He stood on a small makeshift stage, a microphone in his hand. «Today, we have two reasons to celebrate. The first is this housewarming. The second is about me. I’ve worked hard for years, and the CEO of Sterling Enterprises personally promoted me to deputy factory director.»

«Mommy and Daddy must be talking about you,» Maya whispered to Emily.

«I have to thank someone especially important to me,» Jake continued. «When I thought my life was just going to stay the same, she showed up and opened up a whole new world for me. She’s the one I’ll never fail, and the one I love most. Actually, the star of today’s party isn’t me. It’s my beloved. Please, allow me to introduce my fiancée… Tiffany Liu!»

Tiffany walked onto the stage, beaming, and took his hand. «Jake gives me all the credit, but he achieved this all on his own. And… I’m pregnant! The Wu family is about to have a new member. We’re having the wedding ceremony next week!»

The room erupted in applause, but Emily couldn’t hear it. The world had gone silent.

«Jake… why?» she whispered, her voice breaking. «Seven years together. You said I was too young to get married, I accepted it. You said once we bought a house, we could get the license, so I bought one. I worked so hard for seven years to take care of this home… Why are you doing this to me?»

Sarah rushed over. «The Wu family is truly heartless. Use you and discard you. Keep your voice down, don’t let anyone hear.» She grabbed Emily’s arm. «Look at yourself. You’re just a street vendor, working all day. You smell like grease. My son is about to be a manager, and Tiffany, she’s Mr. Lowe’s daughter. Together, they’re a power couple. Take a hint and leave.»

«Emily,» Tiffany said, smirking. «You and Jake, you’re in different leagues now. There’s a gap between you that can never be crossed. Only I can stand by his side. Don’t blame me for being harsh.» She pulled out a thin envelope. «Here’s ten thousand dollars I just withdrew from the ATM. Take it as compensation for the last seven years.»

Slap. Emily’s hand connected with Tiffany’s cheek. «Compensation? How dare you! Seven years for ten thousand dollars? I could make more collecting cans. You have no shame.»

«Daddy, don’t bully Mommy!» Maya cried, clinging to Emily’s leg.

«I’ve been fed up with you for years!» Jake yelled, pushing Emily back. «If it wasn’t for the fact that I was being paid to watch you, I would have left ages ago! Get out!»

«I paid for this house! You should be the one to leave!»

«Emily, do you know what Jake gave me for an engagement gift?» Tiffany laughed. «It was this condo. The one you just bought.»

«No way. I paid for it. My name is on the title application.»

Tiffany held up a document. «Take a good look. Whose name is on the deed?»

Emily saw it. Jake Wu. «You lied to me.»

«If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being so naive,» Jake sneered.

«You lied to me! Why? How could you do this? Are you even human?» Emily lunged at him, but his mother intercepted her.

«How dare you hit my son? Everything you wear, everything you use, it’s from the Wu family! If you won’t leave, I’ll have security strip you naked and throw you out!»

«No! Don’t touch my mommy!» Maya screamed.

Just as a security guard grabbed Emily’s arm, the main door swung open with force.

A calm, authoritative voice filled the room. «Let’s see who dares to move.»

It was Michael Sterling. His assistant Susan held up the half of a locket. The paternity test results were in. «President Sterling, Ms. Lin is the woman from seven years ago.»

Michael strode into the room. «You hit your wife? Are you even a man?»

«Who do you think you are, judging me?» Jake stammered.

«Mommy!» Maya cried.

«Emily! How dare you cheat on me?» Jake roared, trying to save face.

«Daddy framed Mommy! I don’t like you!» Maya yelled back.

«Caught red-handed!» Sarah shrieked. «Look at them, people! So in love!»

Michael ignored them, his eyes fixed on Emily. «I finally found you.»

«Do you know who I am?» Jake blustered, stepping forward. «I’m a friend of Mr. Sterling’s! Mess with me and I’ll make sure you can’t stay in this city!»

«Funny,» Michael said, his voice dangerously low. «How come I don’t know you’re a friend of mine?»

«I was personally appointed deputy director by President Sterling himself! How could you not know?»

«Who do you think you are?» Tiffany’s father, Richard Lowe, stepped in. «My young friend, this is their business. Don’t get involved.»

Michael looked at him coldly. «You’re Richard Lowe, from Lowe Industries.»

«Dad, he knows your name,» Tiffany whispered.

«If he knows me, he should back off. Get lost,» Lowe said dismissively. «I bet some pretty boy like you only knows how to act tough.»

Michael took out his phone. «Susan, make Lowe Industries go bankrupt. Right now.»

«Yes, sir.»

Lowe laughed. «Who do you think you are? The CEO of Sterling Enterprises? Make Lowe Industries go bankrupt? Ridiculous!»

