Chapter 1 1 She Can't Get Pregnant

"Madam, please don't be too discouraged. Your situation is not too serious. The ability to conceive is closely related to one's emotional state. Please keep a positive attitude and cooperate with the treatment. I believe you will have a healthy baby." It was the hottest season in LA, but Emily Carter, just out of the hospital, felt like she was enveloped in a chill as if a cold breeze had swept over her, causing her body to uncontrollably shiver. Her Mother-in-law, Carol, stood at the hospital entrance, grabbed Emily's hand as soon as she saw her, and snatched the health report from her, murmuring incessantly, "Let me see. How can someone be married for so many years without having a child?" Emily instinctively tried to snatch the report back. But Carol pushed her away, disregarding Emily's pale face, and opened the report right there on the street. Emily staggered back, almost falling. The recent stress had taken a toll on her, and she realized that she hadn't drunk water for a long time. The scorching summer sun made her feel dizzy for a moment. Carol continued muttering, but Emily couldn't hear her for a moment. "Look! This is your problem! You can't conceive at all," Carol shouted, pulling Emily back from her dizziness. "I..." Emily felt too weak to argue with her anymore. She just wanted to go home. Carol frowned at the words "blocked fallopian tubes" on the report, her face darkening as if she had just returned from hell. "What else do you have to say? The hospital diagnosis gives you less than a 20% chance of getting pregnant!" Carol's anger grew stronger. Emily shook her head, trying to clear her mind. She knew Carol had always disliked her because she had been married to Nathan for four years without getting pregnant. No, Carol had disliked her from the first day she married Nathan. People passing by heard Carol's voice and looked at them. Emily felt like a clown. Nathan Reed was the only heir of the famous Reed family in LA. Emily understood Carol's desire for a boy to inherit the family fortune, and since their marriage wasn't based on love, she had been silently enduring it. "Carol," Emily tried to remain patient, "let's go home first.""That's the Reed family's mansion, not your home. Get it straight! You're not worthy!" Emily frowned. "Regardless, Nathan and I are legally married. You can't change that fact...""I can't change it? You'd better divorce Nathan right away! Don't think I don't know what you're planning. Let me tell you, you won't take anything from our family's fortune!" More and more people gathered around, and the scorching weather and sharp looks around made her increasingly embarrassed. Emily took a deep breath, feeling hopeless and helpless. If she had known it would be like this, perhaps she wouldn't have agreed to marry Nathan in the first place. She was just an ordinary girl, originally with no chance of meeting a billionaire like Nathan. But Emily's grandfather and Nathan's grandfather had been friends, and her grandfather had even saved Nathan's grandfather. Later, Emily's family declined, and Emily could only live in the slums. To take care of poor Emily, Nathan's grandfather asked Nathan to marry her before he died. Nathan was initially unwilling. Which eligible bachelor would marry an ordinary girl like Emily? But seeing his grandfather weak in the hospital, he agreed. This year marked their fourth year of marriage. In these four years, Nathan hadn't bullied her, but he hadn't been very enthusiastic either. Their relationship was only slightly better than that of strangers, and it couldn't even be considered friendship. Nathan's circle of friends was completely different from hers, and she didn't expect Nathan to understand her or to resist Carol for her. She just didn't expect that this marriage would end up in such a deadlock. "Carol, our marriage was decided by our grandfathers...""He's dead, isn't he? Emily, do you think you can be Mrs. Reed forever?" Carol's tone grew louder. Just as Emily thought she was about to start another round of rebuke, Carol suddenly put on a smiling face and pointed to a couple embracing not far away, saying to her, "See that? Someone is giving birth to an heir for our family. I suggest you give up the position of Mrs. Reed quickly. Someone else is more suitable for it than you." Following Carol's gesture, Emily's gaze fell on her husband Nathan, who was tenderly holding a pregnant woman with a slightly protruding belly in his arms, lowering his head affectionately. The woman whispered something in his ear, and Nathan smiled gently, kissing her forehead. She had never seen Nathan smile so tenderly at herself. Her gaze fell on the pregnant woman in Nathan's arms, and a strange sense of familiarity swept over her. The pregnant woman was no stranger; it was her cousin, Sophia. Shock, anger, disbelief. Multiple emotions flooded her mind, and Emily almost couldn't believe her eyes. Sophia noticed her gaze, and she slowly walked to Emily, stroking her belly and said happily, "Emily, my cousin, I'm pregnant with Nathan's child. We just had a check-up, and the doctor said the baby is very healthy. Guess if it's a boy or a girl?" Emily looked at her already pregnant belly, trembling, unable to speak complete words. "How could you... He's your brother-in-law! How could you do this to me? How could you seduce your own brother-in-law?" Emily instinctively raised her hand to slap her, but her hand was grabbed in mid-air. Nathan, with a stern face, seized her hand and pushed her away forcefully. Stepping forward, he shielded Sophia behind him and said in a low voice, "Emily, you've seen it. We're getting divorced." Emily closed her eyes, overwhelmed with exhaustion and powerlessness. "When did you two get together? As your wife, I still have the right to know.""You dare to ask? Let