Olivia thought she wasn’t good at math.The calculations Emily had just done weren't that complicated, but why was she only now getting it?Emily continued, "And have you noticed that every time you and Lucas get close, Allen quickly calls you away?"Olivia frowned, looking annoyed. "He just wants me to work more.""But why doesn't he call anyone else, only you? Even if he needs someone to work, isn’t Amanda more capable?""Emily, I’m a bit slow," Olivia scratched her head, holding Emily’s hand. "Are you saying Allen Parker is actually nice to me?"Emily nodded. "Of course he is. I see it clearly from the side."Olivia still didn’t believe it. "But... he's so annoying...""What do you find annoying about him?""For example, he deducts my pay and has kept me on an intern salary for a long time."Emily nodded, speaking gently, "But if he had offered you a really high salary right from the start, say ten thousand dollars a month, would you have dared to take it?"Olivia shook her head li
Ten minutes later, Allen Parker was standing outside room 2307 at the Hilton.Emily opened the door for him."Hello, Emily."Allen was polite, but Emily could see the sweat on his forehead.In this late autumn weather, with the wind blowing outside, the fact that he was sweating showed how anxious he was."Hello," Emily said, "Come in, Olivia is inside."Allen Parker stepped inside.Hearing the noise, Olivia buried herself under the covers on the guest bed, wrapping herself up like a chubby caterpillar.Emily said, "You two talk, I’ll be in the kitchen."Allen Parker nodded, "Thank you."Emily smiled without saying anything, leaving the guest room for the two of them and heading to the kitchen.Olivia lay facing away from the door, not showing any intention of turning around.She felt a mix of surprise and anger.If what Emily said was true, that Allen Parker liked her, why didn’t he just say it? Why deduct her salary!She couldn’t stand the salary deduction!Just then, a warm hand re
The argument in the bedroom suddenly ceased.They didn’t come out afterward.Emily understood.She grabbed her keys and phone, and left the room. These two, one had love but wouldn’t express it, the other couldn’t see the other’s feelings. For them to finally express their feelings was no easy feat. She decided to give them some space to be alone together.With that thought, Emily felt that room 2307 at the Hilton Hotel was quite a magical place.It seemed like a room designed for creating couples.As for the movie? She’d watch it alone.There was a cinema not far from the Hilton Hotel. Emily bought a ticket and waited outside for the screening to begin.Mr. Satan called her: “You went out?”“Yes,” Emily briefly explained the situation with Allen Parker and Olivia to him: “I thought I should give them some space.”“Hmm,” Mr. Satan didn’t comment further: “Are you okay by yourself? Do you want me to come with you?”Emily refused: “No. Focus on your work. I’m just pregnant, not incapabl
Another young couple behind them voiced their impatience: “Exactly. You knew one adult can bring one child, yet you still brought two. I can’t stand kids in the cinema. They’re noisy and disruptive, ruining the movie experience. Cinemas should ban kids or have special screenings for them. It’s really annoying otherwise…”The young mother looked crestfallen and hurriedly left the line with her children.“Wait—”Emily quickly stepped forward, calling after the young mother.The young mother apologized as she saw Emily: “I can’t join you for the movie, but the seats next to yours are all mine. You should have more space to yourself.”“You know that’s wasting resources, right? You bought those seats, so others couldn’t. What about people who wanted to watch this movie?”It was the young couple again, likely college students, speaking rudely. The boy was silent, but the girl’s disdain for the children was evident, her face twisted with irritation.Even though the mother had stepped out of
The audience who had already left realized their phone was missing, likely left behind in the cinema.Soon, the same college girl who had caused a commotion at the entrance rushed back inside, heading straight for the edge of the ninth row, searching frantically.“My phone is missing! There’s a thief in this cinema!”Her boyfriend hurried over: “Did you really lose your phone?”The girl nodded vigorously: “It’s the new model I just bought. I’ve only had it for a few days. Someone must have stolen it in the dark during the movie!”The boyfriend frowned deeply: “If it’s lost, it’s lost. With so many people here, it’ll be hard to find.”“No way,” the girl refused outright: “I was sitting right here. Everyone was watching the movie. The thief must be among these people. I won’t let this slide. I need an explanation.”She then ran over to speak with the staff.The staff nodded and used a walkie-talkie to notify the broadcast station.Soon, an announcement asked the audience from rows six t
Everyone present was stunned.Emily, who appeared gentle and soft, could be this fierce?The girl was also taken aback, not expecting Emily to confront her directly.“What do you think you’re doing? Help, she’s hitting me!”The girl sat on the ground, crying loudly and making a scene: “You must be a gang of thieves! Stealing and then hitting people? Is there no law?”Law?Emily took off her jacket and covered the young mother with it, “How are you?”The young mother could barely speak through her pain, murmuring: “My children… My children…”“Your children are safe. I had your daughter take your son to the staff outside,” Emily reassured softly. “Can you get up?”The young mother sighed in relief: “I’m fine, as long as the children are okay…”Despite her words, Emily caught a faint scent of blood.She felt around under the young mother and found her hand coated in sticky crimson.“You’re bleeding. We need to get you to the hospital.”The young mother waved her off: “It’s nothing…”“Wha
Emily asked, "What are your names?"By now, the girl was too scared to speak up. St. John’s was one of the best schools in the city, and her father had spent a lot of money to get her admitted. If she got into trouble or was expelled, her father would find out about her relationship with the boy and the mess she had caused.“We won’t call anyone,” the girl mumbled, her attitude shifting dramatically. “Alright, I apologize. Ladies, I’m sorry. Is that enough? Can we go now?”“Stop right there.” Emily’s voice was stern.The girl, annoyed, retorted, “I’ve already apologized. What more do you want? We didn’t call anyone, there was no fight. Even if Mary comes, she can’t do anything to us.”“Maybe Mary can’t, but the police can.”Emily turned to the manager. “This girl kicked this mother, who recently gave birth and is now bleeding. The extent of her injuries needs to be assessed at the hospital. Please call the police. Let them handle this.”The manager nodded. He didn’t want trouble in hi
The hospital was quiet.Emily sat by the bed, holding the baby who had fallen asleep after playing. The little girl was curled up next to her mother, also sound asleep.“My son is very naughty. He cries whenever someone else holds him, but you managed to calm the little devil to sleep,” the young mother said, lying peacefully on the bed with an IV drip slowly feeding cool fluids into her veins.With both children asleep, Emily spoke softly, “Maybe it’s because I like kids.”“You must be a great mom.”Emily smiled. “I hope so. I don’t know if the baby in my belly is an angel or a devil.”The young mother continued, “My son is just like his father. We were classmates, and back then, he was the most mischievous student, always giving teachers a hard time. I never expected him to become a policeman, so different from before. What about your husband?”“He,” Emily’s lips curved into a smile, “is probably not that naughty, very steady.”The young mother nodded. “That’s a good personality. He
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