Just then, his phone rang. «Hey, Richard, who did you piss off? Lowe stock just got shorted into the ground! The company is bankrupt!»

«No way. Absolutely no way,» Lowe stammered, his face turning ashen. «What’s going on?» He looked at Michael, true fear dawning in his eyes. «That man is…»

Michael turned to the stunned crowd. «A bunch of snobs. He’s someone you don’t want to mess with.»

«To bankrupt Lowe Industries in minutes… only Sterling Enterprises or… maybe Su Yang Group could do that,» someone whispered.

«It’s all over,» Lowe whimpered.

Michael walked over to Emily and knelt down beside Maya.

«Uncle,» Maya said, wiping her tears. «Yeah. Daddy’s not good. Will you be my new daddy?»

Michael smiled, a genuine, warm smile. «I’ve only met you twice and you’re already selling your mom out. She’s my daughter. So cute. You’ll have to ask your mom if she agrees.» He looked up at Emily. «Is this guy crazy? Or is he joking?» she thought.

«Uncle, my mom has to take care of our family and me. Now she’s been tricked by my dad. If you marry her, I’ll definitely take care of you when I grow up,» Maya declared.

«Uncle makes a pinky promise, and I never lie,» Michael said, linking his pinky with hers. «Alright, as long as your mom agrees, I’ll marry her.»

«Kids say the darndest things,» Emily mumbled, her head spinning. «Don’t listen to her.»

Later, at a small clinic, Emily finally came to. «Mommy, you’re finally awake! I was worried you might sell me if you didn’t wake up soon. Uncle is a good man. Marry him and forget daddy.»

«Sorry, she doesn’t know what she’s saying,» Emily said to Michael, who was sitting by her bed.

«Actually, I think she made a good point,» he said calmly. «Emily, you met my grandfather. He has Alzheimer’s. Ever since he met you, his condition has improved. His doctor said if I get married and make him happy, he might recover.»

«Is that even possible?»

«Now that you’ve left the Wu family, why not marry me? Let’s have a contract marriage. Just for one year, to stabilize my grandfather’s illness. If you don’t fall in love with me in a year, we’ll get a divorce.»

«No,» Emily said firmly. «I don’t marry rich guys. I hate that world.»

What if I just pretend for a bit? Maybe I can confess when the time is right, Michael thought. «Rich? That reward money… that’s from a family trust for my grandfather’s care. I’m not really rich. Just a regular guy with a decent job.»

«Seriously?»

«Check it if you don’t believe me.»

Emily hesitated. Marrying a complete stranger… can I really do that? But Maya needs to start school soon. If we don’t have a stable address, it will just cause more problems. Do you have a local residency here in the city?

«Okay,» she said finally. «I can marry you. But… we don’t have a place to live. We might need to stay at your place for a while. I won’t stay for free. I’ll pay rent.»

«Pleasure doing business with you,» Michael said, shaking her hand.

«Pleasure doing business with you,» she replied, a sense of surrealism washing over her.

As they left, Michael discreetly texted Susan. City Hall. Get a car here right away. Also, have someone buy a new house.

«So what are we waiting for?» Emily asked.

«Waiting for our ride.»

«A car? You have a car?»

Just then, a man pulled up in a modest sedan. «It’s you! You’re…»

«He’s my cousin,» Michael said quickly. «We work together.»

«Oh, right. Miss Lin, Mr. Sterling,» the man said. «I work with him. We’re at the same company. Such a coincidence. I call him Mr. Shang as a nickname.»

«Oh, that’s how it is,» Emily said, getting into the car with Maya.

«Cousin,» Michael said to the driver. «The paperwork for the house will take another hour.»

«That’s so inefficient,» the driver grumbled.

«Cousin, it’s a house, not a bag of carrots.»

«Deduct the money,» Michael muttered.

«Mommy, we’ve driven down this same street like, three times now,» Maya piped up from the back seat. «Are we lost?»

«Roads look the same around here,» Michael said smoothly. «Is that normal? How much further?»

«About half an hour.»

They pulled up to a beautiful, modern apartment building in a nice neighborhood. «Wow, I finally have a real place,» Emily breathed. «Did you buy this?»

«No, I’m renting. Twenty-eight hundred a month.»

«Renting? In the city center for $2,800 a month?»

«A friend’s place. He gave me a good deal,» Michael lied.

«Cousin,» the driver said. «If you have things to do, go ahead.»

«Got it, cousin.»

«Such a nice cousin,» Emily remarked.

«Hey, where do you two work? I never asked.»

«Oh. The Minglan Hotel. We’re both waiters there.»

«Oh, there you are,» the cousin said. «I have to go now.»

