I'll marry him

“Now, the Carter family is one of the most powerful families in New York City. If we refuse to honor the marriage contract, and that family makes a big scene, it will definitely ruin your father’s reputation,” Victoria Hayes continued, trying to persuade Emily.

“You marrying into that family will appease them. You could also consider it… doing something for your father. A little show of filial piety,” she added.

She knew Emily Carter was stubborn and would not easily give in.

Victoria opened her mouth to continue, but Emily spoke first.

“I’ll marry,” Emily said firmly. “But I must have the five hundred thousand dollars before I agree to the marriage.”

“If you’re willing to marry, once your father is satisfied, five hundred thousand dollars won’t be difficult to get!” Victoria replied, trying to coax her.

“No!” Emily shook her head. “I must get the money first. Otherwise, I won’t marry.”

Her tone left no room for negotiation.

Victoria smiled slyly.

“You can register the marriage with that man first. You won’t need to ask your father for the money. I’ll give you the five hundred thousand myself. But until I see the marriage certificate, don’t even think about a single cent.”

Victoria had lived in the high society world long enough—she wasn’t about to let Emily slip away without control.

“Fine,” Emily said coldly. “If I don’t get the money, then we’ll all go down together.”

“Emily,” Olivia Carter said, covering her bruised cheek with a mocking smile, “but the son of that family… he’s in a vegetative state. Been like that for three years. You really want to marry him?”

Emily’s expression didn’t change.

She simply smiled faintly.

“I’ll marry him,” she said firmly.

Her voice was calm, resolute, unshaken.

Marrying a normal man might have been intimidating.

But a vegetative man?

Didn’t that mean she was practically not married at all?

What could a man in a coma do to her?

“Emily, think carefully. If you agree, I’ll contact the family and arrange a meeting tomorrow,” Victoria said, cautious now.

“Fine,” Emily nodded. “Once the marriage certificate is ready, I’ll personally come to collect the money.

“And if you try to cheat me… you won’t need the family to intervene. I’ll bring Richard Carter down myself.”

With that, Emily turned and left.

Victoria snorted.

“Hmph. She dares threaten me.”

“Mom,” Olivia said, pouting, “once Emily marries that vegetative man, she won’t be able to compete with me for Alexander anymore, right?”

Victoria laughed coldly.

“Compete with you? Do you really think that family is easy to deal with?”

“Once she marries into that household, we’ll hold Emily firmly in our hands.”

“She’ll be stuck with a vegetative husband forever.”

“Sooner or later… she’ll be tortured to death.”

---

That night, Emily visited her mother in the hospital before returning to her small apartment.

By the time she got home, it was almost 11 PM.

Her throat was raw and hoarse.

Suddenly, her phone lit up with a message:

[SunflowerInTheRain]: Emily, no livestream today? Over 3,000 people are waiting in your stream room to sleep with you on stream!

Emily smiled faintly and typed back:

[StrandedWhale]: I caught a cold today. My throat is hoarse, so I can’t stream. I might be off for a few days.

[SunflowerInTheRain]: Oh no! Rest well—we’ll wait for you.

[StrandedWhale]: Thank you.

Emily collapsed onto the sofa.

Her mother’s surgery was paid for.

The tight knot in her chest finally loosened.

She had started livestreaming to earn money for her mother’s medical bills.

But after months of streaming, she hadn’t earned much.

Thousands of viewers every day…

Most just watched for free.

If the surgery f*e hadn’t been funded—

She had even considered revealing her face.

Or worse, selling herself.

As long as she got the money.

She could lose everything.

But she could never lose her mother.

Fortunately, the money was finally secured.

Thinking about Victoria and Olivia made her feel sick.

Was it true that in this world, good people never live long, while evil people thrived endlessly?

Dragging her tired body to the bathroom, Emily took a hot shower.

She swallowed cold medicine and fell into a deep sleep.

She didn’t even think about the family meeting tomorrow, or the fact that she was about to marry a vegetative man.

Meanwhile, at a private medical facility in New York, a tall man lay quietly on a hospital bed.

He slept silently, his breathing shallow and faint.

If not for the steady beeps from the monitoring machines, one might think he was already dead.

He had been lying there for three years.

Yet he looked pristine.

No stubble. No unkempt hair.

His facial features were extraordinarily handsome.

Thick eyebrows like brush strokes. Long eyelashes.

One could only imagine how captivating his eyes would be if they opened again.

He was tall—nearly 6’3”—and had grown extremely thin from years of nutrient-solution support.

His skin was unnaturally pale.

A fragile, broken beauty that made the heart ache.

Two men stood guard beside the bed.

One wore a white lab coat and gold-rimmed glasses, carefully recording the data.

The other wore army-green cargo pants and a black tactical vest, anxiously holding a phone.

“Dr. Bennett,” the man asked nervously, “the livestreamer hasn’t gone live today. She’s always punctual. Why did she stop?”

Dr. Bennett didn’t even look up.

“I don’t know her personally. How would I know?”

He glanced at the monitor.

“Today, Mr. Scott’s brainwaves showed no response at all.”

“What should we do? Could it be because we didn’t send her gifts? Did she stop streaming because she couldn’t make money?”

Dr. Bennett rolled his eyes.

“You were freeloading. What does that have to do with me?”

Roland, the man in tactical gear, groaned.

“If I had known, I would have sent her a rocket gift!”

Dr. Bennett finally turned serious.

“It’s confirmed now that this girl’s voice can stimulate Mr. Scott’s brainwaves.

“This is the first time in three years he’s responded to external sound.

“If we find her and bring her here, having her talk to him daily… it might help him wake up.”

Roland’s eyes widened.

“Dr. Bennett, are you serious?!”

“I’ll go find her immediately.”

“Also, don’t tell Mrs. Scott or Mr. Scott Senior yet.

“If the treatment fails, their hopes would be crushed.”

“Understood.” Roland nodded.

“And don’t leak a word. Even though Mr. Scott hasn’t woken yet, there are plenty of predators waiting to pounce.”

“Of course,” Roland replied.

“Everyone still believes Young Master Scott is recuperating abroad.”

The next morning, Emily had slept deeply from the cold medicine.

She only woke when her phone rang.

It was Olivia Carter.

After answering, Olivia’s impatient voice came through:

“Emily, I’ll be at Eastern Cloud Restaurant in half an hour.

“Dress properly. Don’t embarrass the Carter family.”

Then the call ended.

Emily slowly got up.

After a quick wash, she changed into a white blouse, fitted jeans, and a smoky gray wool coat.

She was 5’6” and weighed about 96 pounds.

Years of dance training had given her a graceful, poised figure.

Even in simple clothes, she looked strikingly elegant.