In the past four years, every time Emily did something that displeased Carol, she would pull Nathan over and complain, calling him on the phone if he wasn't home, all while shedding tears.Sometimes, Emily felt that Carol should just tie Nathan to her side. Nathan would be better off not getting married, just spending his life with his mother. Any woman who married into their family would be treated like a servant.As they spoke, a black sedan had already approached from a distance, driving smoothly yet swiftly, stopping in front of Emily in just a few seconds.Allen Parker?!He's here!Emily's heart began to leap with unrestrained joy."Emily," Allen Parker stepped out of the car, wearing a white mask today, just like when they met at room 2307 of the Hilton Hotel.Emily thought. Perhaps because Nathan was present today, he didn't want Nathan to know his identity."How are you holding up?"Emily bit her lip, her eyes reddening. "I got here quickly. Bert should still be on his way."M
When Emily looked back again, Nathan's figure was no longer there, only Carol sitting alone, sobbing softly.Bert understood some of what was happening and turned to Emily, confirming, "Is that Nathan's mother?"Emily nodded awkwardly, "Uncle... Carol's not in a good mood today. Shall we come back?"Bert frowned unwillingly, "I've already said I won't act impulsively. I'm just here to reason with Sophia. It's fine, go and comfort Carol, I'll go find Sophia directly.""Don't...""Don't stop me, I spent over fifty dollars on a taxi to get here, and you want me to leave empty-handed?"Money was hard-earned for Bert, and fifty dollars meant a lot to him.Today, he must have been truly urgent to take a taxi.Bert headed straight to the Reed mansion, and Carol stomped her feet in anger, "You people are all bastards! Every one of you is eyeing our money, trying to marry into our family? I'm not dead yet! This is the Reed family, not a place for you lowlifes to come and go as you please!!!"E
"Oh, so you've got someone backing you up now, daring to oppose me?" Carol was angry. "But your boyfriend doesn't even dare to show his face, still wearing a mask. Could he be some kind of fugitive?"Emily was about to say something when Mr. Satan intervened, still calm and composed. "If I were a fugitive, what do you think would happen to you for bullying my girlfriend like this?"Carol's face instantly paled, taking a few steps back, warily watching him. "What are you planning? Let me tell you, if you dare to harm me, my son won't spare you!""I'm already a fugitive, what's another life on my hands? What do you think?"As he took a step forward, Carol turned and ran back into the mansion, shouting in panic, "Son! Nathan! Call the police!"Emily was a bit worried, "Maybe you should leave first? If she really calls the police, you'll have to take off your mask.""Emily, are you worried about me?"Emily lightly pushed him, "I'm talking about serious matters here.""I'm not joking eithe
Carol was startled. "Doctor, doctor, can this child be saved?""We need to transfuse blood first to assess the situation. Sophia is in a bit of danger. We'll do our utmost to save the baby, but if the situation is too severe, we usually prioritize saving Sophia's life...""It doesn't matter, just forget about her life or death. As long as the baby can be saved!"The doctor gave her a stern look. "Are you really Sophia's family? If Sophia's life can't be saved, how can the baby be saved? She's only been pregnant for over four months. If Sophia dies, the baby won't survive either!"Carol was a bit flustered. "Oh, right, she's only been pregnant for less than five months. I forgot in my panic..."The doctor snorted. "Hurry up and arrange for blood donation. Both Sophia and the baby are waiting for blood to save their lives!""Alright, alright, I'll make the call right away..."Carol said this, but she had no confidence at all.Sophia didn't have many family members to begin with, and eve
With Sophia's words, Carol and Nathan could no longer lie."So, you're the one who got Sophia pregnant but couldn't admit it? Since Sophia is your wife's sister, no wonder her sister hasn't come," the doctor said. "But saving lives is the priority. You still want to save the child, right? You should persuade Sophia's sister to come.""No," Nathan refused outright. "Her sister's not well and can't donate blood."Sophia never expected Emily to donate blood for her. She pleaded with the doctor, "My sister won't come, but her father is in this hospital! You can let him donate blood!"The doctor nodded. "You should've mentioned it earlier. Is your sister's father a hospital staff member? What's his name? I'll arrange it immediately.""No, he's not. He's staying in a room upstairs. He can't move right now. You can just go up and draw blood!""What?"Several doctors couldn't believe their ears.What kind of family was she?Upstairs rooms usually housed patients with coronary heart disease an
Emily furrowed her brow and whispered, "I... I don't know. The doctor said...""This young lady is indeed pregnant! Absolutely!" The doctor in charge of drawing blood stepped out, pointing to the test report in her hand. "Look here, this HCG index is a clear indication of pregnancy. There's no mistake.""W... What?""HCG, human chorionic gonadotropin. Your HCG level is over twenty, indicating you're about five to seven weeks pregnant. We need further examination to confirm the details."Five to seven weeks?She had only known Mr. Satan for a little over a month, maybe less than two."Thank you, doctor. I'll take her for further examination."The doctor nodded, somewhat surprised, and glanced at Mr. Satan. "Forgive me for asking, but is your face... I mean no offense, but our hospital has excellent dermatology and plastic surgery departments. If needed, you can consult them on the second floor."Mr. Satan paused.He neither confirmed nor denied, just smiled faintly, maintaining his gen
"Let her go!"Nathan had somehow appeared outside the obstetrics and gynecology department.Sophia's operating room was far from here. Shouldn't he be there and guard her? How did he end up here?Emily pushed against Mr. Satan, signaling him to let her go.But Mr. Satan showed no intention of releasing her. Instead, he held her tighter, clearly indicating possession.Nathan's gaze changed instantly, a hint of tension between the two men.Emily struggled, but couldn't break free from his grip. She could only let him hold her. "Let's go.""No, you can't leave!" Nathan rushed up, blocking Mr. Satan's path, sneering, "Emily, you're still my wife, yet you're carrying another man's child. You think you can just walk away like this?"His voice was loud, immediately drawing the attention of many around.Outside the obstetrics and gynecology department, there were many pregnant women and their family members waiting for consultations. Their noise had quieted down, and all eyes were now on her,
"So, you're the boss of the Reed Group?! Give back our money!""Corrupt capitalist, how many people have you ruined?!"The scene outside the maternity ward was chaotic, with Nathan instantly surrounded by a group of pregnant women and men."Emily, let's go."Mr. Satan carried Emily with his arms and smoothly escorted her away from the commotion.As they got into the car, Emily still felt a lingering unease.Mr. Satan tenderly rubbed her forehead, fastened her seatbelt, and started the car. "Don't worry, your uncle is fine."Emily looked up at him.Mr. Satan gave her a gentle look. "I have some connections in New York City. Nathan can't touch the people I want to protect."Every time he said something like this, he seemed nonchalant. It was as if things that were difficult for ordinary people were trivial for him.If Nathan was considered an upper-class man, Emily couldn't imagine what Mr. Satan's true identity might be. When the truth was revealed, she wasn't sure if she could handle
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