Mr. Satan sat beside her, checking his phone for a moment, his brow furrowed deeply. "Are these all really her? Her behavior is beyond my imagination."Emily sighed, "She started dating in middle school. After she went to college, she became more and more outrageous."Mr. Satan murmured, "Like mother, like daughter.""But my adoptive father is a very honest man. I don't understand why Sophia turned out this way. We received the same education and attended the same schools. I've always been puzzled by the huge difference between us."Mr. Satan said, "It's just their nature. It has nothing to do with upbringing or material conditions."He tapped the screen with his finger, "I've found it.""What?""The IP address of the posts," Mr. Satan said. "These accounts are from the same company. The posts were indeed published simultaneously."Emily was taken aback. "A company? Where would Sophia get the money to hire a company for this?"Mr. Satan squinted at her. "Emily, your understanding of s
That night was the most disgusting one Sophia had experienced in her twenty-five years.By morning, when she walked out of the room, she could barely stand.She called Grace, “Mom, come pick me up.”Grace heard the weakness in her voice and, instead of being worried, was excited, “Did you succeed?”“Yeah…” Sophia gritted her teeth, “Mom, I’ve been doing everything you told me, trying to please Sam. But he’s terrifying. I don’t think I can take much more. I’m scared I won’t hold out…”Grace felt a pang of sympathy, “Sophia, don’t blame me. I’m doing this for our future. Emily is already powerful, and Logan is unreliable. We need to find a strong backing quickly.”Sophia leaned against the wall, her whole body aching and bent over, “Mom, can you come get me…”“Have Chloe pick you up. I’m out handling something.”Sophia felt a surge of anger, “What do you have to do? Mom, I really feel awful!”“I’m having breakfast with Mandy,” Grace lowered her voice, “Meggie doesn’t have much time left
Grace understood Mandy's thoughts very well, so she became even more attentive to her.A few days ago, Mandy mentioned that she liked having morning tea. So, every day, Grace would wake up early, go to the most famous morning tea place to grab a spot, order Mandy’s favorite dim sum, and wait until the tea cooled to the perfect drinking temperature for when Mandy arrived.When it came to pleasing someone, Grace had been doing it for over twenty years. Now, it was just a different person she needed to flatter, which wasn’t difficult for her.And Mandy was much easier to please than Logan.Grace only had to listen to Mandy's complaints, join in with her scolding of Alex and Meggie, and flatter her.Grace smiled slightly, stood up, and refilled Mandy's teacup, pretending to be deeply sympathetic. "Yes, it’s really hard for us women. We serve our husbands for a lifetime, give them children, and end up being the ones blamed. Their hearts are never truly with us."Mandy nodded in agreement.
Mandy stormed her way back home.Bryden had just woken up and was eating breakfast. Mandy glanced at him and asked, “Where’s your father?”“Huh?” Bryden frowned deeply. He had gone to bed early the night before, and when he woke up this morning, he saw the news about Emily, which made him too upset to eat breakfast. He hadn't paid much attention to Mandy's question.“I’m talking to you!” Mandy snatched the phone from his hand and tossed it aside, noticing that he was also reading the news. She sneered, “You’ve seen it too? This woman is utterly shameless! Do you still want someone like her as your sister-in-law?”When Bryden first saw the pictures, he was shocked and in disbelief. However, he gradually calmed down.The woman in the photos bore some resemblance to Emily in profile, but all the pictures were blurry and unclear, clearly intended to mislead everyone.He shook his head firmly, “Mom, I don’t think that woman is Emily.”Mandy’s eyes widened in anger, “The evidence is right i
As soon as Mandy spoke, the previously warm and harmonious atmosphere vanished.Alex sighed, “Mandy, we’re just here to have a meal together. What are you up to now?”Mandy’s icy gaze fixed on Emily, “That’s a question for our dear Emily. She knows exactly what she’s done.”Emily remained composed, her gentle smile unwavering. “I’ve barely left the house these past few days. Oh, I did visit Mr. Parker’s company a few days ago to do makeup for a celebrity. Is that what you’re referring to?”“Emily, playing dumb isn’t going to help you now. Your past is all over the internet!”Her tone was harsh and aggressive.Alex slammed his forks on the table, “Mandy! What’s gotten into you lately? What has Emily done that you feel the need to target her? She’s pregnant! You’ve been pregnant yourself, you should…”“Exactly, Emily is pregnant,” Mandy interrupted, “I’m questioning whether this baby is Vincent’s.”“Who else’s baby could it be if not Vincent’s? Have you been listening to Grace’s nonsens
She finally got it all figured out!Recently, Grace had been overly friendly, accompanying her for shopping and meals every day. Mandy thought Grace was being extra nice because she had lost her support after the divorce. Little did she realize that Grace was still scheming and had used her again.Mandy was so furious she was shaking, and she dropped her spoon on the floor.Norman family used silverware, so the clattering sound was really sharp.“Mandy, what’s going on with you today?” Alex asked, his face slightly darkened. “You’ve got a grudge against Emily, but that’s all because Grace fed you some bad info. Emily’s a kind girl, and she’s not upset with you. Why are you dropping spoons?”Mandy looked distressed, glancing at Alex, her lips trembling, but she couldn’t speak for a long time.Meggie, calmly eating her meal, said, “This incident shows that the kind of wife you choose will shape the future of your family. It’s a big deal for a family. Look at Grace and her disgraceful da
By almost ten o'clock, the traffic on the road had thinned out.The morning rush hour was over, with only a few pedestrians and vehicles passing by. The drive was smooth.Emily turned her head to look out the window, feeling a sense of detachment, as if in another world.“What are you thinking about?” Satan asked, holding the steering wheel with one hand and lightly brushing his fingers against her nose with the other.Emily frowned and swatted his hand away. “I was just thinking how efficient Dylan is. You should give him a raise.”Satan chuckled. “Alright, if you say so.”Emily turned back to him, her gaze fixed on his face. “Finding these photos wasn’t easy. Dylan managed to gather them all in one night. He’s really impressive.”“It’s not that difficult,” Satan said. “Sophia’s men aren’t exactly saints. Just pay them some money or use some tactics, and Dylan didn’t have to work too hard.”Emily raised an eyebrow. “But finding these people and convincing them isn’t exactly easy, rig
Emily’s old home was just a tiny house. She had lived there for twenty years, cleaning it herself, and she had never found anything related to her mother.Mr. Satan said, "Maybe we should visit your adoptive father."Emily looked up at him.Mr. Satan hugged her. "Whether it's your mother's belongings or our upcoming marriage, we should let him know."...At the hospital, it was lunchtime, and the quiet hospital became lively.Emily brought some chicken soup, while Mr. Satan carried a lot of gifts, following behind her as they walked in.William looked much better. Though his movements were still stiff and his speech a bit unclear, he was much improved.Seeing him, Emily couldn't hold back her tears."How are you feeling? Do you have any discomfort?" Emily sat by the bed, looking at the many needle marks on William's hand with concern.William was her only remaining family in this world.William gave Emily a comforting smile. "Emily, you're here. Don't worry, the doctors here are the b
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