Olivia hugged her tightly. "I went to the Hilton Hotel this morning to find you, but Allen Parker said you no longer live there. Where did you go?"As they chatted, they walked into the TV station.Emily explained her mother's situation to Olivia."F.uck, Grace and Sophia are shameless! Grace was a homewrecker, and now Sophia is one too—one stole your mom's husband, and the other stole yours!"Emily was also angry. "Maybe life is just a cycle."Lucas had a heavy workload today. He got his makeup done in the morning, started recording a variety show at noon, and didn't finish until almost midnight.Emily stayed backstage the entire time. Lucas would come back occasionally to touch up his makeup.Olivia, as his assistant, stayed with him on set. She watched him from the audience, making Lucas visibly uncomfortable.Being watched by the boss's future wife was quite stressful.The host remarked, "Lucas, you seem a bit tense today. Are you not familiar with the environment?"Lucas wiped th
Grace raised her phone, showing the photos they were talking about.Emily looked at the photo. The image depicted her and Lucas in the TV station's makeup room.Lucas was half-lying on the sofa with his eyes closed, resting, while Emily was carefully covering him with a blanket.Emily instantly understood.This was Grace's counterattack.Her scandal with Lucas had previously been fabricated by Sophia, but the incident reversed quickly. The media's attention shifted to Sophia, and with Amanda's efforts, the rumor about her and Lucas didn't spread much.The consensus was that contact between a celebrity and their makeup artist was normal, and there was nothing ambiguous about it.But this time, things were a bit different.Last time, Lucas had helped her when she almost fell, which could be interpreted as a gentlemanly act. But this photo seemed more ambiguous.Lucas was sleeping, and Emily was covering him with a blanket. Their relationship appeared quite intimate. If someone wanted to
They were saying it loud enough for Emily to hear.Logan's publicly acknowledged daughter was still Sophia, not her. Sophia had an education and appeared respectable, whereas Emily hadn't attended college and had lived in the slums. So Logan chose Sophia to attend important occasions over her.Logan went out first to get the car, while Grace and Sophia followed slowly, whispering."Mom, who exactly is the person Dad is taking us to meet?""I'm not too sure. I heard from Logan that this mysterious boss is Mr. Taylor's benefactor. He's a very wealthy figure who usually stays low-key and doesn't appear in public much. Mr. Taylor's success in beating Nathan and securing the shopping mall project was thanks to his support."Sophia couldn't help but marvel, "Then he must be even richer than Nathan!""Of course," Grace glanced at Sophia. They both had the same thing on their minds. She held Sophia's hand and patted it gently, "I did some digging last night. This mysterious boss is a young ma
Emily carefully opened the cap of the dishwashing liquid in the kitchen and took a sniff.Sure enough, the distinctive smell of sulfuric acid hit her nose.Dishwashing liquid and concentrated sulfuric acid were both transparent, viscous liquids that looked the same on the surface.If she had actually used the liquid and gotten it on her hands, she would have been seriously injured.Moreover, Sophia could have framed her. She could say that Emily secretly stored concentrated sulfuric acid and that she hurt her hands while handling it when they weren't home. Then, she could blame Herry's injury on Emily as well.Sophia was truly malicious!No wonder today's dishwashing liquid was different from the usual one. The previous ones were in plastic bottles, but this one was in a stainless steel bottle. Concentrated sulfuric acid can corrode plastic but can only form a dense oxide layer on steel, preserving the liquid inside.Emily sneered. She had mocked Grace for lacking basic chemical knowl
Grace opened the door and asked, "Who are you?""Good evening, Mrs. Morgan. My name is Dylan, and my boss sent me to deliver some clothes."Standing outside was a tall, handsome man wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He carried himself with great elegance, speaking in a refined manner, exuding an air of respectability.Grace, upon seeing him, couldn't help but respond more deferentially, "And who are these clothes for?"Dylan smiled and replied, "They are for Mr. Morgan's daughter.""Sophia?" Grace's eyes lit up, and she was overjoyed. "Could your boss be... Mr. Taylor's big boss?"Dylan confirmed, "Yes, my boss is the largest shareholder of the Taylor Group. He is the one who funded Mr. Taylor for the shopping mall project. Is Mr. Morgan's daughter at home?"Grace couldn't contain her excitement and quickly called out, "Sophia, come here! The big boss has sent clothes for you!"Sophia was stunned for a few seconds but was soon overwhelmed with joy and rushed over, "Are these really for me?
Logan nodded with satisfaction. "Alright, we'll go public with our relationship whenever you feel ready."Emily, holding the box, climbed the stairs with a light step. Midway, she paused, "Oh, by the way..."Logan quickly asked, "What is it? Go ahead.""I wanted to mention to Mrs. Morgan that the new dishwashing liquid in the kitchen isn't very good. I think the previous one was better."Logan now regarded her words as gospel. He immediately turned to Grace, "You changed the dishwashing liquid? What did you switch it to?"He started to head toward the kitchen.Grace's face turned pale, and she hurriedly pulled him back, "Dear, the kitchen isn't a place for an artist like you. I got it. I'll change the dishwashing liquid back immediately."Logan nodded, "Alright, make sure to change it. Also, don't let Emily wash dishes anymore. She's practically a special guest. We should treat her well, not make her wash dishes."Grace forced a smile, "Got it. I'll wash the dishes from now on.""Have
The Saturday morning sun was exceptionally warm.The Morgan family's villa was located in the central area of New York. Many wealthy people owned houses here, but not many actually lived in them.The location was excellent, but most of the buildings were villas from thirty years ago. The facilities were relatively outdated, so many people had moved to newer, wealthier neighborhoods, especially the younger generation.Logan had bought this villa at a low price from a young tycoon. Originally, an elderly couple lived here, but after they passed away, their son sold the place to move to Europe. Therefore, Logan didn't pay much for it.When Emily stepped out the villa, Grace was bending over, helping Sophia arrange her dress—Sophia was wearing a white off-the-shoulder dress.This was the very dress Mr. Satan had given her.Now, it was on Sophia.This morning, before Emily woke up, Grace had knocked on her door. Apologetically, she explained that all of Sophia's clothes were at the Reed h
James Taylor sent the address of the banquet to Logan Morgan.Logan was not yet familiar with the roads in New York City. It took him a long time to reach the place.It was a private estate at the foot of a mountain. The architecture was grand. The front yard fountain was as large as a football field. Servants were everywhere, moving about with professional courtesy.Logan could even see a private golf course in the distance.Emily had lived in New York for over twenty years and had no idea there was such an upscale private estate here. What she couldn't believe even more was that Mr. Satan, accustomed to living in such luxurious mansions, could still stand with her in her shabby, dirty little house without even blinking."Emily, hurry up. Logan is already ahead," Grace reminded her.Emily followed the voice and saw Logan standing next to James Taylor. James Taylor, dressed in a high-end suit, introduced Logan to other guests. These guests also appeared to be from high society.Sophia
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