Herry grumbled impatiently, "So embarrassing."He pulled Emily inside, hesitated for a moment, then pulled Mr. Satan in as well, slamming the door shut and locking it from the inside.Emily asked him, "Have you seen the news about Sophia?""Yeah," Herry replied nonchalantly. "It’s disgusting. She deserves all the criticism she's getting."Emily felt a wave of awkwardness.Even though the critical parts of the photos were blurred, they were still inappropriate for a minor.Many of the images were explicit, and Herry was only twelve years old."Boys at his age know everything," Mr. Satan observed, understanding her concern.Herry sat on the edge of the bed, swinging his legs back and forth, eyeing Mr. Satan. "You’re the guy who’s been hanging around outside our building waiting for my sister, right?"Mr. Satan raised an eyebrow, "You know me?""I’m not blind. I saw you at the haunted house before, too. You were wearing a mask, so I didn’t see your face." Herry’s eyes shifted between Emi
Sophia ignored the pain from her injuries and rushed over, clinging to Logan, "Dad, please, take me away from here. I have nowhere else to go..."Sophia wasn't lying.She couldn't stay here any longer.Everyone looked at her with disdain, and no matter what she did, people jumped at the chance to ridicule her.Sam treated her like a plaything, never regarding her as a human being. He had promised to give her $100,000 after they slept together, but now he wouldn’t even answer her calls!Not a single penny from the promised $100,000, and she spent the whole night with him! Her body was covered in bruises, and it hurt so much that even lifting her arm felt like her skin was tearing apart.Logan made no effort to hide the disgust on his face, "You’ve got the wrong person. Let go of me."People around them laughed, "Yeah, Sophia, can’t you even recognize your own dad now?"Sophia gritted her teeth, ignoring the jeers.With Sam not answering her calls, she had to cling to Logan; otherwise,
"So, you abandoned us?""Us?" Logan shot her a cold glance. "Get it straight, your mother and I were together for over twenty years. As for you? You’re just a security guard’s daughter. When you were Nathan’s wife, I could temporarily acknowledge you as my daughter. But now, who are you? Your reputation is ruined. Why would I want any association with you?"Sophia let out a bitter laugh. "Yes, you’re Mr. Morgan now, and I’m the s.lut everyone hates.""Have you seen the news?"Sophia lowered her head, closing her eyes wearily. "How much does Vincent love Emily? Those photos took me a lot of effort to find, but he found them all in one night. For Emily, he really spares no effort.""Really?" Logan's face showed a hint of pleasure.The better Vincent treated Emily, the happier Logan was.Logan understood Emily's soft nature. As long as he could evoke her emotions and make her abandon her hatred, she would acknowledge him as her father. With Vincent’s love for Emily, Logan’s future would
Emily turned around and left.When she returned to the house, she saw a crowd gathered at the door.There were many familiar faces among them.Just as she was about to walk over, someone gently grabbed her arm. "Emily... Is it really you? Emily, you’ve finally come back!"Emily smiled and greeted her. "Hello."The woman holding her hand was the same one who had just made Sophia speechless.The woman clung to her hand, speaking continuously. "It’s good that you’re back. Just now, Sophia tried to buy something and didn’t pay. We all saw her news. You shouldn’t bother with her anymore. Just live your own life well. She’s not worth it."The woman's voice was loud, and many people around heard her.They all came over to greet Emily.Emily had been away for five years.She had transformed from a naive twenty-one-year-old girl into a mature woman.Although her demeanor had changed, her appearance was still the same, making it easy for people to recognize her.Everyone asked about her current
Everything was dealt with in less than ten minutes.Dylan came over to report that all of Sophia and Grace's belongings had been thrown out.Mr. Satan led Emily back into the house.The bedding on the bed had also been thrown out, leaving only a bare mattress.It was an old-fashioned bed. Once trendy, now it was nothing but decayed wood."My mom’s things…" Emily looked a bit dejected. "Do they even exist anymore?"Mr. Satan examined the bed and then reached between the two layers of the mattress, pulling out several yellowed papers.The edges of the papers were frayed, giving them an aged appearance.Emily almost pounced on them immediately."Emily, you should open them yourself."Emily was nervous, shaking her head. "No, my hands are trembling. I'm afraid I'll damage them. You open it..."Mr. Satan pulled her into his arms, holding her close."Emily, don’t be afraid.""I...""I’m here."His large hands carefully unfolded the paper. It was folded into a size as small as a palm. As Mr.
By the time they returned to the Hilton Hotel, it was already evening.Emily's belly had grown. She had been busy all day and was now utterly exhausted.But she couldn't bear to part with the design drawing her mother had left behind. She lay in bed, holding the drawing up to the light, trying to find any other traces her mother might have left."This design was created by my mom in her senior year. She must have been pregnant with me at that time," Emily murmured.Mr. Satan gently took the drawing from her hands, carefully folded it, and placed it on the nearby table. "You will have plenty of time to look at it later. Get some rest now.""But I can't sleep," Emily said. "People say handwriting reflects a person’s character. My mom’s handwriting is so delicate; she must have been very gentle, right?"It had been over twenty years. Who could say for sure?Mr. Satan lay down beside her, pulling her into his arms. "Yes, you must be very much like her."His warm embrace made Emily feel dr
When they left the prison, Dylan was waiting with the car parked at the entrance.Mr. Satan opened the door and got in, leaning his head back against the seat and closing his eyes."Boss, are you tired?" Dylan selected a soothing piano piece, and the beautiful music flowed through the car.Mr. Satan pressed his fingers to his eyes, looking weary. "How is Emily?""Don't worry, she's still sleeping.""Good." Mr. Satan seemed to relax a bit, but there was still a hint of melancholy.The car drove slowly, and it was already dark outside.From the prison to the Hilton Hotel was quite a distance, taking over an hour to drive."If you're tired, you can sleep for a bit. I'll wake you when we get there," Dylan said, knowing his boss's behavior and expressions well.Mr. Satan gave a slight "hmm" and stopped talking.Maybe it was the warmth and comfort of the car, but he gradually drifted into a semi-dreamlike state."Boss?"In a daze, he heard Dylan calling him.Mr. Satan woke slightly. "What?"
"It's nothing important. I can handle it myself."Mr. Satan was a bit surprised. "You can handle her on your own?""Yes," Emily snuggled closer to him. "As the future lady of the Norman family, I have to be strong."Mr. Satan chuckled and pulled her closer. "I don't like seeing you being so capable and strong. It makes your man look useless."Emily pouted. "Who says you're useless? Can you get my coat for me?""Are you going out?""Yes, I found a movie that looks really good. It's premiering today. Let's go watch it?"Mr. Satan didn't mind, as long as Emily was interested, he would accompany her.But..."Premier tickets are usually booked in advance. There might not be any left now.""Oh..." Emily looked a bit disappointed but quickly recovered. "Then let's just watch TV at home. By the way, Janet should be on that celebrity dating show this episode."Late-night shows were usually infomercials and ads.Emily fiddled with the remote and found the latest episode of the show, pulling Mr.
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