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 with large, fluffy snowflakes that softly blanketed the city, covering the ground with a thick white carpet that crunched underfoot. Emily left the hospital holding an empty thermos, exhaling heavily into the cold air. Her breath created small clouds in the frosty winter night before fading into nothing. The snowfall continued well into the middle of the night, and when she awoke, everything outside looked freshly painted in white. Emily sighed. With so much snow, how would they still hold the groundbreaking ceremony? It seemed the timing couldn’t have been worse. Sure enough, early the next morning, she received a call from Ken. “…The snow’s just too heavy. The groundbreaking ceremony will probably be pushed to after the new year. But hey, at least it gives us more time to prepare. When it’s warmer, you can dress up even more. Oh, Miranda, are you staying in New York for Christmas, or heading back to the UK?” Emily hesitated for a moment before answering, “I’ll be in New York. I have family to take care of here.”“Oh, good. Our company’s annual party is this weekend, and I’m excited! It’s been three years since our last one…” Ken had clearly been looking forward to the party for some time and made sure to let her know, “I asked around in HR—the theme is ‘retro,’ so everyone’s dressing up in vintage styles. Make sure you prepare something!” Emily focused more on logistics. “With the ceremony postponed to after the new year, have you coordinated with the construction crew?” “Oh, they’ve been pushing for this change. They wanted to wait until after the holidays all along, but I spent ages convincing them to start early. Now, with the snow, everyone’s happy to take a break for Christmas!” Though the sky remained overcast from the snow, she checked her phone—it was already 7:30 a.m. Emily got up, freshened up, and prepared to head to the office. Although the ceremony was postponed, she couldn’t keep relying on Ken to handle everything for her. She was being paid, after all, and had responsibilities. The leftover porridge would serve as Bert’s breakfast. But as she was about to leave, her phone rang. “Hello?” “It’s me,” came a familiar, slightly hoarse voice. “I’m downstairs at the Hilton. With the snow, I figured I’d drive you; the roads are bad, and cabs are scarce.” She went downstairs to see the familiar black SUV waiting outside the hotel entrance. Early as it was, with the exception of a few street vendors and sanitation workers, the streets were still empty. “Dylan didn’t manage to stop you?” Emily asked. “He tried.” “He means well.” “I know, but I’d feel worse if I didn’t come,” Satan replied. “Get in; it’s cold out.” Snow covered the roads, and not only were cabs few, but private cars were also a rarity this morning. Most people preferred public transportation in weather like this; driving was too risky. He opened the door for her. A gust of icy wind made him cough lightly.Worried he might catch a cold, Emily quickly climbed into the passenger seat. “Get in. It’s freezing.” “Right.” He returned to the driver’s seat, and the car’s interior was already warm; he’d clearly been running the heater for a while. “The roads are bad today, but we have plenty of time. Take it slow.” “Will do.” Satan always drove cautiously, but today he went even slower. Perhaps out of extra caution, he kept his pace so steady that cyclists were passing them by, and Emily wasn’t sure what to say. “Did you explain everything to Jackson yesterday?” he asked. “...Yes, I did.” “What did he say?” Emily smiled, choosing silence. Satan didn’t push her for an answer. They’d already discussed the situation; whatever Jackson’s reaction, it was out of their hands. “Have you had breakfast?” “Yes.” “Liar,” he replied, catching her in an instant. “You usually have a faint scent of food in your hair after breakfast. Today, there’s only the fragrance of your shampoo.” Emily frowned slightly. “You’ve never mentioned that you notice those details.” “Are you free this weekend?” “Why?” “I’d like to take you and Bert to my place to discuss wedding plans with my father and Meggie.” Emily closed her eyes, resting her head on the seat in a half-sleep. “Whatever you arrange is fine by me.” The car moved slowly down the road, and Satan turned up the heat a bit more. “Get some rest; it’s a long drive to the office. I’ll wake you when we’re there.”“Vincent.” Emily suddenly called his name. “Hmm?” He looked over at her. “After this wedding…” She hesitated, her voice trembling. “Will we… have children?” Satan’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.