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
Emily almost fled, not even having time to snatch her glasses back from Jackson's hands, rushed straight for the exit.A black Maybach, like a panther in the dark night, was parked under the shade of trees at the entrance of the venue. Emily took a long look before finally confirming that it was Mr. Satan's car and hurried over.Mr. Satan still wore his white mask, opening the passenger door for her and smiling as he looked at her, "Why the rush? Was there a tiger chasing you?"Emily grabbed Mr. Satan's hand, using his strength to easily hop into the car and slamming the door shut.What was Jackson's deal just now? Suddenly taking her black-framed glasses and saying those inexplicable words.Emily didn't want to dwell on it, so she forced herself to calm down and smiled, "No, just worried you were waiting too long, so I rushed over."Mr. Satan raised an eyebrow but didn't pursue it further, starting the car.This was her first time riding in Mr. Satan's car. The interior was extremely
"Oh my God, Mr. Satan really said that?" Olivia exclaimed, her anger evident as she nibbled on her ice cream. "I used to think he was decent. I even thought you'd have a good life with him. Turns out he's just another jerk."Early that morning, Emily received a call from Olivia, and the two arranged to meet at a café near the Hilton Hotel.Emily cradled a cup of hot milk, sipping it slowly. "You can't say that. After all, he's spent a lot of money on me, and he has been decent to me.""You're too naive. He even wears a mask while driving, clearly not wanting you to know his identity. Even if you two break up, you won't know who he is. Do you know what that behavior is called?""What?""He knows everything about your life, but you won't know anything about his."Emily chuckled at her, "Actually, I felt a little down at first, but now I'm quite calm. Olivia, yesterday I worked at the car show, and my boss was quite impressed with me. He said I'd be going to seven more car shows and doub
Nathan stared at Emily's departing figure, contemplating chasing after her.Sophia grabbed his hand, "Nathan, let's go inside and sort out our matters first."Nathan impatiently shook her off, "You go ahead. I'm heading back to the office.""Are you going back to the office or going after Emily?" Sophia tried to suppress her anger, "Nathan, I'm carrying your child, and with so many people here, if something happens to me, your child could be in danger."Emily's white dress had already disappeared into the distance.Nathan gritted his teeth, reluctantly withdrawing his gaze, his tone not any better, "Sophia, you insisted on getting the car. Are you deliberately provoking Emily with those words?""My child is also her family. We are all family. I thought Emily would sympathize with my hardship of being pregnant, but I didn't expect her to be so heartless now." Sophia's eyes reddened, casting a resentful glance at him before lowering her head sadly.Nathan sighed, feeling somewhat helple
It's Emily again.It's her again!!Why is she always being compared to Emily?!She's a wealthy woman with a college degree, everything she wears, eats, and uses is branded. Why should she even be mentioned in the same breath as Emily, a girl from the slums?Sophia's chest heaved with anger, but she couldn't afford to fall out with Carol just yet.She had to endure until she officially became Mrs. Reed, until she married Nathan.Sophia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "Fine, I'll call someone to fix it.""No, that's too expensive," Carol rolled her eyes. "We have money, but we can't just throw it away. It's just a toilet, not a big deal."Sophia scoffed, "Carol, calling a repairman isn't that expensive.""No, all the money comes from Nathan's hard work. You don't work, you don't get to decide how to spend it," Carol muttered, complaining under her breath. "You spend Nathan's money on luxury items every day, do you think I don't know? You even wear brand name perfume. Em
Now Emily really regretted asking that stupid question.Tonight, Mr. Satan was wild in bed. How could he seem like a gay who's not interested in women?The next day at noon, when Emily was cooking for her dad, she felt sore all over as if she'd been run over by a car.Emily felt like her previous thoughts were too narrow. How could a powerful man like Mr. Satan lack women by his side? He was even faithful, still yearning for that one girl till now, unlike Nathan, cheating within marriage. The difference between them was too stark.And she was enjoying Mr. Satan's money; no matter how you looked at it, it seemed like she was taking advantage.Busy with makeup work for the car show these past few days, Emily hadn't visited her dad for two days.When she arrived at the hospital, it was lunchtime.None of the other patients in the same room were around, only her dad standing by the window gazing outside."Dad," Emily called out, "What are you so lost in thought about?"William turned to s
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