me tell you, Emily, you have no right to interfere in our family's affairs, let alone Nathan!" Carol was extremely arrogant at this moment. Emily felt suffocated, and she growled lowly, "I am Nathan's wife. My husband cheated, and I have the right to know, don't I?""You, with your background living in the slums, dare to think you can be the wife of the Reed family? Nathan's grandfather was confused, but I am not!" More and more people gathered around, as if watching a real-life drama show. She never imagined that one day she would be the protagonist of such a farce. Sophia looked guilty, leaning softly against Nathan's chest, saying softly, "Carol, don't blame Emily. It's my fault. I... I just love Nathan so much." Carol took Sophia's hand and smiled, "Sophia, you're different from her. You're cultured, and now you're carrying the heir of the Reed family. You're my recognized daughter-in-law." Emily closed her eyes, hoping this was just a hallucination brought on by exhaustion. "Sophia, I've always taken care of you. Since you came to this city to attend university, I've treated you like family! I helped you get into Nathan's company." Emily couldn't control her tears anymore. "How could you do this to me?""Emily," Nathan spoke up, stepping forward and shielding Sophia behind him with a firm stance, "Sophia is now my woman. If you're angry, you can talk to me about it." Angry? What anger could she have? For four years, she had endured all the grievances alone, turning all her anger into pleasing. She had been trying hard to build a good relationship with Nathan and Carol, even treating the maid well. What more could she say now? At first, she was excited to marry Nathan. She likes him. She wanted to be a good wife, take care of her husband, and have a cute child. What was wrong with that? She didn't have any relatives. She thought she had gained new family members after getting married, but her marriage was ruined by her cousin. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart by an invisible hand, making her unable to stand up straight from the pain. "Go home. Don't make a fool of yourself on the street," Nathan, a famous billionaire in LA, didn't want to be recognized on the street by others. But when Emily's hand grasped the car door handle, Nathan said, "Take a taxi, don't take this car. Sophia will sit in this car." It's a car with four seats. He drove, Carol sat in the passenger seat, and Sophia sat alone in the back seat, apologizing with a smile, "Sorry, Emily. Nathan is just too worried about this child..." She smiled bitterly and closed the car door. The root of all this was because she couldn't have a child. Nathan drove away in a black Bugatti, leaving her alone standing at the hospital entrance, pointed and talked about by passers-by. She was Nathan's nominal wife, but also a family member not recognized by the Reed family.

Chapter 2 2 You're a Bastard

An hour later, Emily returned to the Reed family's villa. As soon as she entered, Emily saw Carol peeling an apple for Sophia. Nathan, on the other hand, sat by, his gaze fixed on Sophia's slightly swollen belly. His face bore a tenderness she had never seen before. They appeared to be a harmonious family. Emily pushed the door open and Carol's smile faded. "I thought you had left... Sophia, don't mind her, have an apple." Sophia looked uneasy as she tried to stand, clutching her waist. Nathan squeezed her hand. "Sit down, don't worry about anything else." Nathan stood up, his imposing figure dominating the room. "Emily, let's talk." Upstairs was her and Nathan's bedroom. Unfortunately, in the four years since, Nathan's visits home could be counted on one hand, mostly confined to the study. Entering the room, he approached the bed, lit a cigar, his voice icy. "Speak, what are your conditions?" Emily was puzzled. "What?""How much money will it take for you to agree to a divorce?" Nathan sneered. "You married me for money, didn't you?" Emily felt like she had plunged into an ice cellar. "I married you because..." Because I liked you. But Emily couldn't bring herself to say it. She choked up. Tears streamed down Emily's face. "I married you because of your grandfather's dying wish... He was kind to me, and I want to repay him.""Enough!" Nathan abruptly stubbed out the cigar. "You did everything to please my grandfather, forcing me to marry you! You have no feelings for me. Stop with the useless talk. How much money do you want? Tell me quickly. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Emily laughed bitterly. "Have you always seen me like this over the years? Am I just a gold digger who did anything to marry you?""Then what?" His voice was unusually cold. "Did you marry me because you love me?" All the words she was prepared to say became a joke. He regarded all her efforts and sacrifices over the years as a joke. Emily shook her head, smiling bitterly. "Nathan, you're a bastard.""As you wish," Nathan tore a check, signed it, and tossed it in front of her. "Fill in whatever amount you want. Tomorrow morning, come with me to the law firm to sign the divorce agreement." The light check fell at her feet. Emily didn't want to pick it up. "Do you really like Sophia so much? Do you love her enough to divorce me?" Nathan strode towards the bedroom door, not wanting to stay with her for another minute. "At least she won't schematically manipulate me. She's willing to have a child for me. But you, not only do you not love me, you won't have a child for me either." With a forceful slam, the door closed. Emily felt like her spine had been pulled out, collapsing onto the floor. Beside her lay the check, enough to end her marriage. Nathan's signature was clear. His handwriting, like him, appeared sharp and heartless. She picked it up, tore it to shreds, and threw the pieces out of the window. She leaned