Sophia shouted, "You've done something dirty yourself, admit it! Why should I regret anything?"Emily nodded, glancing at Nathan.Her gaze made Nathan uneasy. "Is this about me?""Yes," Emily nodded. "Your grandfather arranged for us to marry to protect you and the Reed family.""Hah!" Sophia sneered. "Don't make yourself out to be so noble. You're just a poor girl. What can you do to protect the Reed family?"Emily remained unfazed, just looking at her quietly."The Reed family really does need me," Emily said. "Even though I'm a poor girl, I can keep a secret.""What secret?"Nathan asked. After four years of marriage with Emily, he had no idea there was still a secret between them.However, Emily's current expression gave him a bad feeling."Nathan has oligozoospermia.""What?!""What..."Nathan and Sophia both stood frozen in place. One surprised, the other bewildered, their expressions grim.Emily sighed and continued, "If you insist on forcing me to reveal the truth, then I will
Grace's words caught Sophia off guard.She knew Emily had a new man and was pregnant.Last time she needed a blood transfusion, Emily was supposed to donate blood, but then she was found to be pregnant, so she didn't donate.But..."No, Mom," Sophia shook her head. "Her new man is a faceless fugitive. Carol told me, he's definitely not someone from high society."Grace was a bit surprised to hear this. "He doesn't show his face?""Yeah," Sophia said. "He rarely appears. Carol and Nathan have seen him once. He wears a white mask and never reveals his face. If he were wealthy, Emily would want to show him off!"Grace pondered for a moment. Sophia was right.If this man held power and influence, Emily would surely flaunt him, rather than constantly helping him conceal his identity."There are two possibilities," Grace said."Which two?" Sophia asked anxiously."First, this person's identity is unsightly. He could be a fugitive, or there could be another reason. If he were to show his fac
Inside the haunted house, Emily entered a new room, still eerie and terrifying.Through a narrow passage, Emily entered a second chamber, themed with a vampire motif. The walls and air were filled with dim green light, and thorns lined the path. Her dress was torn by the thorns, and her legs had several scratches. Although she couldn't see them clearly in the darkness, she felt a faint sting."Herry?" Emily called softly. "Are you here?"There was still no answer.Nathan walked behind her, shielding her with his arm to prevent her from hitting the walls. "Herry is eleven years old. If he was scared, he would have shouted for help. If you haven't heard him, then he's probably not here."Emily pushed away his arm and groped to the side.The switch in the last room was in a relatively obvious position, just behind the door. Where could the switch for this room be?Herry was an eleven-year-old boy, and his height only reached Emily's shoulders. If he could find the exit himself, the switc
Nathan's expression changed.Taking advantage of this, Emily turned around and continued searching for an exit."Sob sob..."The crying of a child intermittently echoed. Emily listened carefully for a while but couldn't pinpoint its exact location.However, Nathan didn't make any inappropriate moves. He stood alone with his arms crossed in the shadows, lost in thought.Emily couldn't be bothered with him. She could hear the child crying, indicating that Herry shouldn't be far away. If she spoke, Herry should be able to hear her."Herry! Can you hear me?"The crying abruptly stopped.Emily pondered for a moment, unsure if Herry stopped crying upon hearing her voice."Herry? If you hear me, please respond!"Still, there was no reply.Emily felt a bit discouraged."Perhaps this kid dislikes you. He probably doesn't want to interact with you," Nathan murmured softly. After the blow from Emily just now, he didn't look too good, his face clouded. "Why don't you leave? Let Sophia come in. Sh
Emily remained silent, and Jackson furrowed his brow. He was about to retort when Emily tugged at his sleeve.She shook her head, signaling for him not to confront Logan Morgan over such a trivial matter.Despite Logan Morgan's conservatism, he was a renowned designer. If their relationship soured, Logan might target Allen Parker's company, and that would be problematic.Grace intervened with a smile, "Let's not talk like that, dear. Emily is a good girl; she couldn't have such thoughts. Come, Emily, please have a seat.""I'll stand," Emily replied, glancing over at Sophia seated next to Logan Morgan. She spoke softly, "Herry ran into the haunted house alone. He refused to leave with me. Since he dislikes me so much, I had to come out and find you."Sophia was taken aback. "Me?""Yes," Emily said. "You see, Herry has always disliked me. No matter what I say, he won't come out with me. That's why I came to find you."Recalling the unpleasant memories from in the haunted house, Sophia h
Emily glanced back. Logan Morgan was still sulking, and Grace was quietly saying something to Sophia, apparently instructing her about something.Emily reminded herself to be cautious. They might be discussing a new plan to deal with her.Ring ring ring—She received a text message: [Keep your distance from Sophia — Satan]Emily glanced at it, nodded, and put her phone away.Sophia also noticed it, lightly teasing, "You must have quite a charm. Jackson just left, and you're already getting texts from him?"Emily gave her a cold look, her expression unchanged. "It's none of your business."Sophia lowered her gaze, looking at her belly, her tone softening. "Emily, I was too impulsive in the haunted house earlier. I haven't treated you well, and I apologize.""No need. I don't accept that apology."Emily became wary. Sophia, who had just been hysterical, suddenly apologized; she must be planning something.Sophia's demeanor completely changed. Her plea carried a hint of grievance. "Emily
