Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Aurora wasn't discouraged by failing to obtain the ruby. After all, it was just an object, nothing irreplaceable. Losing it only meant wasted time.

"Mona, take Miss Montgomery hfirst," Heather instructed. Originally, they were closer to Heather's house, so she should have been dropped off first. However, seeing Aurora looking so worn out, Heather's heart ached.

Aurora, though a resolute and capable woman in public, was, in reality, like a child- someone who didn't know how to take care of herself.

If she did, she wouldn't have let her health deteriorate to this point. It was no wonder Julian had always reminded her to eat when he was around.

"That works," Aurora agreed without resistance. She wasn't in the mood to argue. The snow, which had stopped for a week, had started falling again. "Look, it's snowing." Aurora, draped in a coat over her dress, gazed out the window. To Heather, she looked like a glamorous star, her every movement a work of art.

"Yes, Miss Montgomery, it's snowing. Make sure to stay warm tonight so you don't catch a cold," Heather said. Unintentionally, she had started sounding like a caretaker.

The car stopped in front of a villa. It was Heather's first tseeing Aurora's house up close. In a neighborhood like this, homes didn't ccheap, and Heather couldn't help but feel a little envious.

"Mona, take Heather home. Make sure she gets there safely," Aurora instructed.

"Of course, Miss Montgomery. Don't worry," Mona nodded. Only then did Aurora step out of the car.

Still wearing her evening gown with a coat draped over it, Aurora's entrance didn't go unnoticed. Hayden, who had just returned, saw her. She had clearly attended sgrand event.

"Aurora," he called out, stopping her.

Aurora turned, meeting Hayden's gaze. Once her boyfriend, then her enemy, and now just a stranger. Seeing him again evoked no emotion in her.

"I just got a new Go set. How about a few games?" Hayden asked awkwardly, grasping for an excuse. Back in high school, they had often played Go together.

Aurora glanced at the sky. "It's late, and I'm tired. Maybe another time," she replied, brushing him off with a casual excuse.

Hayden noticed the fatigue on her face. She wasn't lying. "Alright, then rest well," he said.

"Good night," Aurora replied, lifting the hem of her gown as she walked into the villa. Hayden knew Julian had left. He hadn't seen that familiar car in days.

The sight of Aurora standing under the streetlamp, watching the snow, etched itself into his mind. In that moment, she exuded an isolated sorrow, a kind of loneliness that tugged at his heart.

She was like a snow queen, wandering and lost in the storm. The stronger and more resilient she appeared, the more heartache she seemed to carry.

"Miss, why did you go out dressed like that? Aren't you freezing? If Mr. Basaw you, he'd be heartbroken. I'll run you a hot bath right away," Mrs. Hill fussed, her concern evident.

Aurora felt overwhelmed. Julian, Julian-her mind was consumed by thoughts of him.

When she was busy, she didn't have tto think. She'd work until she was exhausted and fall asleep as soon as she got home. But now, with a rare moment of idleness, her longing for him grew uncontrollably, like a seed sprouting into a tree.

Watching Mrs. Hill bustling in the bathroom, Aurora felt as though she were seeing Julian. After all, these little things used to be his responsibility.

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! Just a little longer-twenty days or so-and he would return. She vowed never to be apart from him again.

"Miss, the bath is ready. Check if the temperature's right." "Thank you, Mrs. Hill. You can go now. There's nothing else to do." "Alright, but callif you need anything. Oh, I'll bring you stea in a moment," Mrs. Hill added. This was one of Julian's instructions before he left-Mrs. Hill was tasked with ensuring Aurora drank her herbal tea.

Aurora sighed. Even when he wasn't here, he was still controlling everything about her life. And strangely, she liked it.

After soaking in the hot bath, Aurora felt light-headed. She was likely just too exhausted from recent days. She sent Julian a simple "Goodnight" message before going to bed.

In Clothville, it was already midnight, but in Paris, night had just begun. Julian, after a long day, finally returned to his hotel. He noticed Aurora's goodnight message from hours earlier.

Lighting a cigarette, he took a slow drag. His smoking habit had significantly lessened over time. At home, he avoided it for Aurora's sake, and at work, he was often too busy to think about it.

Aurora had also quit smoking a long tago. Both of them were making changes for the sake of each other. Yet, when apart, the longing becunbearable. Smoking was one of the few ways he could cope.

As his thoughts lingered on Aurora, there was a knock at the door. He had ordered a late-night snack earlier, and it seemed to have arrived.

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! Julian got up to answer the door. The delivery person entered, carrying a food box. Julian gestured toward the table. "Just leave it there and you can go," he said.

The person set down the box but didn't leave. "Mr. Barnet..." she said, removing her delivery Cap and unzipping her jacket to reveal a provocative outfit beneath. Before Julian could react, she had already slipped off her coat and pants, standing in a revealing black lace dress.

She was a petite woman, about 5'5", and now that Julian got a closer look, he noticed she bore a faint resemblance to Aurora-especially in her lips and nose.

Her attire and demeanor were unmistakably seductive, her every move calculated to allure.

"Mr. Barnet, it's been so many days.

Men have needs, don't they? Miss V. esent Mira specifically sentto keep you company. Ponight, I'm yours. You can do whatever you want," she said, smiling suggestively as she sauntered toward him. Her words, her sultry outfit, and her resemblance to Aurora-few men in the world would have been able to resist such temptation.

Mira's schwas clever. She hadn't acted immediately, choosing to wait a week. By then, most men would have reached their limits. That was when she introduced someone resembling their beloved to exploit their weakness. But no matter how clever the plan, resemblance would always remain just that: a shallow imitation.

"Anything I want?" Julian asked, leaning down to meet her gaze.

"Of course, Mr. Barnet. Anything you desire. Tonight, I'm yours. And I promise, no one will know," she whispered, her smile dripping with seduction.

mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1