against the corner, enveloped by darkness, feeling a little safer this way. Her father had heart disease, her mother died in childbirth, and if it weren't for her father and Sophia's father's help, she might have died by now. In other words, Sophia's father and Nathan's grandfather were both her benefactors. The bedroom door swung open once again. Emily's crying came to an abrupt halt. She lifted her head, hoping it was Nathan who had arrived. Perhaps Nathan wasn't so heartless after all; perhaps they could still try surrogacy. As long as Nathan tried to understand her, she was willing to continue this marriage. "Emily, it's me." Sophia's voice shattered her last glimmer of hope. Emily's heart sank. She took a breath and looked at Sophia, who was slowly walking into the room, holding her waist, her voice indifferent. "I have nothing to say to you. Please leave." But Sophia said, "Nathan asked me to come up. He said this bedroom is mine from now on. Once you two divorce, we'll get married immediately..." Emily suddenly looked up, shocked at the woman before her. It was still the familiar face, but Sophia's expression seemed to have changed entirely, as if she had transformed into a different person from the pitiful Sophia just moments ago. "Emily, you don't need to be so surprised. You know, a poor girl like you was never worthy of marrying Nathan. You two are incompatible from every aspect. It's actually better to divorce sooner." Emily stared at her. "Even if we divorce, it's none of your business to lecture me!" Sophia smirked. "Emily, my Emily, do you know how amusing you look right now?""A person who ruins someone else's marriage has no right to say such things to me." Sophia shrugged, walked closer, and lowered her voice, her tone ambiguous. "You don't even know how amazing Nathan is in bed. The first time, we did it six times. He's very obsessed with my body. He told me he didn't want to touch you at all..." Emily's face went pale instantly. Since their marriage, Nathan had only touched her once, and that was two years ago when he was drunk. After that, they never slept together again. Not even Carol knew about this. "Emily, you're not worthy of Nathan. Even if it's not me, someone else will replace you as Mrs. Reed. Since that's the case, isn't this the best outcome now? My child will call you Aunt in the future..." She seemed to find something amusing, covering her mouth and chuckling. "Look, we're still a family...""Sophia, shut up!" Emily raised her hand in anger. Just then, Sophia's smile vanished, replaced by a weeping expression. She grabbed Emily's hand and fell to the ground. "Emily! It's all my fault, hit me if you want, but don't hurt my baby..." Bang! The bedroom door was kicked open forcefully. Nathan stood at the doorway, his eyes burning holes through her. Emily's hand remained suspended in mid-air, laughing out of frustration. So, this was what it was all about. She really had been foolish to the extreme, falling for such childish tricks. Sophia clutched her stomach, crying, "My belly hurts... Help me, Nathan... save our baby..." Carol's footsteps approached, the maid's cries of alarm, Sophia's cries—all the sounds mingled together. And she stood there, like an outsider. Carol raised her hand and slapped Emily twice, grabbing something nearby and hurling it at her. "Wretch! Dare to harm the heir of our Reed family!" A sharp pain shot through Emily's forehead, and a trickle of blood snaked down from her temple, staining her vision red. She stood in place, watching Nathan, who was holding Sophia in his arms, painfully saying, "If I said I didn't push her, would you believe me?" Nathan's answer was, "Are you worthy of my trust?"

Chapter 3 3 The Man in the Room

Nathan immediately dialed for an ambulance. The sound of the ambulance echoed downstairs. Each sound seemed to pierce Emily's ears. Nathan carried Sophia into the car, rushing down the stairs without looking back at Emily even once. Carol stood at the door, hands on hips, chest heaving with anger. She instructed the maid to throw all of Emily's belongings out and then pushed her out of the gate. "You wretched woman, how dare you attempt to murder the future heir of our Reed family. Get out, don't ever stay in our house again!" With a loud bang, the villa's gate slowly closed before Emily's eyes. Emily looked at the scattered clothes on the ground, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails almost pierced into her flesh. In truth, she didn't have much belongings. When she married Nathan, besides some basic necessities, she brought nothing else into this villa except for a pair of earrings left by her mother and some basic living supplies. The earrings were her mother's legacy, which she had treasured and kept in a small box. Now, they were rudely thrown out, one lying in the muddy grass, the other nowhere to be found. At that moment, her phone rang. She answered, "Hello?""Emily, I just saw Nathan at the hospital! He's actually with another woman...""He's with my cousin Sophia," she sighed bitterly. "I already know." The voice on the other end belonged to her longtime friend Olivia. Olivia's father was the hospital's director. Due to Carol's loud voice at the hospital entrance during the day, Olivia's father already knew what had happened. So Olivia called Emily to check if she was okay. "Emily..." Olivia sensed something was off in her voice and spoke cautiously, "Don't be too sad. Where are you now? I'll come pick you up. I'll accompany you." Olivia arrived quickly. Her red sports car skidded to a stop in front of the Reed family villa. When Olivia saw Emily, she had already gathered all her scattered belongings and packed them into a small suitcase. Emily sat alone at the flowerbed by the crossroads, her head hung low, looking like an abandoned child. "Olivia, you're here..." she