Not far away, Sophia was straining to listen to Emily's phone conversation.But Emily didn't say anything useful, just a few "yes" responses that didn't reveal much.Mr. Satan said, "From now on, don't hang up the phone. Describe to me everything you see in the haunted house, one by one, and I'll help you find the switches."Emily took a deep breath to calm herself.She looked around and described the scene to him, "It's a circular area, vampire-themed. There are lots of bats and dry branches..."Mr. Satan paused for a moment and whispered, "Vampires are symbols of demons. Look carefully, do you see anywhere with pentagrams?"Sophia finally heard Emily speak and approached gently, "Who are you talking to on the phone?"Emily immediately stepped back, keeping an appropriate distance, and focused on finding the pentagrams.Soon, she found a pentagram-shaped necklace above a table."I found it, it's a necklace.""Good," Mr. Satan continued, "Do you see any completely dark areas around yo
Watching Sophia being forcibly lifted onto the stretcher and escorted out of the haunted house by the staff, Emily finally breathed a sigh of relief.The phone call was still ongoing.Mr. Satan chuckled lightly, "Have you considered a career in entertainment?"Emily blinked, "What?""Your acting skills are great. If you became an actress, you'd have a bright future."Emily pursed her lips, "You're just teasing me."Mr. Satan said, "I just feel gratified. You're becoming more confident now, like a female warrior."Emily sighed inwardly.Before marrying Nathan, she truly was a female warrior.Her family was very poor. She had to do several jobs to earn money.Back then... she was truly a tough woman. But since she married Nathan, she has become weaker and weaker. A bad marriage can break a person."Am I boring?" She remembered what Nathan had said earlier, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I'm not like Sophia, I don't know how to win men's favor.""You don't need to be like her, Emily. Yo
One year later. The house was filled with the soft glow of Christmas lights, their gentle hues dancing across the living room. Emily and Vincent had transformed their home into a cozy haven, with garlands, twinkling lights, and an extravagant Christmas tree that sparkled from every angle. The scent of cinnamon and pine mingled in the air as holiday music played softly in the background, creating a festive, heartwarming atmosphere. This Christmas, their first as a married couple, felt like the beginning of something truly beautiful, a peaceful moment carved from the chaos they’d left behind. Guests began to arrive, the first among them being Allen and Olivia, who had just returned from their honeymoon. They entered, hand-in-hand, faces glowing with happiness. Olivia had transformed over the last year. Now a poised and capable woman, she’d embraced her role in helping Allen manage the family business, but her girlish side was still evident. “Emily!” Olivia squealed as she hugged her f
"Three years ago, I nearly died." Emily snatched her passport back from Sophia’s hand. "This British couple is my family. They’re good people. They saved me and took me to England."She held the passport firmly. "And yet, you still wouldn’t let me go. You went to every length to forge my death certificate.""Do you all want to know why they wouldn’t leave a ‘dead’ woman alone?" Emily let out a bitter laugh. "Because this was their only chance to inherit the wealth I left behind.""I didn’t die; I’m alive and back to reclaim what’s rightfully mine. This time, no one will hurt me. Sophia, you and your mother won’t steal my inheritance, and you won’t ruin my wedding. Now, the ceremony continues."Satan stood in the grand hall, watching the strong, fearless woman Emily had become, a wave of unspeakable joy rising within him. His woman had become powerful.Dressed in a white gown, Emily walked slowly toward Satan, accompanied by Bert. The small diamonds on her gown sparkled under the light
“I know,” Emily said firmly.When Vincent slid the ring onto her finger, she felt a flash of disbelief. She’d expected Sophia to pull something, but Vincent’s unwavering stance took her by surprise. It’s over—everything’s finally over.Emily’s eyes glistened with tears.The priest’s voice resonated, “The groom may now kiss the bride…”Emily lowered her head, tears shimmering on her lashes. Vincent leaned in, kissing away the tear before it fell.Applause thundered through the church, and the priest laughed. “Go on, kiss her; she’s yours now.”Vincent didn’t hesitate, pulling Emily into a kiss. “You’re my wife, Emily. Finally.”Emily smiled through her tears. “Yes, I’m finally your wife.”Vincent turned with Emily still in his embrace, facing the crowd. “Emily and I are together now, and nothing will ever come between us again.”The guests watched, Meggie wiping tears of joy from her eyes.But Sophia wasn’t about to let things end on such a perfect note. Her face twisted with such fury
