"What did you say, Nathan?" Sophia looked at him in disbelief. "I'm the mother of your child! How could you say that about me?"Nathan grabbed his phone and was about to leave. "I have nothing to say to you right now.""Wait—" Sophia grabbed him, preventing him from leaving. "Nathan, I've done so much for you. I've been your mistress for three years, and you treat me like this?"Sophia held onto him tightly. Nathan wanted to shake her off, but considering she was pregnant, he could only let her pull him along.He said, "Sophia, neither of us is calm right now. Let's talk when we get back.""No!" Sophia dragged him into the bedroom. "Let's talk about this now!""Sophia, let go!"Sophia pushed Nathan onto the bed and then leaned in to kiss his lips. "Nathan, is it because I'm pregnant and we can't have sex that you went to find the car model? The doctor said I've passed the three-month danger period, so we can make love..."Nathan turned his head away to avoid her kiss. "Get up, don't h
The carpet in the room was also covered with rose petals. The entire room seemed to be engulfed in a romantic red hue. Although she hadn't drunk any alcohol, there was a kind of intoxicating charm that made her feel dizzy.Emily pushed him lightly, "I haven't changed my shoes yet..."She was still wearing white shoes because they had gotten a little dirty after going out. The pure and beautiful petals made her feel like even stepping on them would be sacrilege.She thought about squatting down to take off her shoes, but Mr. Satan was quicker.He knelt down in front of her, pulling her to sit on his lap."I can do it myself..."Mr. Satan didn't say anything, but the strength in his hands left no room for refusal. After she sat down on his lap, he leaned down to help her untie her shoelaces.Emily's hands were awkward, and she didn't know where to put them, so her body tensed up."Emily..."Mr. Satan suddenly called out, startling Emily. "Huh? Is it difficult for you to take off my shoe
Mr. Satan's lips covered hers, silencing her."Emily, this is a vow, not a wish."She bit her lip. "Just pretend it's a wish."He sighed deeply, a mix of happiness and resignation. "Emily, you're too kind.""What do you mean?""Luckily it's me you've encountered," Mr. Satan said. "If it were the man we just mentioned, James, who saved your father with money, would you treat him the same way? He's a playboy, and you would get hurt."Emily pouted. "I'm not stupid. I won't give my heart to every man.""Hmm," Mr. Satan expressed skepticism. "What if you had actually met him? What would you do then?""Well..." Emily paused, pondering for a moment, before replying, "I would definitely repay him. I would work harder to earn money to pay him back."Mr. Satan booped her nose. "He doesn't need money. You should know what men want from women. He wants you. Emily, let me ask you, if he demanded your body, would you agree?"Emily shook her head. "I've never thought about that question, and it's no
Sophia exclaimed in astonishment, "How could you say that about me?"Nathan didn't have time to waste on her nonsense. "Just remember, if you ever dare to touch my phone without permission again, I'll treat it as stealing trade secrets."He turned around to go to the balcony to answer the phone.Sophia grabbed him, hysterically pleading, "Are you going to fire me?""I remember that stealing trade secrets carries criminal liability. Don't you even understand the law?"He shook off Sophia's hand and headed to the balcony.Emily listened to the entire argument between Nathan and Sophia on the phone, finding it ridiculous.What is love?All she could say was that Sophia's luck was not too good. She hadn't enjoyed her good days for long before ending up in this situation."Emily..." Nathan's voice softened. "Why are you calling me so early? Does your father need money for the bills? How much do you need? I'll send it to you right away."After seeing his heartless demeanor, now facing his a
Emily had considered that Nathan might not show up, but she didn't expect him to be shameless enough to forcibly take her away on the street.Nathan's car was parked on the side of the street, and he easily subdued Emily, pressing her onto the back seat of the car.Emily was furious and lifted her foot to kick him. "Nathan, let go of me!"Dodging her attacks, Nathan firmly restrained her, looking down at her from above. "Emily, I won't agree to a divorce."Emily was furious. "Who do you think you are? You cheated, and I can file for divorce in court. It's just a matter of time, and I can wait. As long as you don't care about your personal and company image, I don't care!""Emily!""Hmm?""You're getting more and more aggressive now, hmm?"Gritting her teeth, Emily said, "You and Sophia bully me like that, and you don't allow me to fight back? Besides, I haven't really fought back against you. On the contrary, I decided to help you two."Nathan held her shoulders to keep her still, sne
Jackson's words were like a bomb, instantly blowing Emily's rationality away."You..." Emily looked at him in disbelief.Jackson smirked, his gaze roaming over her disheveled appearance. "What about me?""We are not the kind of relationship Nathan said at all, why would you admit it?" Emily exclaimed."It wasn't before," Jackson wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "but it is now."Nathan watched Jackson and Emily intimately, his eyes almost spewing fire!Emily was disheveled, and he wasn't in a good state either.His shirt was twisted and his face bore two blood marks, clearly scratched by a woman's nails.He touched his face and indeed found blood on his fingertips."Jackson, let me tell you, Emily and I have been married for four years, she's no longer a virgin. I heard that you have a serious obsession with cleanliness, don't you care that she's not a virgin?" Nathan's words were quite harsh.Emily gritted her teeth and glared at him, "I've told you, Jackson and I don't have the ki
"Beauty is a subjective judgment, I don't know how to compare," Emily replied.Jackson rolled his eyes. "I'll preface this by saying I'm not trying to flatter you, but in terms of looks and figure, I think very few women can compare to you."Emily didn't quite understand why the topic suddenly shifted. But she didn't want to delve into her private matters, especially with her boss.She could only awkwardly nod. "...Thank you for the compliment."Jackson smirked. "So, Nathan is the CEO. You should be entitled to a significant sum from the divorce, why are you out here looking for a job?""I didn't get any money," Emily took a deep breath.Jackson didn't press further on the matter.What could make a woman leave Nathan without taking any money?"If you're willing to trust me, I'll have my lawyer handle your divorce case for you."Emily declined. "No need. Nathan will definitely divorce, at the latest by the end of this month."Jackson raised an eyebrow. "Are you that sure? Emily, let me
Emily's heart tightened instantly.Jackson glanced back at Emily still in the back seat, his tone deep, "Yeah, she's in my car."Allen Parker on the other end of the phone seemed to say something again. Jackson responded with a grunt of acknowledgment before impatiently hanging up.Emily couldn't help but ask tentatively, "What did your brother say?"Jackson gave her a disdainful look. "What does it matter to you what my brother says? Emily, you're quite something, even my brother is attracted to you? Are you some kind of enchantress?"Emily pursed her lips. If only she were an enchantress, would Sophia have destroyed her marriage?If she were an enchantress, she could have just scratched Nathan's face."He said to drop you off at the intersection, and he'll come to pick you up," Jackson irritably ruffled his hair, adding with a warning, "Emily, if you already have a man, you better tell my brother early. Don't make him look like a fool like me."Emily touched her nose. Your brother i
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