Emily closed her eyes, trying to regulate her breathing, pushing down the emotions surging within her.“Mr. Norman, this is the ladies' restroom,” she said, her voice strained.“I know,” Satan replied, leaning in, seemingly inhaling the scent of her hair. “You changed your shampoo too.”“Mr. Norman, I came to the Great Wall Group to provide design support, not to discuss shampoos or menstrual cycles with you,” Emily said, her frustration barely concealed.Satan didn’t stop, lifting a strand of her hair from her shoulder, bringing it to his nose. “It’s true, it’s different. You used to use gardenia—light and fresh. Now, it’s lavender, much stronger.”Emily had enough. She reached out and gave him a hard push.Perhaps he hadn’t expected her to resist physically; he stumbled back a couple of steps.Free at last, Emily almost ran out, as though chased by a hundred demons.She wanted nothing more than to leave this place—especially when she was alone with him.Her menstrual cycle, her sham
Emily descended the stairs directly to the lobby on the first floor.Steven saw her coming and quickly caught up. “Miranda, while you’re in New York, I’ll be taking care of everything regarding your accommodation. Do you have any specific requests for the hotel? I can book it right away.”Emily looked at him, “Did Mr. Norman send you?”“No, it was Dylan who asked me to come,” Steven replied with a slightly awkward smile. “He said you might not want to see him and since I’m a new face, you might not feel too opposed.”Emily hummed, “He certainly knows me well.”“Well, Dylan has been Mr. Norman’s assistant for so many years. He’s very experienced.” Steven noticed Emily's red eyes, as if she had just been crying. To change the subject, he added, “About the hotel…”“North-facing, not much sunlight, and a room with a kitchen—those are my requirements,” Emily replied.Steven nodded eagerly. “Got it, I’ll take care of it now.”He jogged ahead of her to hold the door open as they exited the b
Steven finally managed to move Emily’s room to the third floor. It was a lower level, with less natural light and tucked away at the end of a hallway. While it was a bit out of the way, it was at least quiet.After taking a shower, Emily sat down on the bed, placing her laptop on her knees. She hadn’t been with Stardream for long, so there was a lot she still needed to catch up on. Every day, the design department sent her project reports, which she tried to review diligently to keep up with the pace.Amid the usual work emails, one stood out.It was from Adam, her boss, and contained a profile picture of a man."Leslie – his background is mysterious. Some say he’s the eldest son of the Norman family, but there are also rumors he’s only an adopted son, not their biological child. Three years ago, the Great Wall Group merged with the Norman Corporation. Many suspect it was a plan twenty years in the making, where the adopted son stole the inheritance, leaving the biological children po
New York City was especially cold today.Even in the short distance from the car to the company building—barely fifty meters—Emily felt like the chill had seeped deep into her bones.Dylan took off his thick down coat and offered it to her. "Here, put this on.""No need."Dylan insisted. "Please, take it. The weather’s too cold, and you just got back. You probably didn't bring anything warm. I'll have Steven go buy you a coat later. Size L, right?"Emily shook her head. "Size M."Dylan sighed, a hint of sadness in his voice. "So you lost more weight... No wonder the boss was so worried, waiting outside the hotel just to make sure you were okay."Emily followed him into the elevator, watching him press the button for the 42nd floor."He waited for me outside?"Dylan nodded. "Yes. The fire at room 2307 almost destroyed the entire floor. The 2307 suite was left in ruins, and even after the hotel renovated it, trying to restore it, some things can never go back to the way they were."Emil
"Ken."A slim woman approached, her sharp heels clicking against the polished floor. She wore a tight, purple dress with a fur shawl draped across her shoulders. Her makeup was so thick that her natural features were almost impossible to discern, and her perfume was overpowering, filling the air with an overly strong scent.Ken's face immediately changed when he saw her. He stood up, wearing a faint smile that did not reach his eyes, and his gaze was full of disdain. "Oh, it's manager Miller. What brings you here?"The woman, known as manager Cathy Miller, cast a condescending glance at Emily. "So, you must be the designer the boss hired with so much effort and money—Miranda, the winner of the Pritzker Prize?""Yes," Ken nodded, "This is Miranda.""Miranda, nice to meet you." Cathy Miller extended her hand for a handshake. Emily smiled politely and was about to shake her hand, but Cathy pulled her hand away abruptly, leaving Emily in an awkward position with her hand frozen in the air
Before long, Steven arrived, hurrying around the office to help set up Emily's equipment. He was sweating by the time he was finished.Emily handed him a glass of water. "Thank you for your hard work, have some water."Steven waved his hand, smiling sheepishly. "No way, even my boss listens to you. I can't possibly let you pour me water.""Your boss? Mr. Norman?" Emily asked."Well, Dylan is kind of my boss," Steven clarified. "I'm technically Mr. Norman's assistant, but I'm sort of Dylan's apprentice, so to speak."While Steven handled the heavy lifting, Emily focused on organizing lighter items like office supplies and folders. Meanwhile, Ken was off at another meeting, busy as always."Steven, do new employees always have to report to Human Resources?" Emily asked.Steven grimaced and dusted off his hands. "Technically, yeah, but the HR manager is new. Everyone already has company badges, but she insists we all re-register with her and get a new review. It's ridiculous. Heck, the c
Emily instinctively took a few steps back. "Shouldn't I coordinate my work with Ken? Isn't he around?""I asked him to leave," Vincent replied. "Emily, why are you avoiding me?"He spoke with difficulty, his voice rough and full of effort.Emily turned her head away, avoiding eye contact. "Where’s Dylan? Didn’t he go looking for you?" she asked, trying to change the subject."Answer me!" Vincent cut her off.He took a step forward. Emily tried to turn and leave but found the door behind her locked. The blinds were pulled down, and there was no way anyone outside could see what was happening inside."What’s the meaning of this, Mr. Norman?" she demanded."I just want to talk to you," he said, slowly approaching until he stood right in front of her. "Please, don’t avoid me."Emily turned her face away, avoiding his gaze. "There’s nothing left to say between us, Mr. Norman. Besides, you have someone else now. I don’t want to get tangled up in this mess again, only to end up being targete
Emily smiled patiently as she explained, "Please look here. According to the plan, this is a children's playground, with many play structures for kids. It’s clearly labeled on the blueprint."Ken nodded. "Yes, we saw that part."Emily continued, "While the kids are playing, the adults also need a place to rest. Taking care of kids is exhausting, so this area is designed as a resting spot specifically for the parents. From here, they can watch the entire playground, keeping an eye on their children while also getting some rest."After Emily's explanation, everyone finally understood."This design is really considerate," one of the designers said. "My wife always complains about how exhausting it is to take care of our kid, constantly keeping an eye on him to make sure he’s safe.""Yeah, my son is three now, always full of energy and getting into trouble. Taking care of him is seriously a workout," another added.Ken, however, stayed quiet, simply stroking his chin while watching Emily.
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