Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Everyone comes into this world clean and pure, yet as they grow, they becentangled in the mire of life.

Human nature, once simple and kind, turns greedy, lustful, and cruel. Speople live a mediocre life, while others commit unspeakable acts.

Perhaps they bask in glory for a time, but life has its cycles. Thirty years of prosperity can be followed by thirty years of decline, and no one knows when retribution might arrive.

Paul had spent his entire life despising Kimberly. That was why he sought solace in other women-women who were gentle and seductive, everything Kimberly was not.

He dreamed of leaving her. Yet now that he actually had, he realized just how deeply he loved her. It felt as if a knife were gouging his heart, slashing it into pieces.

The greatest pain cfrom the wound in his soul. It didn't bleed, but it hurt unbearably.

Kimberly was gone, and it felt as if she had taken his very spirit with her. Alison, however, visited him frequently. She would sit by his bedside, talking endlessly about the child growing inside her.

She spoke of her morning sickness, how she couldn't keep anything down. "I didn't dare tell my mom," she said, "or she'd break my legs." Paul looked at the young, vibrant woman before him. Gone was the seductive allure she displayed at work. Pregnancy had stripped away her makeup, her high heels, and her calculated charm. She was, in essence, just a girl.

To Paul, she seemed even younger than his own son-just a child.

Often, as he gazed at her, he found himself looking past her, seeing instead the youthful Kimberly.

"Paul, which dress do you think looks better for tonight's dinner? This one, or this one?" Alison twirled in front of him, holding up two dresses.

"You'll look good in either." He glanced up from his computer, though to him, both dresses looked the same. "Then I'll wear this one," she decided. "It matches your tie. We're a couple, after all. We should coordinate." Kimberly had been young once too. But back then, he hadn't cared. When she was pregnant, he had been at his busiest.

He wasn't yet a vice president, just a senior executive. His job required him to travel constantly, sometimes for ten days or more at a time.

Had she suffered through morning sickness alone at home? He had assumed her life was full-shopping and spa treatments, busy and fulfilling.

But now, standing in her shoes, he realized how wrong he had been. He had been wrong from the very beginning.

"What's wrong?" Alison asked, noticing that Paul was lost in thought again. He had changed since before. His gaze often drifted, lost in memories.

"Nothing," Paul replied. "Alison, can I ask you something?" "Of course." "You're still so young. Are you sure you want to spend your whole life with me?" His tone wasn't accusatory, just calm, as if discussing an ordinary matter.

"...Of course I do. Even if it's not for me, I have to think of the child. I won't deny that I approached you for money at first. But now that you're broke, I'm staying for the baby. Oh, and we can keep the wedding simple. I don't need anything fancy." When Paul asked her this, Alison's heart was in turmoil. Her initial plan to get pregnant had been a ploy to take revenge on Paul and Kimberly.

She had achieved her goal, but she didn't feel the satisfaction she had anticipated. She had expected Kimberly to confront her, to cause trouble.

After all, the Blake family was powerful, and Kimberly had always been domineering and unreasonable.

But to her surprise, Kimberly had sent someone to deliver a bank card a few days ago. The messenger explained that Paul had left the marriage with nothing. His properties had gone to his two children, and even his hospital bills were covered by Eric.

He couldn't provide Alison with a stable home, but the child was innocent. Out of gratitude for their tas husband and wife, Kimberly was helping him one last time.

The messenger also relayed a message from Kimberly: she apologized for the way she had treated Alison at the company.

Afterward, Alison took the card to the bank to check. It was an account under Paul's name, with his birthday as the password. Inside was a million dollars-a fortune for an ordinary person, enough to live comfortably.

"Miss, is everything okay? How much would you like to withdraw?" the bank teller asked, noticing Alison had zoned out.

"Nothing, I'm just checking." Alison put the card away.

In the past, receiving a million dollars would have thrilled her. The first thing she'd have done was go on a shopping spree, then flaunt her purchases to her friends.

But now, she put the card away, along with another card Aurora had given her. She hadn't touched a single cent from either.

She no longer craved luxury goods and hadn't been to a mall in ages. The baby growing inside her was still so small that, apart from the morning sickness, she could barely feel its presence. She often found herself touching her stomach, over and over again.

She had sacrificed her body to exact revenge, but now that she had achieved her goal, why did she feel no joy?

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! "Alright," Paul said. "Since you've made up your mind, there's something I need to say. I owe you and the child. For the rest of my life, I'll treat you well and be a good father. But... my heart already belongs to someone else. I'm afraid I'll never love another. Can you accept a marriage without love?" "Of course! As long as you treatand the child well, that's enough. We're a family. One day, you'll grow to love me." Alison used to warn her friends: never fall for your sugar daddy. In their line of work, falling in love meant ruin.

They wanted money, not commitment. If one benefactor grew tired of them, they could simply move on to the next. Love was the last thing Alison cared about. But now, here she was, talking about love. It wasn't just Kimberly and Paul who had changed-she had changed too.

"I'll take care of you and the child," Paul said seriously. "I won't stray like I used to. I'll fulfill my responsibilities." It was ironic. The promise Kimberly had longed for her entire life was now given to a woman Paul didn't love.

Such was life.

When Eric visited again, Alison didn't flaunt herself as she used to. Instead, she found an excuse to leave.

"Dad, I'll walk her out," Eric said.

"Alright."

Alison had always feared Eric. Even back at the company, his inscrutable gaze behind those glasses unsettled her. She could never tell what lay hidden in his eyes. mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1