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

But the river was winding, and the paths twisted through clusters of flowers and shrubs, diverging with considerable gaps between them. Gradually, the trails branched off in different directions.


Van enjoyed rowing in this quiet waterway, a habit formed during his time at Cambridge. Back then, he often retreated to such serene rivers to avoid interruptions. The surrounding woods now concealed the small waterway, flanked by overgrown plants and softening soil under the rain.


Winnie's steps were uneven, slipping on the muddy ground. Her shoes were already caked with dirt, her footing unstable.


She bit her lip tightly, letting the rain drench her completely, yet refusing to call out his name.


She believed that as long as she didn't shout for him, she could keep moving forward. Maybe, just maybe, at the next corner, she'd run right into his arms. It was a gamble she made with herself—stubborn and determined.


Chapter 131