The marriage

Emily Carter was not the kind of skinny beauty.

Instead, her figure was perfectly proportioned—curves in the right places, no excess fat where it shouldn’t be.

According to some people, “other people’s bodies grow where they should, but mine has its own ideas.”

Emily picked up a hair tie and tied her hair into a low ponytail.

She smiled at her reflection in the mirror.

That smile was gentle, yet resolute.

“Time will pass… everything will be fine,” she sighed.

Eastern Cloud Restaurant—a high-end Expensive restaurant in New York City.

One of the most luxurious and expensive in the city.

No matter who you are, walk-ins are not easily welcomed.

Even Victoria Hayes didn’t come here often.

“Mom, where did that woman even come from? How did she find Eastern Cloud?” Olivia Carter murmured, slightly puzzled.

Victoria Hayes replied calmly, “I don’t know… I thought our Carter family was the most powerful in New York, and yet she came here without reservation. Incredible.”

“Yes,” Olivia nodded. “They must have thought it was me, so they reserved this private room.”

“A vegetative man… and he wants to marry my daughter? Dream on.”

Outside, Emily parked a shared bicycle and looked up at the grand façade.

This was where the wealthy and influential gathered in New York.

She had been here a few times as a child, but never like this.

She was about to step inside when her phone rang.

“Hello? Is this Stranded Whale?” A strange male voice came through.

Emily frowned at the unfamiliar number, wary.

“Who are you? How did you get my contact?”

Her voice was still hoarse from the cold, far different from the enchanting voice she used on her livestream.

On stream, her voice could captivate hearts, soothe, excite, or create tension effortlessly.

Every word could send people into a daze, stirring emotion without reason.

But this…

Emily’s patience remained intact.

“Who are you, and what do you want?” she asked firmly.

“I’ll give you a rocket gift if you stream tonight. If you stream every day, I’ll give you one every day!” the man said.

Emily’s expression darkened.

“My livestreams are my own choice! You’re harassing me!”

With that, she hung up and blocked the number.

The man—Roland—tried calling again, but couldn’t get through.

He looked helplessly at the comatose Mr. Scott on the bed.

What now?

Had he messed up?

Emily put her phone away and walked toward the entrance.

The hostess stepped forward politely.

“Miss, which room are you visiting?”

Emily blinked in surprise.

Dressed simply, she was still greeted politely, not with cold dismissal.

The Eastern Cloud’s service had remained impeccable over the years—after all, it catered to the rich and powerful.

“Room Scott ,” Emily replied.

“Right this way, please,” the hostess said, gesturing elegantly.

Emily followed, stepping into a room of indescribable luxury.

The hostess opened the heavy door and ushered her in with a polite bow.

Several figures were already seated inside.

At the head of the room sat Mrs. Scott, flanked by a housekeeper and a lawyer.

Victoria Hayes and Olivia Carter sat aside, usually proud and arrogant, but now looking somewhat uneasy—forced into the presence of the Scott family.

Emily looked at Mrs. Scott, presumably the mother of the vegetative man.

Mrs. Scott wore a hand-embroidered gown, loose yet dignified.

Her gaze was sharp, commanding, impossible for a small family to possess.

No amount of luxury goods could make Victoria and Olivia match her presence.

Mrs. Scott’s eyes swept over Victoria and Olivia before resting on Emily.

Emily stepped forward with poise, unafraid of Mrs. Scott’s scrutiny.

“Mrs. Hayes, who is this?” Mrs. Scott asked coldly.

“This is our daughter,” Victoria replied, “from my husband’s ex-wife. She heard about the arrangement and agreed to marry your son.

“Although our families had a marriage contract, the patriarch has passed, and legally it no longer holds. They are all daughters of the Carter family… so who marries whom is irrelevant.”

Mrs. Scott had come for a clear answer.

Seeing Victoria and Olivia, she was immediately displeased.

After some questioning, she learned that Victoria was an opportunist—her least favorite kind.

She could never allow her son to marry such a woman’s child.

She wanted an answer, and nothing more.

But then she looked at Emily and hesitated.

This girl… she was pleasing to the eye.

Her beauty was clean, pure.

“Do you understand my son’s condition?” Mrs. Scott asked Emily.

“I do,” Emily replied.

“Are you willing to marry a comatose man? He may never wake. You will have to care for him your entire life. Can you accept that?”

“I can,” Emily said firmly. “But I have one condition.”

“What condition?”

“I am a person, not a commodity. I have my own dignity and freedom. After marrying your son, I want to finish my education and pursue a career. I will not stay at home obediently. I will not be treated as your son’s property.”

“As long as you do not harm the Scott family or my son, I can accept that,” Mrs. Scott replied.

“We will also sign a prenuptial agreement.”

Emily felt a bit awkward.

It seemed like business negotiations—but this was clearly a marriage.

Suppressing her unease, Emily nodded.

“Yes.”

The lawyer produced a document and handed it to Emily.

Her hands trembled slightly.

She had never experienced anything like this before.

The thought of being bound by such an agreement made her nervous—but she didn’t falter.