stood up, forcing a smile. Olivia's eyes immediately reddened, "Are you being silly? I tried to stop you from marrying Nathan, but you wouldn't listen." Emily smiled wryly after hearing that, "Yes, I brought this upon myself." Olivia felt heartbroken, helping her into the car. "Let's not talk about this now. I'll take you somewhere to rest.""Olivia, I want to drink," Emily looked at her reflection in the rearview mirror and said softly. Seeing her in such a state, Sophia knew she wanted to drown her sorrows. She nodded, "Alright." The car stopped at the entrance of a bar. Olivia was a regular here. She took Emily to a familiar seat and ordered a bottle of liquor. Emily grabbed the bottle and started drinking. "Hey...slow down. You're not used to drinking such strong alcohol..." Emily smiled, warm tears sliding from the corners of her eyes, "It's okay, I'm happy.""You happy my foot!" Olivia was worried. The bar was a complex environment. They were two girls. If Emily got too drunk, she might encounter danger. Olivia called a waiter, "Please take this lady to room 2301." 2301 was the room Olivia had booked. It would be safer for them to drink in the room. Emily drank a lot of alcohol and soon felt dizzy. Her head was heavy and her thoughts were muddled. She only remembered Olivia patting her hand and saying, "Don't drink anymore. If you keep drinking like this, you'll get alcohol poisoning. I'll buy you some tablets to ease the alcohol. I'll be right back. Wait for me in my room, okay?" Emily nodded. She was helped by the waiter, taken to the elevator, and entered a room, collapsing onto the bed. The room was dark and quiet. Under the influence of alcohol, Emily's head was hot and throbbing. She could barely see anything with her eyes. She stumbled to the bedside and lay down. "Oh..." A warm body covered hers. A hot and aggressive kiss landed on her face. She was suddenly surrounded by the faint smell of a cigar. There was a man!!! Emily froze instantly, wanting to push him away, "Who are you?! How did you get in here?" She heard the man chuckle lowly, then whisper in her ear in a deep voice, "Be with me, I'll help you get revenge, take back what should have been yours. How about it?" The man's hands were cool, from Emily's buttocks to her thighs and then to her chest. Wherever his hands roamed, Emily felt her body getting hotter. "Uh...oh..." Emily wanted to refuse, but the man's touch and the seduction of alcohol made her moan. "I won't let you regret it." After the man finished speaking, he entered her body. Emily experienced feelings she had never felt before. A tingling and comfortable sensation spread throughout her body. She instinctively tightened her legs around the man's waist. ... When Emily woke up, she almost doubted if it was just a dream. Outside the window, it remained dark, pressing down oppressively, making it hard to breathe. Olivia was on the verge of madness. She couldn't find Emily, couldn't get through on the phone. Moreover, the hotel's surveillance was down for the day, and she was almost in tears from frustration. Just as she was about to call the police, she heard a voice behind her. "Olivia , I'm here." Olivia turned to see Emily, breathing a sigh of relief. Leading Emily into the room, she was still angry. "Was that waiter deaf? I clearly said room 2301, how did he take you to room 2307? I thought I lost you." Emily glanced at the time on her phone. It was two in the morning. Emily's body was sore, her head felt like it was about to explode. "Maybe the bar was too noisy, and the waiter didn't hear properly." Olivia said, "As long as you're okay. Here, take these tablets and milk." After taking the tablets, Emily felt much better. Emily's phone rang. It was a call from Nathan. Did Nathan finally remember to check on her? She answered, "Hello?""Where are you?" Nathan questioned coldly. Emily replied just as coldly, "That's none of your business." Nathan paused, "Tomorrow morning, we'll go through with the divorce proceedings. Then you can do whatever you want, be as promiscuous as you like.""Promiscuous?" Her mind went blank. "My mom said she saw you being picked up by a luxury car. Emily, I didn't expect you to have already found a new man. I underestimated you." Emily rolled her eyes, "The person who picked me up was Olivia... Forget it, you won't believe anything I say anyway." She hung up the phone. At that moment, Emily suddenly felt that this relationship was meaningless. She had encountered someone who didn't love her. No matter what she did or said, she was always wrong. In Nathan's eyes, she wasn't even worthy of his trust. It was ridiculous. Olivia said, "Don't worry, divorce isn't a big deal. This marriage of yours isn't worth continuing. You're so beautiful, you'll definitely find a better man." In the hospital, Nathan looked at his phone screen, somewhat surprised. This was the first time Emily had hung up on him. Sophia held Nathan's hand, "Is Emily okay?""She should be. She's with Sophia." Sophia nodded, "Then I'll feel relieved. Nathan, thank goodness our child is okay, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do..." Speaking of the child, Nathan's heart softened instantly. "Don't worry, with me here, no one will harm you and the child.""Yeah," Sophia obediently nodded, "Nathan, what happened between us must have hit Emily hard. I feel guilty." The smile on Nathan's face faded a bit, "Don't think too much, rest well. The nanny is here to take care of you. I have to go back to the office to deal with some matters.""Alright, drive safely. Both me and the baby love you." Watching Nathan leave, Sophia took out a phone from her handbag and made a call. As soon as the call connected, Sophia eagerly asked, "Where are the photos? It's already past the time we agreed on, why haven't you sent the photos to my email yet?"

