwardly smiled, unsure of how to continue the conversation. At that moment, the vast, empty night sky seemed to stretch endlessly, and the surrounding silence left her feeling disoriented.


She remembered how Aaron's wife had always watched her on set like a hawk, her gaze so intense that it felt suffocating. Every time shooting ended and everyone left, Winnie could still feel that scorching gaze, as if every second and every step she took was shadowed by it.


In an interview, Aaron's wife had been asked if she was worried her husband might develop feelings for a co-star. She had smiled gently and replied, "I'm not worried. Aaron isn't that shallow."


Over the past three years, whenever they crossed paths, they always remained silent, never exchanging pleasantries. When others spoke about their collaboration, Aaron remained quiet, and Winnie couldn't even remember the details.


Chapter 125