Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Aurora stepped back into the event hall, her eyes scanning the crowd. It didn't take long for her to spot three dazzling figures standing together amidst the sea of guests. Julian stood at the center, his presence commanding, flanked by two men so striking they seemed almost otherworldly.

The trio's appearance caused a stir. Guests whispered and craned their necks, salready raising their phones for sneaky photos. The assumption was obvious: they must be celebrities.

"Asher? Denis?" Aurora's voice broke into a mixture of surprise and delight as she approached them. "What are you two doing here?" Just two days ago, she'd seen Asher over video call, lounging at Denis Vukic's hand half-watching a soap opera. He'd told her he was swamped-something about the company's recent public listing-and wouldn't be able to make it. She hadn't expected him to come, let alone Denis, whose busy schedule and infamous aloofness made his presence all the more improbable.

Yet here they stood.

"We wanted to surprise you," Asher said, his blue eyes sparkling like a clear summer sky.

Aurora's face lit up as she threw her arms around him. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you!" "This is your debut work," Asher replied, pulling her closer. "How could I not be here for you?" Julian, standing just a few steps away, worked hard to keep his expression neutral. He knew the bond between Aurora and Asher was purely platonic, but the sight of her in another man's arms still set his teeth on edge. Aurora let Asher go, then turned to Denis, offering him a warm smile as she pulled him in for a brief hug. "Denis, I can't believe you're here too." Denis, ever composed, returned the hug with a polite nod before stepping back. "As your mentor, it's my duty to be here. Don't embarrass me." Aurora laughed softly, appreciating his dry humor. She knew Denis wasn't one for grand gestures, which made his presence all the more meaningful. Without his guidance, she wouldn't have achieved what she had today.

Before she could say another word, Julian stepped forward, slipping an arm around Aurora's waist and pulling her close. He wasn't possessive by nature, but his patience had limits.

The crowd, already buzzing with excitement, seemed to reach a fever pitch. What had started as a perflaunch was quickly transforming into a spectacle.

"Three men and one woman? It's like something out of a movie!" someone murmured from the sidelines.

And just when the scene couldn't get more surreal, another figure appeared. He walked in with an effortless grace, his cream-colored coat catching the light, his smile warm enough to melt the winter chill. The air seemed to shift, his arrival like the first breeze of spring.

"Wait-isn't that Mr. Alvarez?" a voice whispered.

"It is! I can't believe he's here too. Miss Montgomery must be someone really special." "And all these men... They're gorgeous. Look at the blue-eyed one. He's so striking!" "I like the one in black. Isn't he famous? He looks familiar." "And Mr. Alvarez... Even with her fiancé here, he doesn't lose out one bit. How can one woman have so many perfect men around her?" Aurora turned at the sound of her name. "Mr. Alvarez?" Her surprise was genuine as her gaze locked onto his. Hayden Alvarez smiled softly. "I heard about your perflaunch and thought I'd drop by." His tone was casual, but Aurora knew him well enough to sense there was more behind his words.

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! Before Aurora could respond, Julian's voice cut through the moment like a blade. "It's Mrs. Bernet," he corrected coldly, his eyes narrowing at Hayden.

Hayden's smile faltered, but only slightly. The words were like a slap, a reminder of what he'd lost. He couldn't bring himself to say it-to address her as someone else's wife.

Before the tension could thicken, the sound of another car pulling up outside caught everyone's attention. The crowd murmured as two more figures stepped out, their commanding presences impossible to ignore.

"Dad? Grandpa?" Aurora's face lit up with joy as she recognized them.

Oswaldo, her grandfather, let out a hearty laugh as he approached. "Of course we came! How could we miss your big day?" Magnus, her father, gave her a rare smile of approval.

Aurora's heart swelled at the sight of them. She hadn't expected either of them to show up, and their presence filled her with gratitude.

As the Montgomery family made their entrance, more familiar faces began to appear. The event hall seemed to grow more crowded by the second, the atmosphere buzzing with energy. Even Joaquin, Julian's father, arrived, his usual air of formality softened as he greeted Aurora.

"Uncle Joaquin, you're here too," Aurora said, her voice tinged with shyness.

"Of course," Joaquin replied, his tone firm yet kind. "How could I miss my daughter-in-law's debut?" Julian glanced at his father, his voice quieter but no less sincere. "Dad." 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! It was a small word, but it carried weight. Their relationship, once strained, was slowly mending.

Hayden, watching the scene unfold, the felt a pang of unease. He noted subtle shift in dynamics, the lack of tension that had once defined Julian and Joaquin's interactions. Suppressing his discomfort, Hayden greeted Joaquin with a polite nod. "Grandfather, it's good to see you." Joaquin's response was curt, drawing a clear line between them. "I'm here for my family." Hayden's chest tightened, but he said nothing.

Meanwhile, the event continued to swell in grandeur. More of Julian's business associates began to m appear joining the growing crowd of Montgomery family allies. What had started as a modest perflaunch had turned into a gathering of the elite. Aurora, overwhelmed by the turnout, worked quickly to arrange additional seating. The air buzzed with whispers of admiration.

"Miss Montgomery really knows how to draw a crowd," someone said.

"She's incredible! Look at all these influential people here for her." "Life isn't fair, is it? We're the sage, but compared to her..."

In the corner of the room, a shadowed figure watched the scene Ο Π with clenched fists. Gemma's eyes burned with envy as she observed Aurora basking in the glow of the crowd's admiration. "Go ahead and smile," Gemma thought bitterly. "When the news breaks that Candy isn't coming, let's see how long that smile lasts." mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1