Chapter 4 4 Mr. Satan

A man's voice blasted through the phone, dripping with frustration: "We've been holed up in room 2302 all night, a dozen of us. Not a single woman showed up! You're sending us here to take nude pictures of some chick, but my boys wasted a whole night waiting. Sophia, you better not be playing games with us." Sophia's brow furrowed. "That woman didn't go to 2302? That doesn't make any sense..." Knowing that Olivia frequented the bar, Sophia had bribed the security beforehand. Once Olivia entered room 2302, the security would bring in a few guys to strip her down, and then Sophia would use those nude photos to pressure Emily into divorcing Nathan. Emily only had Olivia as a friend, and she couldn't afford to have those compromising photos leaked. So, she'd surely opt for a divorce with Nathan. But fate had a different plan in store. Just hours ago, Sophia received a call from the bar's security. They had spotted Emily entering the bar! It seemed like luck was on Sophia's side. She decided to redirect the plan towards Emily using the security. It was a solid plan, but unexpected hurdles arose. The man on the other end of the line remained incensed, "Sophia, you've played tricks on us,l. You owe me double the cash, or I'll spill the beans to Nathan about everything you've done!" Sophia seethed and abruptly ended the call. This security guard had a shady past, having spent time behind bars. Sophia knew he was capable of anything. Under her breath, Sophia cursed. She couldn't afford to fork over that much cash, but she could find another way to make it up to him. After all, he agreed to help her for one reason—to exploit women. She could lure Emily into her trap once more and make her compensate the scoundrel. Meanwhile, Emily's phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. "Watch out for room 2302. There are several men there looking to cause you harm. All orchestrated by Sophia." Emily's heart skipped a beat. Despite the hotel's decent soundproofing, she couldn't ignore the looming danger from next door. Fear crept in further. Her trembling fingers tapped out a response. "Who are you?""Don't you remember? We were together just an hour ago." It was him! That man! Emily's hands shook even more. Another text followed: "Think over what I said last night, and give me a call after you've made up your mind." At the message's end was a signature—Satan. The name instantly conjured memories of the man pinning her down yesterday. He was like a devil from hell, emanating a mysterious yet dangerous aura. He had offered to help her seek vengeance. Did he hold a grudge against Nathan? Who was he? Was he Nathan's business rival or Sophia's admirer? Emily's mind raced with questions. She shut her eyes, trying to clear her thoughts. She was just a soon-to-be-divorced woman. What more could others possibly want from her? Dawn broke, casting the room in a soft glow. Emily stared at the sunlight, feeling as though yesterday's events were nothing but a dream. But the remnants of alcohol and the hotel room reminded her of the dramatic reality. She rose from bed, surveying the room slowly. Another text arrived on her phone. "There's a bank card on the table with a million in it. Spend it as you please, and let me know if it's not enough." Emily was taken aback. "Mr. Satan, are you trying to keep me?""I know it's not much. I didn't have much cash on hand when I rushed out last night. I'll provide more later." Emily was stunned, lost for words. She dialed the number from the message. The call connected after a long wait. A deep, gravelly voice greeted her. "Emily?" His tone, calling her name, carried an ambiguous intimacy, as if a hand were reaching through the phone to caress her. Nathan had always addressed her with icy detachment. This was the first time a man had called her name with such warmth. Emily hesitated but gathered her resolve. "Mr. Satan, I appreciate the offer, but I don't want to be kept. I understand your intentions, but I don't need your help right now. What happened last night was just a one-time thing, and we owe each other nothing." The man chuckled softly. "You're quite sensible. You've piqued my interest even more.""You..." Emily trailed off. "Emily, there's no rush to refuse me. I understand your situation, and I know you need the money.""I don't need it. I can earn my own money." Emily's voice was resolute. Accepting money from the devil at this juncture wasn't a straightforward decision. But as soon as she hung up, the hospital called. "Emily, your father fell ill after a call and needs emergency surgery. Please come immediately!" Emily rushed to the hospital, where her father had already been wheeled into the operating room. "How is my dad?" Emily asked a nurse anxiously. "He was stable before, but after a call this morning, he fell ill. His blood pressure spiked to 180... The doctors are doing their best...""Doing their best" sounded so inadequate in the face of her father's life. Her father, William Carter, suffered from heart disease and had been on medication for years. But his condition worsened over time. The doctor emerged from the operating room, his scrubs stained with blood. "Are you William Carter's daughter?""I am. How's my dad?" Emily's voice trembled. "He's in critical condition and needs immediate surgery..." The doctor's expression was grave. Emily nodded fervently. "Please, doctor, you have to save him...""But the surgery costs..." The surgery would cost thirty thousand. Despite being Nathan's wife, Emily didn't have that kind of money. But with her father's life on the line, she had no choice! She found Nathan's number on her phone and dialed. It took a while for the call to connect. Nathan's voice, cold as ice, came through. "Are you in such a hurry to divorce?" It dawned on Emily that they had agreed to meet for divorce proceedings today. The time on her phone read seven thirty, still before the appointed hour. "Nathan..." Emily's voice wavered, "Can you lend me thirty thousand...""Hmph!" Nathan's disdain was palpable. "Regretting it now? Did I fill in the wrong amount on the check I gave you yesterday? Is that why you need more money to agree to the divorce?""No... I..." Emily struggled to explain, the urgency of the situation pressing on her, "Nathan, even if I beg, I only need thirty thousand... After all, I'm still your wife." Nathan cut her off. "Emily, your greed is sickening." The nurse's voice could be heard in the background, urging her to make a decision quickly. Gritting her teeth, Emily persisted. "Nathan, call me greedy or promiscuous, but consider this thirty thousand a loan. I'll work hard to pay you back. My father's condition is critical, and I've never asked anything of you before, but this time, I'm begging you...""Critical?" Suddenly, Sophia's voice pierced through the line, dripping with malicious amusement. "Your dad isn't dead yet?" Emily froze. "Where's Nathan? Why are you answering his phone?" Sophia's tone was languid. "Nathan said he didn't want to hear your voice anymore, so he let me take the call. My dear Emily, you're so bothersome, calling so early and disturbing people's sleep. I'm exhausted.""Did you two sleep together last night?""Of course. I just slept in your bed, my dear Emily. Your bed and your man, I found them quite comfortable...""Do you have no shame?! I don't have time to waste on you. Give the phone to Nathan!""Nathan said if it's not about divorce, he doesn't want to talk to you anymore," Sophia said with a smirk, "I heard about your dad needing surgery. Needs money, doesn't he?" Emily struggled to contain her emotions. Her father's life hung in the balance, and she had to swallow her pride. "Sophia, my dad fell ill after a call this morning, and he's in bad shape. Can you ask Nathan to lend me thirty thousand first? I'll sign an IOU...""It's possible..." Sophia chuckled, "But even if Nathan agrees, I won't let him give you the money. Because that call was me calling your dad." Emily stood rooted to the spot. "What did you tell him?""Not much, just mentioned your little tryst with a man. Who knew the old man couldn't handle it and went straight to the operating room..."