Dylan was right.Three days later, Emily Carter and Vincent Norman were to be married. With Meggie as the wedding’s head organizer, invitations bore Emily's name, revealing to everyone that Miranda—the talented designer making waves at the Pritzker Architecture Prize—was indeed Emily.The announcement stunned all of New York and the entire architecture community. So Miranda is really Emily? People couldn’t believe the city’s most eligible bachelor, Vincent, had been swept off his feet so quickly.The Norman family, known for their longstanding legacy, hosted an extravagant guest list. Alex greeted everyone warmly, while Mandy barely cracked a smile. She was still fuming—she’d barely started her schemes with Grace to find Vincent a “suitable” bride, only to be blindsided by this wedding! She muttered, “Wasn’t he supposed to be so deeply in love with Emily? Now he’s marrying someone else so fast?”Meggie overheard and firmly replied, “The bride is Emily.”“Oh, come on, Mom. She’s not—”
Emily suddenly felt super self-conscious. “Fine, I’ll drink it. But after I’m done, go back to your office!”With that, she tilted her head back and gulped down the entire glass of lemon water in one go. She quickly shoved the empty glass back into Vincent's hands, saying, "There, all done!"Vincent's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Great. Come to my office at lunchtime," he said with a hint of mischief.Emily frantically tried to signal him with her eyes, mouthing, “People are watching!”Vincent seemed completely unfazed and continued, “It’s freezing outside, so don’t go out. I already asked Dylan to pick up lunch for us; he’ll bring it up, and we’ll eat together.”“...Okay.”He’s gotta be done now, right? Emily thought to herself, hoping he’d leave before the entire office saw this unfold live.“Oh, one more thing,” Vincent added nonchalantly, “Don’t rush off after work. We’ll swing by and pick up your uncle first, then head to my place for dinner with my dad and Meggie.”Emily blink
As soon as Allen left the hospital room, Jackson turned pale and, with a sudden heave, threw up everything he’d just eaten, leaving a mess on the floor.The young nurse, no older than twenty, panicked and rushed toward the door to call a doctor, but Jackson stopped her. “Stay,” he commanded.The nurse looked at him with wide eyes, almost on the verge of tears as she saw his ashen face. “Sir, if you’re unwell, you really should let the doctor check—”“I’m not unwell,” Jackson replied, his voice cold, with a glint of harshness in his eyes. The nurse flinched slightly at his intense gaze.“Are you scared of me?” he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.“N-no, not at all,” the nurse stammered, shaking her head. “It’s just…”“Don’t worry about it,” he said, a faint sneer forming. “Fear is natural. I’ve never been the nicest person, and I don’t pretend to be.”“Oh no, you’re a good person, sir! You… well, you pay me well,” she replied hesitantly.“Money alone doesn’t make someone good,” Jacks
The projects across the company were running smoothly. Ken managed the technical aspects, and Daniel handled administration and overall decision-making. Even during Satan's three-year absence, The Great Wall Group retained its position as New York’s leading business powerhouse.As Emily browsed the recent news on her phone in the car, it was clear the city was engulfed in Christmas cheer, bright and bustling.Satan glanced over. “Any plans for Christmas?”She paused. “Not really. I’ll probably just stay in and watch TV with Bert.”He nodded without pressing further. Emily wondered what had prompted him to ask; he’d usually spend Christmas with his family.A slight smile crept across her face, but her expression held a tinge of sadness. The people in her life seemed to be growing fewer by the year. Christmas used to be difficult but joyful, a shared warmth despite the hardships. This year, it felt especially lonely. Sophia had long severed ties with the family, and William was gone. It
Jackson cut her off. “Then let me take you to meet my family! You’re amazing—they just don’t know you yet. Once they do, they’ll definitely support us being together. That way, we won’t have to choose, and we can stay together, right?”“What if they still don’t agree?”“I’ll talk to them. I’m committed to you for life. They’ll have to come around, whether they agree or not!”Emily couldn’t help but laugh. “But I don’t agree.”Jackson felt a pang of panic. He tried to sit up to reach her hand, but his body was still confined by the plaster, immobilizing him completely, and he was forced to lie back down. “Emily, are you worried because my parents don’t like you? If I love you, their initial reservations don’t matter; they’ll come to accept it.”“That’s part of it,” Emily admitted, “but there’s a more important reason…”A sinking feeling came over Jackson. “…What is it?”……Weather forecasts are rarely reliable, but this time, it turned out to be spot on.By evening, the sky was filled
Emily didn’t say anything, but her mind was a mess.“You don’t need to say so many sentimental things,” she replied softly. “For Meggie’s sake, I’ll go through with the wedding. Don’t worry.”“But I don’t want a fake wedding,” Satan replied. “I want it to be real.”The elevator stopped on the ground floor.Emily stepped out first, and unlike the warmth of the room upstairs, cold snowflakes were now drifting down outside, and the air felt sharp against her skin, like knives slicing across her face.Standing at the Hilton’s entrance, she asked, “Did you drive here?”“I took a cab.”“Did you sneak out again?”Satan shrugged with a wry smile. “Dylan’s been keeping too close an eye on me.”With no other option, Emily walked to the curb and flagged down a taxi for him, signaling for him to hurry up.“To St. Mary’s Hospital, please,” she instructed, then turned back to him. “When you get there, have Dylan call me to let me know you arrived safely, okay?”He nodded. “And what about you? What