Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Nick's kiss landed gently on Irene's forehead, her scent carrying the familiar fragrance of his favorite perfume.

"Irene, you don't dislike me, do you? Otherwise, why would you remember my preferences?" "I'm sorry." Nick knew she was still brooding over the past. People often said that mistakes led to missed opportunities, but he wasn't willing to miss Irene.

"Mr. Johnson, don't leave me, okay?" Irene's words seemed to drift into another scenaentirely.

Nick could only apologize over and over. "I won't leave you, Christina." Since she had placed herself into this role, he decided he might as well play along as Mr. Johnson.

Irene lifted her head from his embrace, her trembling fingers reaching toward his face. Nick caught her hand and gently placed it on his cheek, wondering if she had something important to say.

He waited in silence, watching her closely. Then, with deep emotion, Irene spoke a sentence he would never forget.

"Mr. Gustafson, do you remember the days we used to share?" Nick: "..." "Irene, I'm taking you to bathe." He realized he couldn't keep indulging her whims, or she might drag him into another melotic scene.

"No, no, Mr. Gustafson, no! I don't want to!" Irene twisted and flailed as if reenacting a scene from the many s she'd been watching lately.

Nick had no choice but to transform into a "tyrant." "Be good, Irene. Take a bath, and I'll give you candy." A kind tyrant, at least. Anyone who saw Nick like this would be utterly shocked-this was the scold and ruthless man? To his surprise, his words actually worked. Irene blinked at him with wide eyes. "Really? I want strawberry-flavored candy because I'm a little princess." "Alright, strawberry it is, my little princess." He kissed the tip of her nose affectionately and carried her to the bathtub.

She wasn't wearing anything, her long legs draped over the edge of the tub. Nick's thoughts were already wandering. Heaven help him-he really just wanted to give her a bath, no ulterior motives at all.

Irene's gaze turned sultry, her voice commanding and cold. "CallQueen!" Wasn't that a bit too quick of a role switch? Just a moment ago, she was claiming to be a little princess. Now she was a queen? One thing was certain: the night would not be peaceful. Nick resigned himself to serving as her loyal servant for the rest of the evening.

Meanwhile, things were much calmer on Julian's side. Aurora, after drinking, was the complete opposite of Irene. By the tJulian had carried her to bed, she was already fast asleep.

She nestled quietly in his arms like a gentle little rabbit, her fingers clutching his shirt as though seeking security. Occasionally, she murmured unintelligibly in her sleep.

Seeing her so docile, Julian felt his heart melt. It was as though he were holding a delicate little bunny in his hands.

After tidying her up and completing his own nightly routine, Julian climbed into bed. The alcohol worked its magic, and he slept soundly through the night until morning.

Asher was likely the first to wake. Having lived alone for years, he was used to attending social events and, no matter how drunk he got, still waking up on tfor work the next day.

At first, he struggled with the routine. With an average tolerance for alcohol, he'd often find himself repeatedly vomiting in the bathroom before returning to drink more. Over time, he built up his endurance and learned to handle himself even when intoxicated.

Knowing Aurora had sent the housekeeper hfor the holidays, and seeing the mess from the previous night, Asher decided to tidy up. With nothing else to do, he cleaned the house and even prepared breakfast in the kitchen.

When Robert stumbled into the kitchen, yawning, he was surprised to see someone already there.

"Morning," he greeted, stretching as he entered. Then his eyes widened. "Wait, you're cooking breakfast? And you already cleaned the house?" Asher didn't respond to the question, merely offering a curt nod. "Morning." If you're loving the book, nel5sis where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience—all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! He didn't feel the need to explain himself. When Asher cared for someone, he didn't need others to know about it. In New York, he had grown accustomed to taking care of Aurora, so looking after her friends was an extension of that.

Robert, however, was thoroughly impressed. "Asher, if you were a woman, I'd marry you on the spot. You're like a treasure-successful, hardworking, and domestic!" Asher shot him a cold glare. "Get lost." "Hmph! You're all so mean to me," Robert muttered, storming out in mock indignation.

The third person to wake was Nick. He had never been able to sleep well in unfamiliar places. Robert spotted the dark circles under his eyes and smirked.

"Bro, rough night? Didn't sleep well?" Last night, Irene had been in full mode, acting out until the early hours of the morning. She only fell asleep when she was completely exhausted, leaving Nick restless and unable to sleep.

He'd barely managed two or three hours of sleep before dragging himself out of bed. "Was it Irene..." Robert teased with a knowing grin. His expression clearly hinted at unspeakable activities.

If they had done anything, would Nick look this frustrated and fatigued? Obviously, it was a case of unfulfilled desires and lack of sleep.

"Get lost," Nick snapped.

"Boohoo, bro, am I not your little brother anymore? Why are you so mean to me?" "You're used to it," Nick replied indifferently.

Their personalities hadn't changed since they were kids. Nick had always been cold and aloof, while Robert ve was cheerful and outgoing. As a child, Robert had loved trailing after Nick, earning himself the nickn"Little Tail." Whenever someone bullied Robert, he'd run to Nick for help. Nick's mere presence was enough to scare anyone off. He'd always been that intimidating.

"Only I can bully my brother. If anyone else dares, they can try me."

Speople had tested that claim, to disastrous results. Under Nick's protection, Robert grew up unscathed by others, though he endured plenty of teasing from Nick himself.

The fourth person to wake was Denis. He had drunk more than usual, his thoughts consumed by Daria. As a result, he had slept in a bit longer than usual. When he finally emerged, still groggy, Robert greeted him with a sunny smile. "Morning, Denis!" "Morning." "Denis, you're the best. Everyone else bullies me." Robert grabbed Denis's hand in exaggerated gratitude.

Denis, who was naturally sensitive about personal space and had a strong aversion to physical contact, instinctively shook Robert's hand off.

"Get lost." Robert's smile immediately fell. He turned to Julian, who was descending the stairs, ready to lodge a complaint.

Before he could open his mouth, Julian cut him off. "Get lost." "Ahhh! Are you even my brothers anymore? I'm done with all of you!" mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1