Chapter 5 5 Why Don't You Have Children

Emily slammed the phone down, her screen almost shattered by her furious press. Emily was trembling with anger. That was her cousin, whom she treated like family, acting like a devil! "Miss, Miss?" The nurse on the other end kept urging, "Is your father going to have the surgery or not..." Beep beep beep... A message came in. "Have you decided? ——Satan" Emily's hand pressed on a pocket, where there lay a bank card. Without hesitation, she took out the card and handed it to the nurse, "Where do I pay?" The nurse led her to pay the fee and complete the procedures. The door of the operating room closed again, the bright red "In Surgery" sign glaring. She withdrew three hundred thousand from Satan's card. Emily sighed bitterly. She had finally sold herself for a price. "I agree with you." When these words were sent out, she felt lost. Soon, Satan replied. "Okay, tonight, same place, Hilton Hotel, Room 2307, nine o'clock, I'll be waiting for you." Emily put her phone away, not wanting to look at that text message anymore. The surgery took a long time, and Emily stayed at the door, not daring to leave for a moment. At nine o'clock in the morning , Nathan's call came in, "I'm already at the designated location, why haven't you come?" She sneered, "I can't go.""Do you want to back out?""No, there has never been a moment when I wanted to divorce you so badly.""Then hurry up! I have limited time, I don't want to waste it with you!" Emily said coldly, "I'm just like you, I don't want to waste another minute on you. My dad is in surgery. I'll contact you when his condition stabilizes.""Emily, what tricks are you playing again? Or do you want more money?""No need, you can use your money to keep your disgusting mistress!" After saying this, Emily directly turned off her phone. Her world quieted down. She sat in a chair by the operating room door, praying to God. Her father's surgery lasted until seven o'clock in the evening. As the operating room doors opened, she saw the doctor's relieved smile, "Congratulations, your father's surgery was very successful." Emily's body suddenly lost strength, and she sat down on a nearby chair. "Thank you, doctor, thank you..." Her father was pushed back to the general ward, still connected to many instruments, needing someone to take care of him. His phone was placed beside him, still an old model. The numbers on the keypad were already worn out, but her father was reluctant to throw it away. Buying a new phone would cost money, and he would rather save the money for Emily. Fortunately, his condition was stable overnight. Early the next morning, her father opened his eyes and saw her face. He sighed, "Emily, I'm sorry to your mother!""Dad...""Tell me honestly, did Sophia misunderstand? The one who went to the hotel with a man wasn't you, right?" Looking at her father's earnest gaze, she couldn't lie. But it was this hesitation that disappointed William. "Emily, how did you become like this? Nathan is a good husband, how could you do something to betray him?""Dad, things aren't what you think... Please don't get upset, please..." William almost cried, "Does Nathan know about this?" She wasn't sure. Sophia had always played a submissive role in front of Nathan, she might pretend not to know about this. "He probably doesn't know yet.""You have to take care of Nathan well, you're married. If I die, he's the one you'll rely on in this world..." Just then, the ward door was pushed open. The nurse led Nathan in, "Mr. Reed, William's ward is here." Emily looked up and met Nathan's face directly. He was still the same, cold and composed. His gaze passed lightly over her face and landed on William, "I heard you weren't feeling well, so I came to see you." William was overjoyed, "Nathan is here, hurry, sit down. I know you're busy with work, I didn't expect Emily to tell you. I'm fine, really!""This has nothing to do with Emily. It was Sophia who told me about your surgery," Nathan said succinctly. But Emily understood the underlying meaning in his words. He came to see William not because he was Emily's father, but because he was Sophia's relative. Sure enough, William also sensed something unusual in Nathan's words. His smile became slightly stiff, "What... what's going on?" Sophia couldn't hide her smugness on her face, "Dad, let me tell you today. Nathan is no longer my brother-in-law, he's...""My boss!" Emily interrupted Sophia's words, her father had just had surgery, she didn't want him to be upset. She stood up, smiled and said, "Dad, Sophia now works in Nathan's company and does an excellent job. Nathan often praises her.""Oh, really? Wow, Sophia is really great!" William became happy. Emily brought over two chairs from the side, "Sit down and talk.""We won't sit. There's still work to be done at the company, we'll leave soon." We. A pang shot through Emily's heart. Yes, now Nathan and Sophia had become "we". "My company indeed has a lot to do," Nathan quickly replied, "Take care of yourself." Knowing that Nathan was about to leave, William could only force back his disappointment and said with a bitter smile, "Your career is important, you two should go. I'm fine." Nathan nodded, "Then we'll leave first. If you need anything, you can tell me." William had always been very satisfied with Nathan as a son-in-law. Their family wasn't affluent, and his medical expenses had always been a heavy burden. He had been worried about what would happen to his daughter after he died. But since Emily got married, he felt relieved. His daughter finally had someone to rely on. In his heart, Emily's marriage was almost perfect. If only she could have a child. William hesitated for a few seconds and cautiously said, "Nathan, I hope you don't mind me asking. I want to know when you and Emily plan to have a child?" Emily's movements stiffened. The dead zone of this topic. "William, you don't know yet, do you? It's not that Nathan doesn't want to have children, but..."

