Emily's slaps seemed to exert all the strength in her body, causing Sophia to stagger back several steps and collapse to the ground.Sophia's makeup today was meticulously done, and her clothes were specially chosen, the latest from Burberry. They weren't available in stores yet; she had to rely on Nathan's connections to acquire them.But now her clothes were all dirtied, her makeup smeared off, revealing rough skin underneath, mottled like a zebra.Nathan reached out to help her up, but was taken aback by Sophia's makeup-smeared face. "Sophia, what happened to your face?"Since he had known Sophia, she had always been meticulously made-up, considered quite beautiful. During their intimate moments, she would insist on turning off the lights, and he had assumed it was due to her shyness. He hadn't expected her real appearance to be like this once her makeup was off...Sophia panicked, covering her face with her hands, exclaiming, "Where's my bag? My mirror and foundation? I need to to
Emily's hand trembled, nearly dropping her phone into the sea.He was actually on the yacht!Emily bit her lip, unsure how to respond."Do you want to see me?" Mr. Satan's message came through again.Gritting her teeth, Emily replied with a simple "Yes" and hit send."Emily, not now."She was rejected.But Emily wasn't too upset. Mr. Satan had warned her before, hadn't he? He didn't want to turn on the lights or take off his mask; it was all about not revealing himself."I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come. I won't do it again," she replied."No need to apologize. As I said, you never need to apologize to me. Emily, I promise you, when the time is right, I'll let you know the real me.""Okay."As the screen darkened, Emily attempted to put her phone back in her bag, but another message popped up: "You looked beautiful today."Those words seemed to carry a warm, moist heat as they penetrated her ears and heart.It was like his hot breath in the dark night, spraying on her neck and whisper
The atmosphere was heating up.Familiar darkness and a familiar scent enveloped Emily. Satan, the newcomer, lingered ambiguously near her ear and neck, "Speak."Emily's whole body felt hot. She turned her head to avoid his hot, moist lips, "What do you want from me in return?""Hehe," Mr. Satan chuckled lightly, his large hand covering her abdomen, sending shivers through her body. He nibbled on her earlobe, blowing into her ear, "You know."What Emily couldn't stand the most was his way of speaking.They hadn't done anything, just hugged and talked, but she was already horny.Mr. Satan's husky voice came from behind, then her body lightened as he lifted her, heading straight for the bathroom.Mr. Satan's lovemaking today was rougher than usual, as if he wanted to possess her completely. He held her waist firmly, thrusting into her, commanding her, "Look at me."In the darkness, Emily, softly moaning, was forced to look into his eyes, feeling his thrusts. She felt like she was not onl
Emily was awakened by Olivia's call at seven in the morning."Emily! Let's go eat Australian lobster!"After being "tossed around" by Mr. Satan in various positions for almost the whole night, Emily was so tired that she couldn't open her eyes properly. "Olivia, can we do it another day? I'm really sleepy...""Don't be like that! The lobsters today are amazing, you won't regret it."Emily sighed. "We're having lobster for breakfast?""Yeah, they just arrived fresh from Australia this morning. We have to eat them while they're still fresh! Come on, I was your chauffeur and bodyguard for free yesterday, give me a break, okay?"Emily didn't have any more excuses to refuse.After hanging up the phone, she was wrapped around the waist by a big hand. With a little force, she was pulled back into a hot embrace.The curtains were tightly drawn, not letting in a single ray of light into the room. Emily lay with her back to Mr. Satan, unable to move as he held her.For the first time in many da
Emily was furious, pushing Nathan's hand away. "Nathan, are you out of your mind?! You're the one who wants a divorce, and you're also the one who doesn't want it. What exactly are you trying to do?!"Her voice was loud, but luckily the seafood restaurant was empty in the early morning, with only a few staff glancing over.Nathan, who usually cared a lot about his image, grabbed her hand and dragged her towards a private room. "Let's talk inside.""I'm not going! Nathan, let go of me! If you keep this up, I'll scream for help!" Emily resisted, firmly holding onto the wall to prevent him from dragging her away.Nathan smirked coldly, "Emily, you've become quite hot-headed after a few days apart. Tell me, who is the man you've been with?""Who I'm with is none of your business!" Emily clenched the wall tightly, refusing to be dragged.A waiter, noticing the tense situation, approached and asked, "Mr. Reed, is everything okay?""It's none of your concern. My wife and I had a little argum
In the seafood restaurant, the waiter handed Sophia the bill. "Madam, could you please settle the bill?"Sophia angrily took it and tossed it aside without even looking. "How much is it?""It's a total of $120,00."Sophia snapped her head up. "I only had a few lobsters! Why is it so expensive? Are you trying to extort me?"The waiter hurriedly explained, "Oh no, that's not the case. Besides your table, there's also the bill from the table of those two ladies just now! They ordered more, so naturally, it's more expensive."Sophia pounded the table. "So you should ask them for money! Why should I pay?"The waiter was puzzled. "But, isn't that lady Mr. Reed's wife? They said Mr. Reed would settle the bill, but since Mr. Reed left first, we have to ask his assistant, which is you."Assistant?Sophia was speechless with anger.To make matters worse, the waiter asked again, "Aren't you his assistant?""Yes!" Sophia gritted her teeth as she reluctantly paid the bill with her card, seething w
Wilson escorted her to the backstage.It was a cramped room of less than twenty square meters, where three or four dozen young and pretty car models had to do their makeup and change clothes. With other staff members coming and going, the room was crowded.Emily frowned. It seemed like today's work was destined to be challenging."Jackson is here," Wilson whispered.Emily turned around, finally getting a good look at Jackson.He wasn't dressed in a suit and tie. Instead, he wore just a black leather jacket over a black vest, tightly hugging his chest and abs, perfectly outlining his muscular physique. Below, he wore loose jeans with a skull emblem painted on the pockets.He didn't look like a boss.But he was the one who signed her paychecks. Emily touched her nose, lowered her head, and followed behind Wilson, trying not to let Jackson see her.Jackson approached and stopped just as he was about to pass them. Stepping back, he stood imposingly in front of Emily. He was tall and stron
"What?!" Wilson gasped, then quickly covered his mouth, not daring to show any flaws to Jackson.Many renowned stylists had been rejected by Jackson, and Emily's situation might be even worse.Wilson shook his head, sighing.With Jackson on-site, everyone began to work efficiently. Apart from necessary communication, no one dared to say more than a word.Emily first glanced at the makeup table and toolbox. The makeup products and tools were quite complete. The model girls sat in a row in front of the makeup mirrors, waiting for her makeup.She felt like her back was on fire, scorching hot. Emily knew it was because Jackson's gaze felt like it could tear her apart.As long as her makeup was slightly off, this man would probably instantly grab her by the collar and throw her out.She rubbed her hands, took a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down.These model girls all had good looks, and the difficulty of makeup wasn't particularly high.Having learned a lot about makeup in recen
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