Nana was her stage name at the dance club, but her real name was Emmie Stewart—a name with a touch of melancholic beauty, given to her by her mother, Fiona Stewart.
Fiona was a woman caught in a tragic love, hopelessly attached to a man who would never reciprocate. From a young age, Emmie understood she was the product of a reckless night between Fiona and Jack Hamilton. Fiona had cherished Emmie's birth, naively believing Jack would do the right thing and marry her.
But Fiona was mistaken. Jack barely remembered her; how could he promise a lifetime together? Besides, he was already set to marry the daughter of a wealthy business tycoon, who was pregnant. Meanwhile, Fiona faded into a forgotten memory.
Despite facing scorn from friends and family, Fiona chose to keep the baby, seeing Emmie as a unique gift from the man she loved. In Emmie's memories, Fiona adored romantic tales filled with passion and heartache. Living in her own world of feelings, she chose the name "Emmie" for her daughter.
A year ago, a car accident left Fiona in a tragic state. Doctors said even if she survived, she'd remain in a vegetative state. Fiona's life savings were depleted in just a month of medical expenses, leaving Emmie, freshly out of college, to carry the weight alone.
Watching her mother lie motionless, Emmie thought sadly that Fiona could finally live in her dreams, eternally with the man she loved. Emmie tried every possible way to raise the funds but couldn't gather enough for the medical bills quickly, forcing her to work at a dance club. She was no stranger to pole dancing, having learned it during college and even winning a competition, earning a thousand dollars. Nana was a temporary alias; only with that name could she relax and dance.
She glanced at the clock on the wall—it was late, yet sleep escaped her. Staring at a familiar number on her phone, her heart raced. Ignoring the time, Emmie finally called Liam. Hearing his tired voice, she wanted to hang up, but a sweet voice in the background asked, "Liam, who's on the phone?"
Liam's irritated voice followed, "Hello? Who's calling? It's the middle of the night!"
Emmie froze in disbelief; had Liam really forgotten her so quickly? Could someone who once showed genuine affection become so cold?
"It's me, Liam. Where are you?" Emmie tried to keep her voice steady, but to Liam, it sounded sharp. His sleepy eyes widened as he scrambled out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, clearing his throat before saying, "Emmie, I'm at home. Why are you up so late?"
"Home? But I heard a woman's voice."
"You must be mistaken. You know you're the only one I care about," Liam reassured her.
"If you love me, would you do anything for me?" Emmie raised her voice, bitterly laughing at how easily love could be professed.
Thinking Emmie was upset, Liam tried to soothe her, "Of course, whatever makes you happy, Emmie."
Anything? Emmie wanted to laugh at a man who could speak such grand words while being with another woman. How could she have been so blind?
"Go to hell! You're all liars!" Without giving Liam a chance to respond, Emmie tossed her phone aside, curling up and sobbing. From the still-connected phone, she could hear Liam's angry words: "Crazy woman, delusional, causing drama in the middle of the night. Damn, so frustrating!" This was the man Emmie had genuinely cared for. What had she done to deserve this?
As dawn broke, Emmie lay awake, staring at the ceiling, recalling Jack Hamilton's words from the previous night. When he mentioned that Kaitlin didn't like Finley, it sparked anger in her, leading her to declare she wouldn't marry Finley.
Jack seemed to read her thoughts, calmly saying, "Your boyfriend, Liam, tried to blackmail me for a hundred thousand dollars, saying he'd expose everything about us if I refused."
Jack's words hit Emmie hard, making her stagger. "How could he?" Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion.
"Why not? Between love and money, what do you think most people would choose?" Jack sneered as he described how security escorted Liam out when he attempted extortion, warning of severe consequences if he tarnished Jack's reputation.
Emmie didn't respond, instead looking at Jack and asking, "What if I refuse to marry?"
"Then your mother’s medical care will stop," Jack replied coldly.
Furious, Emmie was horrified at Jack's cruelty in using her mother as leverage. "What did my mom ever do wrong? She only loved you more than anything, and you were always so heartless. Now you want to use me, the daughter you never wanted, to fulfill your demands?"
Jack ignored her, stepping into his car. His driver, Mr. Williams, handed Emmie a bag, gently advising, "Miss, maybe you should agree for now. I'll check on your mother this afternoon. The medical costs are enormous, more than you can handle alone."
Staring at the bag for a long time, Emmie suddenly jumped out of bed. Mr. Williams was right; her mother was the most important person to her. She could earn money, but gathering enough for medical expenses quickly was impossible. The hospital wouldn't wait for her to earn it slowly.
With that realization, she picked up her phone and called Jack. "I'll marry Finley, but only if my mother receives the best care."
After hanging up, Jack set down his pen, satisfied that everything was progressing as planned. Once Emmie married Finley, his alliance with Martin Thomas would be solidified; the Thomas family wouldn't stand by if the Hamiltons needed assistance.
Jack called Martin Thomas, asking if Finley had time to meet Emmie later, and Martin agreed readily. He understood Jack’s intentions and had his reasons for supporting the alliance.
In the sunlit Victorian-style veranda of the Thomas family home, a man in a white shirt lounged on a deck chair, his shirt open to reveal bronze-toned muscles beneath. His features were refined, exuding a mature aura.
This was Finley Thomas, the eldest son of the Thomas family. Upon receiving the call from his father, Martin, his heart raced. He had heard of Jack Hamilton's illegitimate daughter, never expecting that the woman he was to marry would be Emmie Stewart.
"Never thought you'd be Jack Hamilton's daughter."
He couldn't forget her defiant yet beautiful face, those proud eyes that seemed to have witnessed the world's cruelty, making her unforgettable after just one meeting.
"What are you daydreaming about?" A voice interrupted his thoughts.
In the shadow of the sliding doors stood what could only be described as a devilishly handsome figure—Finley’s younger brother, Martin Thomas's other son. His ink-black hair against pale skin, eyes glinting with unreadable emotions, and features so perfectly sculpted they seemed crafted by a master.