Chapter 6 6 I'm Begging You

"Sophia!" Emily gave Sophia a cold glance, her eyes carrying a deep warning. "The nurse said someone needs to go to the pharmacy to pick up medication. Would you mind doing it? I need to talk to Nathan." Sophia interjected, "Emily, why not just talk here? We're all family, there's nothing to hide, right Nathan?" Emily chuckled icily, "Sophia, I need to speak with your brother-in-law alone, please leave." Emily didn't want to create conflict with Sophia in front of their father, but Sophia was being too brazen today. Emily didn't care about herself, but if her father's heart condition worsened because of this, she wouldn't let Sophia off the hook! Before Sophia could say anything else, she glanced back at Nathan. Seeing no objection from him, she left the room in frustration to fetch the medication from the pharmacy on the first floor. Emily took a deep breath, trying not to let her father notice anything. "Nathan, could you step outside for a moment? I need to talk to you." William chuckled, "Is this about having a baby?" Emily felt a bit embarrassed. "Dad...""Alright, alright, I won't say anything. You two go ahead." Nathan hesitated for a moment, then followed her out. Emily led him to the staircase and casually closed the door behind them. This place was usually empty. When she turned back, she saw Nathan standing a few steps away, arms crossed, his gaze devoid of warmth. "What do you want to talk about?" he asked coldly. Emily closed her eyes, trying to calm the chaos within herself. "Can we keep our divorce a secret from my father for now? As you saw, he just had surgery and is still recovering. The doctors said he shouldn't be subjected to any more stress, or else the next time might not end well..." Nathan's anger simmered. "Emily, understand your position now. What right do you have to command me?""No, I'm begging you," Emily sighed bitterly. "We've been married for four years, and I've never asked anything of you. Can you do this one thing for me?" Nathan's gaze remained icy. Suddenly, his eyes fixated on a tiny cut at the corner of her mouth. "What happened to your lip?" Emily instinctively touched her lip. Her heart sank. The cut was from Mr. Satan lightly biting her lip last night. Nathan's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Were you with another man last night?" Emily suddenly found it a bit ridiculous. They were about to divorce, he had impregnated Sophia, why couldn't she be with someone else? "Emily, we haven't finalized our divorce yet. You're still my wife. Is this how you betray me?" Emily felt powerless. "Forget it, why bother explaining to you? You wouldn't care anyway. Nathan, once my father's health improves, we'll go to finalize the divorce. I won't delay you being with Sophia." Nathan clearly had no intention of letting her off easily. He grabbed her shoulder and pressed her against the wall, towering over her. "Who is that man?" he demanded. His grip was too tight, causing Emily pain as she pushed him away desperately. "You have Sophia, why do you care about what I do?""When did you two start seeing each other? Speak!""I have no obligation to answer to you! You cheated on my cousin first, what right do you have to accuse me?" His hands clenched her shoulders, veins bulging. "Emily, we're not divorced yet, I'm still your husband!""I haven't had a husband for a long time," Emily shook her head, cold and resolute. "Or rather, I never had one." The conversation ended in discord. The only relief was that Nathan finally agreed to temporarily keep their divorce from her father. Returning to her father's hospital room, when she saw him smiling at her, she felt that nothing else mattered. As long as he was healthy and happy, she could endure anything. "Where's Nathan?" William asked as he saw her return alone. "He went to the office," Emily replied, sitting on the chair beside the bed, absentmindedly peeling an apple. "He asked me to pass on a message, saying he had to leave but would come to see you when he could.""Nathan is a mature and reliable young man. I trust him with you," William sighed. Emily remained silent, focusing on peeling the apple. Her skill was impeccable, the peel came off in one long strip without breaking. She cut the apple into small pieces and placed them on a plate for her father to eat anytime. "I remember your mother," William said, looking at the pieces of apple. "She was good at peeling apples, just like you." Emily didn't have many memories of her mother. She had only heard bits and pieces from her father. "My only hope now is for your marriage with Nathan to be happy. I hope Sophia finds a husband as good as him." Emily smiled. "She'll definitely find a good husband.""I hope so," William frowned slightly. "If Nathan has any single friends, maybe Sophia could meet them." Emily didn't want to continue the conversation. She glanced at the empty table and asked, "Did Sophia not bring back the medication?""I didn't see her. I thought she went to find you.""Then I'll go get the medication," Emily stood up. "Dad, have some apple, I'll be back soon." As soon as she stepped out of the hospital room, her phone started buzzing. Another text message. [Let me know if you don't have enough money. — Satan] In the next moment, she received a bank transfer notification. Another five million in her account.

