Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

The dynamic between the man and woman had shifted. Earlier, she had taken the initiative; now, it was his turn.

Watching Julian tenderly care for the woman in his arms, one couldn't help but wonder-what woman wouldn't want to trade places with her? To be cherished so gently by him must surely feel like the height of happiness.

Mira averted her gaze with a complex expression. As a woman, she could sense how deeply Julian adored Aurora. Hmph, just a woman who traded her looks for everything she had now. How long could she really hold his attention? With that thought, Mira turned away without looking back.

Aurora's face was flushed from Julian's passionate kiss. Surrounded by onlookers, she quickly pulled him aside, embarrassed. After all, he was the one who had said he'd keep her company for half an hour.

"Little Bunny, were you angry just now?" Julian teased, clearly amused. The way she had impatiently pulled him down for a kiss was so unlike her usual self.

Having spent so much twith Aurora, Julian knew her personality inside and out. What she had done was nothing more than a declaration of ownership.

This side of her delighted him. He loved how much she cared about him.

"And you're still laughing? Why didn't you tellearlier that the person you're working with is Mira?" "I told you last night-it's the CEO of Life. I thought you'd figure it out yourself. Besides, I've never paid attention to who's a man or a woman. To me, she's just a business partner," Julian explained.

Aurora believed him. She felt the sway; even if she interacted with others for work, it was purely professional.

She didn't even give it a second thought. If every little thing required reporting to one's partner, wouldn't that kind of relationship feel suffocating? Julian didn't see Mira as anything more than a colleague, and Aurora wasn't the type to throw a tantrum over such things.

"I know," she said. "It's just that I seem too weak in comparison. Speople think I'm not good enough for you." She hadn't missed the disdain in Mira's eyes earlier.

As a fellow woman, Aurora understood Mira's perspective. She couldn't blher- Julian was simply too exceptional.

"Whether we're a good match or not is up toto decide. Don't overthink it. I'll try to cback as soon as I can," Julian said, affectionately ruffling her hair. To him, she would always be the slittle girl from years ago.

"Mm, I know. Be careful, and callwhen you arrive," Aurora replied. She wouldn't let Mira's presence shake her trust. Even if she didn't trust Mira, she trusted Julian.

Still, her heart felt a little sour. For the next month, Julian would be spending twith another woman-one just as strong and capable as he was.

In many ways, Mira and Aurora were alike. Both were determined and ambitious. Women in the business world were already rare, and Aurora understood that jealousy wasn't the answer.

Instead, she needed to work harder. She wanted to close the gap between them, to stand as his equal. That way, no one could look down on her anymore.

"I will. Jefferson's number is already stored in your phone. If you can't reach me, you can call him. Once I reach the hotel, I'll send you the number as well," Julian said.

His thoughtfulness made Aurora feel a bit embarrassed. "Who actually asks someone to check up on them like this?" "It's not checking up-it's about giving you peace of mind, Little Bunny. I know what you lack most is a sense of security, especially when we're so far apart.

If you couldn't reach me, you'd be worried sick. But I don't plan to give you that chance. I'm just taking precautions.

Even if there comes a day when you can't contactdirectly, you'll still have other ways to find me. That way, you won't have to worry.

I've experienced that kind of fear before, and I don't want you to go through the sthing. And don't forget to drink the tea at hevery day. Don't skip a single dose." Hearing his tender reminders, Aurora's heart melted. "If you keep talking like this, I really won't want to let you go." "You're always such a handful. Withgone, no one will remind you to eat properly. Take care of your stomach, stick to a regular eating schedule, and don't overwork yourself. If I cback and find you've lost even a pound, I won't let you off easily," Julian warned.

"Got it. Why didn't I notice before how naggy you are?" Aurora felt like crying. She finally understood how Julian must have felt the last the sent her off.

"Complaining aboutnow? Tomorrow, you won't hear it anymore," Julian said, lightly tapping her on the head, careful not to hurt her.

"What do you mean I won't hear it? You can calland remind me-tellto drink tea, dress warmly, and eat on time," Aurora said, trying to lighten the mood. After all, this wasn't a permanent farewell. They would see each other again. A month would pass quickly.

"Yes, yes. Starting tomorrow, I'll call you every day to make sure you eat," Julian said, happy to go along with her banter.

The two lingered, reluctant to part. But as the final minutes ticked away, Aurora spoke up. "Julian, it's time. Go." "Wait forto cback. If anything happens, let Rock handle it." 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! "Mm, I know," Aurora said, holding back the ache in her chest.

"Good girl." With a kiss on her forehead, Julian turned and walked away. Aurora watched his figure until it disappeared past the security checkpoint. Julian, wait for me. I'll grow stronger. After meeting Mira today, Aurora was even more certain of what she wanted. She didn't want to just rely on Julian's protection-she wanted the strength to walk beside him as an equal.

Rock took Julian's place in escorting Aurora back to her company. Fueled by her encounter with Mira, Aurora was brimming with energy.

Back at the office, she immediately dove into preparations for other skincare products. Over the past few months, Mona had been leading her team in independent development. Though it wasn't as fast as their perflaunch, in another half month, they'd be ready to release the new products-just in tto ride the wave of the perfume's success. The renowned fashion design team Julian had hired for Aurora had also begun preparations. Aurora had a natural talent for design and even understood a great deal about fashion.

She had thought Julian's absence would leave her longing for him endlessly. But now she realized she was so busy that she barely had tto miss him.

Meanwhile, Julian was conducting market research in Europe, his schedule packed from morning to night. Despite the tdifference, he always made tto say goodnight to Aurora, even if it was just a quick text message while he sipped afternoon tea and she was already in bed. Though he wasn't physically by her side, Aurora never felt alone. He was always thinking of her.

As for the mysterious text and the person who had once followed her, they had vanished without a trace. Gradually, Aurora stopped thinking about it, dismissing it as a coincidence.

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