Mr. Anderson chuckled. “That gentleman looked like a big boss. He probably makes back the money he spent on this trip in a minute!”An older man sitting nearby asked, “If he’s so rich, why’d he join a low-budget senior tour group like ours? Five hundred euros wouldn’t even cover the cost of his round-trip flight.”Mr. Anderson glanced slyly in Emily’s direction, grinning. “Maybe the trip wasn’t the main attraction for him…”At his comment, the group’s curiosity shifted, and it didn’t take long for most of them to piece it together. The young woman traveling with her uncle, sweet, kind, and attractive, had probably caught the big boss’s eye. That’s why he joined the tour.Bert, however, wasn’t too pleased with the speculation. He nudged Emily’s shoulder, speaking softly. “Miranda, switch seats with me. I get dizzy looking out the window.”After they swapped seats, Bert sat upright, shielding Emily from the group’s gossiping eyes.His silent gesture made it clear, and the others quickly
The first day of the trip passed in a blur of exhaustion and long hours on the road.It was exactly what one would expect from a budget tour.They had only visited the Colosseum, and the rest of the afternoon was spent shuffling between various shopping stops. The people on the tour were less than pleased, but there was little Mr. Anderson could do—it was the company’s itinerary. At this price, visiting too many tourist spots would have put the travel agency out of business.By the time they returned to the hotel, it was already past 11 p.m. Mr. Anderson, after seeing all the elderly tourists safely to their rooms, collapsed onto a sofa in the lobby, thoroughly exhausted.As Emily passed by the front desk, the receptionist called out to her. “Miss Carter, there’s a package here for you.”“A package?”“Yes,” the receptionist replied, handing over a slim envelope. “It was delivered this afternoon. Since you weren’t here, we signed for it. Please check for any damage.”The packaging was
In the following days, Emily stayed in Rome, accompanying her Uncle Bert as they explored the city. Although Bert enjoyed visiting some of the historical sites, he struggled with the local cuisine. Being in his middle years, he found it difficult to adapt to the food in a foreign country. While the sights brought him joy, the meals left him uncomfortable. In fact, after a few attempts to avoid troubling Emily to fetch him food, he forced himself to eat local dishes, only to end up with a bad case of food poisoning, leaving him feeling weak and drained.Emily grew increasingly concerned. “Uncle, let me take you to the hospital. You’re not looking well.”But Bert firmly refused. “If I can’t handle the food here, what makes you think I’ll do better in one of their hospitals? I’ll be fine. I just need a few days of rest. When we get home, the first thing I’ll do is have a proper meal.”No matter how hard Emily tried to convince him, Bert adamantly avoided anything related to Rome. Instead
“That’s different,” Dylan responded smoothly. “Our CEO isn’t very experienced in negotiations, but almost every deal The Great Wall Group has made was handled by me. I believe I have better negotiation skills than him.”Emily remained noncommittal. “I won’t deny that, Dylan, but I’ve already accepted the offer from Stardream Group. I’m not the kind of person who backs out at the last minute.”“In business, just like in war, there’s nothing you can’t do if you set your mind to it. If you agree, The Great Wall Group will take care of everything, and you won’t have to worry about a thing.”Dylan’s relentless pressure made Emily frown slightly. “This isn’t about worry, Dylan. I’m genuinely happy with Stardream. I want to work with them. It’s not about salary or benefits.”“So, Miss Carter, it sounds like your mind is made up?”“That’s right,” Emily nodded. “I’ve made my decision.”Dylan gave a disappointed but resigned smile. “Well, in that case, I won’t push any further. Just know that t
The driver grumbled under his breath but took the money, seemingly relieved to drop them off and make a quick U-turn. The traffic ahead looked terrible, and nobody knew how long they’d be stuck.Emily helped Bert out of the car and knocked on the trunk, signaling for the driver to open it so they could retrieve their luggage. However, instead of complying, the driver slammed on the gas and sped off, leaving them standing there in shock.Bert cursed loudly. “What kind of person does that? We paid him, and we even tried to be considerate about his time! This feels like robbery! All our stuff is in there!”Luckily, Emily had all the important items like passports and documents in her handbag, so they wouldn’t miss their flight.“It’s fine. Getting on the plane is more important right now. We didn’t have anything too valuable in the luggage. I’ll transfer some money to your account once you’re back home, and you can replace whatever you need,” Emily reassured him.Bert sighed, looking dis
The CEO of Stardream Group turned out to be a young British man, barely in his early thirties. He had the quintessential English look—fair skin, blond hair, and blue eyes. Everything about him exuded politeness and the mannerisms of a classic English gentleman."Hello, Miss Carter. Welcome to Stardream," he greeted with a smile, his voice warm and professional.Emily returned his smile with grace. "It’s an honor to be here."“Haha, I saw you on the live broadcast during the Pritzker Prize ceremony, and now meeting you in person... You really are the quintessential beauty.”Emily smiled politely. "You’re a true British gentleman.""Charming," the man laughed. "Let me introduce myself properly. I’m Adam, the current CEO of Stardream. I recently took over the company and am eager to build my leadership team. I admire your expertise, and I’d like to offer you the position of Director of Design. I believe my HR director already discussed the salary and benefits with you over the phone, but
Emily raised her hand with a smirk. “Come on, let’s go. What do you want to eat? Today’s my treat.”Jackson exaggerated his reaction, feigning shock. “Wow, the Director of Design at Stardream Group is treating me to a meal? What an honor! I think I should commemorate this moment somehow.”“How are you going to—hey, what are you doing?”Before Emily could finish her sentence, Jackson pulled her into an embrace, wrapping his arm around her waist and planting a quick kiss on her cheek. He snapped a selfie at the same time, capturing the moment.“What the—”Jackson looked smugly at the picture on his phone, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. “Finally! After all these years, I’ve managed to steal a kiss.”Emily frowned and reached into her bag for a tissue to wipe her face. “You got your saliva all over me.”But Jackson grabbed her hand before she could wipe it off. “Nope, no wiping. This is my first kiss, and it’s too memorable. I need to take more pictures before you erase it.”
After finishing their ramen, Jackson mentioned he wanted to wander around the area, while Emily returned to the office.As soon as she got back, HR delivered some news. “Miranda, your assistant Amy has completed her onboarding process. We’ve set up her desk right outside your office. Is that arrangement okay with you?”Amy is here too? Emily thought with some surprise. Although Amy could be clumsy and a bit unreliable at times, Emily had grown to enjoy working with her. She had a way of lifting Emily’s spirits, especially when things got tough. Amy was like a little ball of sunshine.Just as HR was explaining, Amy peeked through the office door. As soon as she saw Emily, her face broke into a huge smile, and she waved energetically. “Miranda! It’s me, Amy!”The HR rep frowned slightly at her outburst, but Emily quickly stepped in. “It’s fine. Please set up Amy’s desk right beside mine in the office.”“In the office? Are you sure?” the HR rep asked, hesitating. “Normally, assistants si
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