Chapter 7 7 You Belong to Me

When Emily went to the pharmacy and got the prescription and payment receipt, she finally understood why Sophia hadn't picked up the medication and why Mr. Satan had given her money. Just the post-operative anti-rejection drugs cost over a hundred thousand, and that was just for a week's supply. "Miss?" The staff at the payment counter saw her pause and called out, "Are you sure you want to buy this medicine?" Emily nodded, handing over her card. "Yes, of course." After spending the evening accompanying her father in the hospital room, it was already past eight o'clock when she took the subway back to the hotel. Looking up at the clock in the hotel lobby, it read eight fifty. She had ten minutes left until the time she had arranged to meet Mr. Satan. If the last time was her stumbling into the wrong room while drunk and ending up with Mr. Satan, then this time, it was her entering room 2307 voluntarily while completely sober. Her hand on the door handle began to tremble involuntarily. "You're here? Come in, the door's unlocked." Whether he heard her movement or not, Mr. Satan's voice came from inside the room. Emily took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and turned the doorknob to enter. Unexpectedly, the room was pitch black. The window was open, allowing the light from outside to shine in, outlining the silhouette of a tall man. He stood with his back to Emily, facing the window, holding a highball glass in his hand, with a red liquid swaying inside. Was it him? With each step Emily took, there was a sense of heaviness and uncertainty about the future. She knew nothing about this man, but they had already shared the most intimate contact between a man and a woman, and she didn't even know what he looked like. Ironically, with just one night, she had received six million. Emily chuckled self-deprecatingly, feeling like she had sold her dignity for a good price. Her hand reached for the light switch on the wall, but she hesitated, unsure if turning on the light would disrupt Mr. Satan's habits. "Hello, I..." He raised his hand to stop her next words, leisurely taking a sip of the red wine in his hand, his voice lazy and magnetic. "Care for a drink? This is a Lafite air-freighted from France today, not bad." Emily politely declined, "No, thank you. I don't drink.""Oh?" Mr. Satan chuckled softly, "If you don't drink, then how did you spend last night in a haze with me?" Emily's face flushed instantly. Though she had drunk last night, those memories that made her blush and heartbeat, were still unforgettable. "I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional. If I offended you, I'm truly sorry, and I'm willing to compensate.""Alright then, Emily, how would you like to compensate me?" Emily was taken aback, "You know my name?" She regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. From his demeanor, she could tell that Mr. Satan must be a billionaire with power. If he wanted to investigate her background, it would be a piece of cake. Mr. Satan didn't answer. Instead, he said, "I know you better than you think." This man seemed to exude an invisible pressure, and even though he didn't say anything harsh, Emily still trembled. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her, with her knuckles turning white. "Mr. Satan, no matter what, I still want to thank you. If it weren't for the money you gave me, my father might not have made it through today.""Ah," Mr. Satan seemed indifferent. Emily let out a slow breath, voicing her question, "I just don't understand why me? With your status, there would be many young and beautiful girls around you, and I..." She was just a woman despised by her husband, unable to bear children. She couldn't understand why Mr. Satan was willing to spend so much money on her. "Emily," his voice became slightly more serious, "What I do, and whom I choose, is my freedom. I'm not obligated to explain or report to you. And you don't need to see yourself as insignificant." Emily was taken aback, biting her lip as she nodded, "Sorry, I understand now.""Are you really not going to have anything to drink?" She shook her head, "No, thank you." Mr. Satan chuckled softly. In the darkness, he gradually approached her and stood before her. It was then that Emily noticed, he was covered in mist, bare-chested with only a towel around his waist, obviously just having taken a shower. He leaned down, whispering softly in her ear, "Shall we get started then?" Emily instinctively took a step back, avoiding the kiss he intended for her forehead, "Mr. Satan, I...I haven't divorced yet...I...""Is it important?""Can you wait until I finish the divorce proceedings?" Emily closed her eyes, unable to look at him, her brows furrowed tightly, "Can you?" Her shoulder was firmly grasped by a pair of hot hands, his voice right above her head, "Your husband cheated on you with your cousin. The two of them kicked you out of the house together. Are you still loyal to him?" Emily didn't know how to respond. Satan's strength was astonishing. While she hesitated, his arms had already encircled her, and his other hand lifted her chin, lightly pressing his lips against hers. There was a faint scent of alcohol emanating from him, leaving Emily's consciousness momentarily blurred. His arms were strong, his kiss gentle and restrained, but with a hint of possession. His arms tightened around her, pressing her tightly against his chest, while his lips descended like feathers, light and airy, yet with a hint of dominance. "Emily, you've agreed to my terms." She hummed softly, unsure if she was agreeing or resisting. "From the moment you agreed, our agreement took effect, and now, you're mine." Under Emily's palm was his broad and powerful chest, and she could even feel his heartbeat. In the darkness, Emily couldn't see his face. But she could feel that this man was tall and well-built, with a sturdy and well-proportioned figure, and his breath was starting to become heavy. "But...at least let me know who you are?""You'll know, but not now," Mr. Satan's kiss intensified slightly, lingering at the corner of her lips, "Sorry, I got too excited last night and accidentally hurt you." His breath was too hot, and Emily gradually lost her strength to struggle, her head feeling dizzy and heavy. Yet, her last bit of rationality still resisted, "I don't know who you are, how can we fulfill our contract? What if I mistake someone else for you...""It won't happen," Satan's voice was enticing, "You're my woman, and no one dares to touch you."