Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Before Ivy could fully process her thoughts, the captain spoke again: "Remember, coming here isn't about enjoying life. We won't kill you, and we'll provide food and clothes, but in return, you'll need to cook three meals a day for us, do everyone's laundry, and clean the entire ship." "What?!" Ivy's voice rose several octaves. She had been pampered all her life-treated as a princess in the Montgomery family. She had never done a single chore. Even after being cast out of the family, there was always a washing machine at hand, and her winter clothes were dry-cleaned. Meals? She could always order takeout.

Her tstaying at Mr. Raymond's house had been comfortable too. Now, this man was telling her she had to cook, clean, and do laundry? "I didn't even ask to stay on this ship! Letgo home. I've never done this kind of work in my entire life," she protested.

"Miss Montgomery, right?" The captain's tone turned colder. "Here, on this ship, the first thing you must learn is obedience. I'm the captain, which means you follow my orders. If you don't, I'll hang you upside down from the mast to use as shark bait." Though his words were said lightly, his expression remained icy. His gaze was so cold it sent shivers down Ivy's spine.

She bit her lip. She told herself to endure. Once Aurora woke up, she would face the sfate. Ivy thought it best to familiarize herself with the situation first, then find a way to leave.

"Frank, take her below deck and show her around. We'll dock in a few hours to restock on food and water. Make sure she doesn't escape," the captain ordered.

"Yes, boss," Frank replied.

The captain added, almost as an afterthought, "Tell Mrs. Woolf to buy swomen's necessities, especially clothes." Ivy lowered her head and followed Frank.

"There are over fifty of us on this ship," Frank said, shaking his head. "You might look down on us, but we don't have a choice. If we had better lives, do you think we'd resort to this kind of work?" "I beg you, letgo," Ivy pleaded. "My mom is waiting forat home. She'll worry if I don't return." From observing the crew, Ivy had decided Frank was the only one who seemed kind-hearted. She needed to appeal to him. The ship was set to dock in a few hours, and she hoped to seize the opportunity to escape. "Miss Montgomery, on this ship, you must follow the captain's orders. I can't betray him. Don't worry too much- while we are pirates, we aren't completely heartless. The captain is a good man. Maybe when he's in a good mood, you can bring up leaving. But if I let you go now, it'll costmy life." Frank shook his head. Betraying the captain wasn't an option for him.

When the ship docked, Ivy noticed the port was tiny and isolated. She didn't recognize the location. It was clear the pirates avoided well-known harbors to stay hidden, which only made her situation more difficult.

"Frank, I know you're a good man. If you won't letoff the ship, at least letcall my mom to let her know I'm safe. We're at the shore now, so there should be a signal," Ivy pleaded again.

Frank hesitated. "Well... fine. But you only get one minute, and I'll be right here. You can't mention anything about us." For pirates, being discovered was a matter of life and death. Frank couldn't risk the entire crew's safety for Ivy. "I understand," Ivy nodded. She thought of Genevieve's gentle face the day before she left home. Contacting her, even briefly, would at least ease her mother's worries.

Frank handed Ivy a phone. Out at sea, there was rarely any signal, so he didn't use it often.

Ivy, fearing Frank might change his mind, quickly dialed Genevieve's number. It rang for a long tbefore connecting, but the moment she heard her mother's voice, Ivy felt a wave of relief.

"Mom." "Ivy? Why is this number so strange? I almost thought it was a scam call," Genevieve said, her tone as calm as usual, unaware of what was happening.

"Mom, I decided to go on a trip with sfriends. We're at sea now, so communication isn't great. We just arrived at a port. If you can't reach me, don't worry. I'll call you when I can." "A trip? Where are you going? Didn't you say yesterday you'd be back this morning?" Genevieve asked, confused.

"Mom, it was a last-minute decision. Don't worry about me. Oh, and if you see any strange news, don't believe it. I'm fine," Ivy said, recalling how her and Aurora's disappearance might already be making headlines. She didn't want her mother to panic.

"News? What news?" "Just don't believe anything you see. I'm traveling with friends. I'll send you a photo if that helps," Ivy offered. "Alright. Just take care of yourself," Genevieve replied, though Ivy's strange tone left her feeling uneasy.

"Got it," Ivy said before hanging up. She turned to Frank with a pleading look. "Frank, now everyone thinks I'm dead. Letsend my mom a photo so she doesn't worry too much."

"A photo is fine, but make sure there's nothing in the background," Frank warned. As d. As someone with a family of his own, he understood Ivy's concern. But he couldn't risk exposing the crew. "Okay," Ivy agreed. She took a selfie with the sea as the background.

Frank carefully inspected the photo to ensure there were no identifying details before allowing her to send it. Genevieve replied with a simple, "Stay safe." Ivy ended the conversation by saying the ship was leaving and there would be no signal at sea. She wanted to call Walsh next, but Frank refused. "You said one minute. That's it." He took the phone from her, removed the SIM card, and tossed it into the sea. "Was that really necessary?" Ivy asked, frustrated.

"Piracy isn't a profession meant for the public eye. If the navy finds us, it's m over. Please understand" Frank! explained. He was the only one kind enough to offer an explanation. The crew frequently changed phones and SIM cards to stay off the radar. "Fine. Can I at least call my mom again in a few days?" "We'll see," Frank replied, unwilling to make any promises. Genevieve, meanwhile, stared at Ivy's selfie. Something about her daughter's expression felt off. "What's going on with this child?" she murmured, puzzled.

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