"The highway?""Yes, he's on the Ring Road elevated highway, and it's currently rush hour. There's heavy traffic on the highway, and it took a while for the ambulance to reach the scene."Emily's palms were sweating. "What's Jackson's condition?""I'm not sure. All I know is that eleven people died on the spot. Nine others are being treated at the scene, waiting for the next ambulance. No one knows how Jackson is right now..."Satan, sitting beside her, asked, "Which highway?""The Ring Road..."His car immediately accelerated, speeding out of the hospital parking lot and merging into traffic, heading straight for the Ring Road.Dylan was still on the phone, giving instructions. "Ma'am, I’ll keep an eye on Jackson’s condition. I've already notified the Parker family. You should stay in the hospital and take care of Mr. Norman. Leave the rest to me.""There's no time.""What?""We're... on our way to the scene."Satan suddenly took the phone from Emily and spoke directly to Dylan. "At
Three years ago, Bryden publicly declared that he didn’t want any of the Norman family’s money, then left to find his own future. Janet, being a girl and now having made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, had no interest in fighting her brother for the inheritance. She was also self-aware enough to know she wasn’t suited for business and would only squander their father’s assets. So Alex made the decision to let Vincent run the entire Norman Group, while splitting his real estate, stocks, funds, and cash equally between Bryden and Janet.But no matter how much cash they received, it was still a finite amount. The company, however, was the real "golden goose."This decision had weighed heavily on Mandy’s heart for a long time. But her children didn’t share her ambitions, and each had their own concerns. Add to that a mother-in-law who didn’t trust her, and Mandy had no one to confide in.In New York’s social circles, people often flock to power and wealth. As Mandy’s inf
Mandy was mostly convinced, but she still remembered the times Grace had tricked her in the past. Even though they had grown closer recently, Mandy remained cautious. Occasionally, she’d give Grace a few thousand dollars here and there, thinking of it as charity, but when it came to serious family matters, Mandy always kept her guard up.Grace wouldn’t just bring up such a topic for no reason—she had to have a motive.Mandy rolled her eyes. “Grace, just say what you really want.”“I don’t want anything,” Grace replied with a smile. “I’m barely scraping by as it is, worrying about where I’ll sleep or eat. How could I be thinking about all this? I’m only mentioning it so you can keep an eye out for yourself.”Mandy was skeptical. “And what’s your brilliant idea?”Grace lowered her head and smirked. “It’s quite simple, really. Find a trustworthy girl and have her marry Vincent. But this girl needs to be someone who’ll listen to you.”Mandy snorted. “So, that’s what this is about? You’re
“Mr. Norman, you haven’t eaten breakfast, have you?” The nurse came in, pushing a small cart and asked. Emily answered for him, “No, he hasn’t. The doctor told us last night that he’d need a blood test today, so he didn’t eat.” The nurse nodded, “Alright then, I’ll take Mr. Norman’s blood now.” The nurse prepared all the medical supplies, kneeling by the bed, carefully inserting the needle into his vein. The dark red blood began to flow through the tube. Emily felt her heart tighten at the sight, frowning without realizing it. The nurse chuckled, “Mr. Norman, you’re really lucky. Your wife is so worried about you, she looks pained just watching you get blood drawn.” Vincent smiled warmly, his gaze settling on Emily with affection. “I’m not… I’m not his wife,” Emily quickly corrected. “Oh?” The nurse blinked in surprise, “You’re not Mrs. Norman?” “No, I’m not,” Emily repeated. “Oh, I’m sorry,” the nurse quickly apologized. “I just assumed since you’ve been by his side the who
How long had it been since they had a conversation like this?That thought caught them both off guard.They used to have moments like this—so natural, so warm. But the fire... the fire had burned away all those memories, leaving nothing but ashes in room 2307 of the Hilton Hotel.Emily was the first to break the silence, trying to shift the conversation. "I wasn't trying to barge in or anything... it's just that I didn’t hear anything for a while, and I got worried something happened to you..."“Emily.”“Hm?”Satan chuckled softly, “It’s nothing.”Emily frowned, “Just say what you want to say.”“I just want to say... I’m happy.” Satan exhaled, a bit wistful. “You’re worried about me, and that makes me happy.”“Don’t get the wrong idea. I was just—”Satan gently cut her off, “It doesn’t matter why. Whatever the reason, I’m happy.”Emily let out a small, defeated laugh, shaking her head, “Whatever, I can never win an argument with you.”She reached out, holding onto his arm. "Let me hel
He was much lighter than before.Emily gently helped Satan back onto the bed. "You rest for now, I’ll go call the doctor—""Don’t," Satan grabbed her hand. "I’m fine... I’m not dressed. Don’t call anyone."Emily shook off his hand, her voice firm, "Don’t hold me back. I need the doctor to check on you, to make sure you’re really okay.""I know… Emily, please don’t," Satan pleaded, gripping her hand tightly. "I know my own body. I just need a little rest. Please, don’t go."Seeing the desperation in his eyes, Emily sighed in frustration, unable to pull away. "Just listen to me, alright?""I’m fine, I know it," Satan reassured her, finally relaxing when she didn’t insist on leaving. He closed his eyes, his face pale and drained of color.Emily was still worried, but she feared that if she pushed too hard, it might make things worse for him."Emily..." Satan’s voice was weak."Yeah?""I want some candy."Emily blinked in surprise. "What?"A man in his thirties asking for candy like a chi
Jackson opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out."Yes, I admit it," he finally said. "Three years ago, I deliberately told her that Vincent had given up on treatment, given up on their child. But I wasn’t lying about Vincent pulling another woman around in a hotel lobby while Emily was pregnant with his kid! He was unfaithful to her first!"Allen sighed and sat down in the chair beside the hospital bed, his voice calm but cold. "Sometimes what we see isn’t always the whole truth.""I don’t care what the truth is," Jackson shot back. "Vincent was messing around with a woman who looked just like Emily. You can’t tell me he was innocent!""But he was innocent," Allen said, his tone steady. "Do you even know who that woman was?"Jackson rolled his eyes. "I don’t want to know, and it doesn’t matter.""You saw it for yourself—the woman looked like Emily. Years ago, Vincent saved her, helped her pay off her debts, and gave her a second chance at life. But that woman, Penelope, was g
Emily gave a sad smile. "I can’t sleep."Satan sighed. "... Neither can I."In the quiet of the night, two sleepless people found a perfect moment to talk.Satan casually asked, "Emily, can you tell me what your three years in the UK were like?"Emily licked her lips and spoke simply, "There’s not much to tell. I studied and worked. My life was pretty dull. It wasn’t much different from how it was before, so I got used to it quickly. It didn’t even feel difficult—if anything, I found it fulfilling. Every moment of my day was packed, and that made me feel like life had purpose."Satan nodded thoughtfully. "You’ve always been a hardworking person.""It’s not that I’m particularly hardworking," she corrected. "I think I’m just used to being busy. Before, I worked hard for Sophia’s tuition, but now I’m working for myself, and that makes me feel happy. I felt lucky to be able to work for my own future.""Were you studying at Oxford?""Cambridge," Emily replied. "I thought about going to Ox
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