Once inside, Grace helped Sophia sit on the sofa, whispering in her ear, "You’re done with Nathan, so you’d better give up this child. If Mandy asks you, you insist that you’re not pregnant. Show that you’re pitiful and say your engagement with Nathan is over. Understand?"Sophia nodded."Please have a glass of water," Mandy said, taking a cup from the maid and handing it to Sophia. "Are you feeling unwell? Do you need to go to the hospital?""It’s nothing, thank you, Mrs. Norman," Grace sighed. "It’s just that Sophia is heartbroken. She and your son had always been very close, and she doesn’t understand why he’s suddenly angry. She’s devastated."Mandy waved her hand, instructing the maid, "You can leave now and close the door.""Yes, ma’am."Mandy was also puzzled by what had just happened.However, she didn’t show her confusion. Her expression remained calm, "You must be Mrs. Morgan. I’m terribly sorry for the rude things my son said…""It’s alright," Grace replied softly. "I under
"This is outrageous!" Mandy shook her head. "Why is she so stubborn? Your words are for her own good!"Sophia quickly added, "Mrs. Norman, my sister is very arrogant at home. We hardly have a place to stay because of her. Today, she tried to steal my dress. Normally, I would let her have it, but this dress was a gift from your son, so I couldn't give it up. She got angry and tried to hit me. When my mom protected me, she even tried to hit my mom..."Sophia's eyes reddened slightly.Mandy's anger was thoroughly ignited. "Is there such a thing? How can she be so malicious? Was she never educated properly?""Don't even mention it," Grace waved her hand dismissively. "She grew up with her foster father and uncle in the slums. She didn't go to college and didn't receive a proper education."Mandy disagreed, "That's not an excuse. Even without a college education, she shouldn't resort to violence."Thinking of Bryden's interest in that girl made Mandy feel sick.Why does my son have such po
After removing her makeup, Mr. Satan led Emily towards a house behind the villa.For the first time, Emily witnessed what true understated luxury looked like.She had once thought the Reed family was very wealthy. Nathan owned a large company, his home was a luxurious villa, and he had many cars. His lifestyle was already beyond Emily's imagination.But the Norman family estate was ten times larger than the Reed family's.The Norman estate featured a front yard with a fountain and pool, a grand villa, and many houses and gardens behind the villa.Mr. Satan held her hand as they walked down a cobblestone path, through a small, serene bamboo forest, and a small but exquisite villa appeared before them."My grandmother likes peace and quiet. My younger siblings are lively and young. She didn't want to restrict them, so she lives here alone."Emily nodded, understanding that Mr. Satan's grandmother was a kind old woman.The Norman children must be very happy, she thought.Except for Mr. S
As Emily walked out, Logan was already standing beside the car, visibly impatient.She approached him. "Mr. Morgan."Logan saw her and couldn’t help but burst out, "Where did you go? Everyone has left, and it’s just you. If there had been a bus, I would have driven off myself. Do you know how many people are secretly laughing at me?"Logan pointed to a few security guards at the entrance.They stood perfectly straight, not glancing over even once.Emily sneered inwardly. Logan’s proud ego was bruised again. He believed he should be admired, but standing here alone, he felt his noble status was tainted.Emily didn't argue, instead, she meekly apologized, "I’m sorry."Logan didn’t want to make a scene in public; he still had to maintain his refined image."Get in the car."Emily opened the back door, ready to get in, when a large hand slammed it shut.Logan said irritably, "Sit in the front seat."The back seat was typically reserved for those of higher status; in Logan’s eyes, she wasn
Alex was in a foul mood.Tonight's banquet ended hastily, and neither of his sons had chosen a girl to his satisfaction, leaving him very upset.Mandy handed him a cup of hot tea. "You ate so little tonight. Have some tea to relax.""I don't have an appetite," Alex said, holding a cigarette but not feeling like smoking. "I'm really depressed. I used to worry about my two sons staying single. Now that they have girls they like, I can't be happy. One girl is too eager, and the other dresses too provocatively. They don't seem like well-bred girls."Alex was angry, and Mandy sat beside him, speaking gently. "Being parents means constantly worrying about our children. When they're young, we worry about their health and studies. When they grow up, we worry about their marriages. We are a wealthy family, and our young sons will attract many girls with ulterior motives.""Yes," Alex sighed. "I want my sons to be happy, so I don't insist they marry wealthy girls. As long as the girls they like
Sophia couldn't retort and just glared at Emily angrily. Grace also remained silent.Laughter came from the living room. Grace thought Herry was laughing at them but found him watching TV on the sofa."I didn't sleep well last night. Mom, I'm going to take a nap," Sophia said.Grace stopped her. "Not so fast. Go say hello to your father first."Sophia frowned, annoyed. "No need. I'm tired and don't want to talk to him."Grace glared at her. "Listen to me. I'm your mother, and I won't harm you. Now, go to the study.""Fine," Sophia muttered and went to the study. Grace paused a moment before following her.Emily turned her attention back to her cooking, placing the omelet on a plate and setting it on the dining table. "Herry, breakfast is ready."Herry was reluctant to leave the sofa, engrossed in his cartoons. "Bring it over here for me to eat!"With Logan and Grace absent, Emily didn't want to indulge Herry's bad behavior. "I'll count to three. If you don't come over to eat, I'll thr
Emily smiled and stopped arguing with her.She realized that Sophia always interpreted things with her limited intelligence.There was no point in arguing with Sophia. The real show was yet to come, and Emily just needed to wait.In the following days, Sophia and her mother Grace received numerous phone calls.Previously, Emily didn't know much about the lives of the wealthy, but now she discovered that the richer people were, the more snobbish they seemed.Emily didn't know the exact status of the Norman family, but she could sense some of it from the changes in their daily lives.One of the most obvious changes was the sudden increase in visitors to the Morgan household.Some people claimed they wanted to visit Logan Morgan, some said they wanted to be friends with Sophia, and some admired Grace's taste. They had many reasons, but their ultimate goal was the same: to establish good relations with the Morgan family.Logan enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention. He was v
"Sigh, it's my fault," Grace said remorsefully. "I've neglected Sophia since she was young. She grew up with her father, and how could a man take proper care of a child? So, Sophia's health has never been good. She had a fever a few days ago. I didn't think much of it, but it turned out to be pneumonia. By the time we got to the hospital, the doctor said the baby might be at risk of miscarriage.""I don't believe you!" Carol slammed the teacup onto the coffee table, spilling the tea. She was furious. "Right now, let's go to the hospital. I don't trust a word you say."With that, Carol abruptly stood up, ready to storm into the kitchen.Grace hurriedly grabbed her. "Wait, don't be hasty. Sophia has been distressed about this too…"Carol wasn't a fool. Grace's attitude made her understand her intentions. She shouted, "She's probably secretly happy! She seduced a richer man and now wants to back out, right? I remember a few months ago, she used the baby to force Nathan to marry her. Now
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