Amanda smiled, unsure of how to respond to Emily's words.Right now, the concert was the most important thing. She needed to complete this concert before thinking about how to pay Emily."Okay, we'll talk after the concert. Please wait backstage for Lucas's touch-up.""Alright."After Amanda left, Emily finally breathed a sigh of relief.She had almost rushed into the VIP room just now, but fortunately, Allen Parker had stopped her. Allen Parker said they were short of makeup artists and asked Emily to do Lucas's makeup.Emily understood why Allen Parker entrusted her with such an important task. It was all because of Mr. Satan.Even professional makeup artists only get to do makeup for the backup dancers on their first job. She was just an amateur, yet she was allowed to do Lucas's makeup. This meant that Allen Parker trusted her.In other words, Allen Parker trusted Mr. Satan.Outside, the cheers of fans erupted, and the music and lights started simultaneously, marking the official
In the VIP room.Nathan stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, saying nothing.The atmosphere in the entire VIP room dropped to freezing point, and the air pressure seemed to decrease.Sophia waved her hand at the makeup artists, saying, "You guys can leave now."Nathan still didn't react, his hands in his pockets, staring out the window with a dark expression."Nathan..." Sophia walked over with a glass of water. "Have some water? There’s no humidifier in this room, the air is too dry."Nathan didn't take the water, not even bothering to give her a glance, and his tone was harsh, "I don't want it."Sophia's hand trembled slightly. She forced a smile and, feeling a bit dejected, returned to her seat. "Are you still thinking about seeing Emily? If you want to go, then go."At the mention of Emily, Nathan finally reacted. He snapped back, questioning her, "Did you do this on purpose?""What?""Don't play dumb. You said Chloe invited you to this concert and then forced me to come
Nathan smiled, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders."Sophia, you've become so gentle."Sophia stepped forward and helped adjust his tie, completely submissive. "My stepfather and mother might not agree with my decision. But it's okay. If you and Emily decide to stay together, I will persuade them. I’ll tell them it’s my choice to separate. They love me dearly and will respect my wishes. You won’t have to deal with any of these troubles. Just enjoy your time with Emily. As for our baby…, he's a Reed, and I will give up custody. You'll take good care of him, right?"Nathan let out a deep breath. "Yes, as long as he's my child, I will take good care of him.""That's good, I'm relieved," Sophia said. "My parents have already sent out the wedding invitations. The media and friends have all been notified. The wedding must go on as planned. My father is a public figure, and we shouldn't let him lose face, especially now that he's starting his career in New York. Okay?"This requ
Emily rarely paid attention to entertainment news.The name Lucas was familiar to her only because Olivia had mentioned it a few times. Emily knew he was a very popular star, but that was all. However, sitting in the front row now, she could see Lucas’s stunning performance under the lights and sounds. His dance moves were captivating, and his singing was very appealing. Emily thought he was truly born to be a star.She didn’t know much about music and dance, but as an audience member, she could only say: he deserves all the fans going crazy for him.Beep beep beep—A message from Mr. Satan popped up on her phone: "."Emily frowned. What did Mr. Satan mean by sending a period?His messages were usually short, but this was too brief.She replied: "What’s up?""Lucas is quite handsome, isn’t he?""Yes, he’s very handsome. I just did his makeup, and his skin is really good. He’s naturally good-looking."Mr. Satan called her directly.Her phone started vibrating, and Emily picked up, “Hel
He has too many secrets.Emily worked on Lucas's makeup for three hours today. Feeling sorry for her, Mr. Satan took her to dinner at the hotel’s restaurant on the first floor.They ate in a private dining room, then went upstairs to rest together.Room 3207 at the Hilton Hotel was familiar and comforting. The darkness of the room seemed to make all worries disappear as soon as they entered, making one want to sleep soundly.As soon as they entered the room, Mr. Satan picked Emily up.Emily exclaimed, "What are you doing?""I’m going to help you take a bath," Mr. Satan said. "It’s important for a pregnant woman to stay clean. You worked a long time today, and you should take a bath to relax."He's going to help her bathe?Did he mean they would bathe together?Emily quickly pushed him away. "I’m just pregnant, not incapable of taking care of myself. I can bathe on my own.""But I want to help you bathe.""…"Emily was at a loss for words, blocked by his serious tone.He always managed
"Nathan?" Olivia cleared her throat, sounding puzzled. "What's wrong with him?"Allen Parker's voice was low, but it still came through the receiver, "He's been on the front pages of various media almost every day recently. Nathan announced that Logan Morgan has officially joined the Reed Group, and at the same time, he's preparing for the wedding with Logan Morgan's daughter. These are two explosive pieces of news, enough to make Nathan a hot topic."Olivia chuckled, "Logan Morgan's daughter? Who is she, Sophia? Is she even worthy?""Our opinions don't matter to them. Many people now think they are a perfect match.""S.hit!" Olivia cursed angrily, "She has no shame.""Logan Morgan has publicly acknowledged her as his daughter, and she now identifies herself as a member of the Morgan family," Allen Parker, still in his robe, browsed through the news on his iPad. Suddenly, his brows furrowed, as if he saw something unexpected.Olivia immediately put the phone on speaker, "Emily, I'm no
"Emily, I envy you so much. Mr. Satan is always so gentle and considerate towards you."Emily sighed and hinted at her, "Actually, perhaps you also have someone silently protecting you by your side. You should cherish the people around you.""Are you talking about yourself?" Olivia's voice still sounded very dejected. "Emily, you're so good to me. Allen Parker is just a bad guy!"Forget it, her hint failed.Ring ring—Olivia's phone vibrated again. She glanced at the caller ID and suddenly exclaimed, "Emily, I can't talk wit you. My dad is calling! I didn't go home last night, he's probably going to scold me. If he calls you, just tell him I was at your house last night, okay? Don't expose me, I have to hang up.""Okay..."Before Emily could speak, the call was disconnected.Emily looked at the screen of her phone and could only sigh deeply.Meanwhile, Allen Parker also let out a sigh.Satan's voice came from the phone, "Why are you sighing? Did you have an unpleasant time with Olivia
Emily, as the protagonist of this discussion, was oblivious to everything happening on the internet. Her phone and computer couldn't connect to the network. Feeling so bored, she decided to focus her energy on cooking.She hadn't cooked for Mr. Satan for many days. Today, she had plenty of time, so she planned to make a delicious meal for him.While she was still engrossed in preparing the steak, she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her waist from behind.This embrace was all too familiar to her.Between her breaths, she could smell the pleasant minty fragrance emanating from him, but also... a faint smell of smoke?"You're smoking?" Emily placed the cake in the oven and waited quietly for its delicious blossoming."Yeah," Mr. Satan murmured softly, "I thought you'd be mad.""Because you're smoking?" Emily pointed at his chest with her finger. Her tone carried a hint of disapproval. "You better not smoke; it's not good for the baby. But I'm more curious about something else. Did
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