That night, Emily tucked Maya in. «It’s getting late. Get some rest. I’ll sleep in here with Maya.»

«Suit yourself,» Michael said from the doorway.

«Dad and Mom are married,» Maya whispered after he left. «Why are they still sleeping in separate rooms?»

The next morning, Michael woke up on the couch to find a small body snuggled next to him. «Maya, why are you here?»

«I can’t sleep without you,» she mumbled. «Let’s go to bed.» She dragged him into Emily’s room.

«Mommy, Mommy,» she whispered, climbing into the bed. «I’m such a smart baby. If only Mommy could have more smart babies like me. She’d be so happy.» She then proceeded to push Michael onto the bed with Emily.

Emily woke with a start. «What are you doing in my bed?»

«This is my bed,» Michael retorted, waking up. «It must have been Maya. Or maybe you just don’t like my snuggles and prefer to take the initiative.»

«We’re in a marriage of convenience,» she hissed, her face red.

«What’s wrong with sleeping with you?» he shot back, a teasing glint in his eye.

Seven years, he thought. Emily Lin. I finally have you by my side.

The smell of bacon woke them the next morning. Michael was in the kitchen, making breakfast.

«You can cook, too?» Emily asked, surprised.

«Daddy!» Maya squealed. «I told you marrying Mom was a good idea! She’s amazing. But Mom doesn’t like doing the dishes.»

«I’m washing the dishes,» Michael said with a grin. «Don’t listen to Maya. Let’s eat.»

«Are you heading out?» he asked as she got dressed.

«I sent out some resumes a few days ago. A place wants me to come in today.»

«What kind of job?»

«A server at a big hotel. Life has to go on. Can’t just fall apart because of some jerk, right? Maya, you behave at home. Mom’s heading out.»

«Let’s go,» Michael said, grabbing his keys.

«What big hotel?» he asked in the car.

«The Minglan Hotel,» she said.

Michael discreetly texted Susan. Buy the Minglan Hotel. Arrange a manager position for Emily. His phone buzzed. Mr. Sterling, Mr. Zhang and Mr. Li are inviting you to dinner at the Minglan Hotel to discuss the City West Land development project.

I know, he texted back. Come pick me up.

Emily walked into the hotel for her interview. «You’re Emily Lin, right?» the HR manager asked. «Go change into a uniform. After that, deliver the bottle of red wine booked for the VIP room, 999.»

«Okay.»

Meanwhile, in Room 999, Michael was negotiating with two older businessmen. «Mr. Sterling, I’m willing to invest 500 million in the West City project,» Mr. Zhang said.

«How about 600 million?» Mr. Li countered.

«500 million for a 15% stake,» Michael stated flatly.

«Mr. Zhang, we’ve been partners for years. 500 million at 15% isn’t much,» Michael’s associate said.

«Mr. Sterling, how about this? Besides my real estate, my clothing factory can also partner with you. Any orders from Sterling Enterprises, I’ll give you a price lower than the market.»

«Mr. Li’s clothing factory is pretty good,» Michael mused.

Just then, the door opened. «Room 999, here is your wine.»

Emily froze. She recognized the two businessmen as some of the biggest tycoons in the city. And there, at the head of the table, was Michael.

«Emily? What are you doing here?» Michael asked, surprised.

«You lied to me,» she whispered. «Hey, what are you doing with Michael?» she demanded of the businessmen.

«Emily, you’ve got it all wrong,» Michael said.

«Wrong? What did I get wrong? He’s pouring you wine. What am I supposed to misunderstand? Michael, how much longer are you going to hide this from me?»

«I don’t want to either,» he said, playing along. «They’re all big shots here. I just have to have a drink with them, make them happy. One drink is a hundred bucks, right?»

«Did you see my cousin over there?» Susan’s husband, playing the part of the other waiter, piped up. «His drink is only fifty. I need to drink more, don’t I?»

Emily’s eyes blazed. «The Minglan Hotel has male escorts?»

«No escorts,» the waiter said. «But… we have drinking companions.»

«Two big guys,» Emily said, looking at the businessmen with disgust. «He’s old enough to be your father, and you’re making him drink with you? You want him to drink, huh? Fine.»

She grabbed a glass. «So you’re forcing my husband to drink? A hundred dollars per drink, right?»

«Yeah, that’s right,» Mr. Zhang said, amused.

She downed the glass in one gulp. Then she grabbed the bottle. «I’ll drink this for him. What? Pay up. Isn’t it a hundred per glass? This bottle is easily five glasses. Take it, I don’t want the change.» She slammed five hundred dollars on the table. «I don’t mean to start anything, but I’m just letting you know that man is my husband. You may have money and power, but you can’t bully a decent man. Let’s go.» She grabbed Michael’s hand and stormed out.