Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Chapter 471: I'm Afraid He'll Fall for You "So that's what it was all about," Aurora murmured, stunned. If Julian hadn't explained things to her, she would never have known the truth. She had even foolishly accused him of having a relationship with Daria.

"Daria has feelings for Denis Vukic?" she asked, still trying to process it.

"Yes," Julian replied calmly. "She always pretended to like me, but in reality, I was just a shield. She probably realized that her feelings for her brother were... unconventional, so she tried to distract herself by focusing on me." Aurora finally understood. She had thought her own love life was tragic, but it seemed others had even more difficult stories.

"But aren't Daria and Denis Vukic biological siblings? How could she develop those kinds of feelings for him?" Aurora asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Who told you they're biological siblings?" Julian said, shaking his head. "Daria's father was Denis Vukic's father's comrade. After her parents died, the Vukic family adopted her. She's always known her true identity, so her feelings aren't entirely surprising. "They grew up together, sharing meals and beds. Whenever she caused trouble, Denis Vukic always took the blame. What started as innocent childhood affection gradually grew into romantic feelings.

"But Daria was aware of how inappropriate those feelings were. She feared they'd negatively affect Denis Vukic and disgrace the family that had taken her in. So, she suppressed her emotions and tried to divert her attention elsewhere. You know how emotions are-like a flood. Once the dam breaks, it's unstoppable.

"That's why she desperately pursued me, hoping I could dilute her feelings for Denis Vukic. But emotions aren't something you can just turn off because you want to." Julian sighed, his tone tinged with regret. Aurora listened intently, her heart aching at the revelation. It turned out that loving someone in silence was the most painful thing in the world.

"And how is it that Daria died for you?" Aurora pressed, sensing there was more to the story.

"When I confronted her about her feelings, she admitted them to me. After we graduated, she askedto help her stage a scene." "A scene? What kind of scene?" "She wanted to leave-leave Denis Vukic's world entirely. She believed that distancing herself might allow her to fall in love with someone else. So, she beggedto help her fake her death. She pretended to risk her life savingduring a boating accident and disappeared.

"Everyone thought she died that day, but I knew it was just a plan to escape Denis Vukic. I didn't tell anyone. It was her decision, and I respected it. But later, I discovered something shocking." Aurora's heart raced. "What did you find out?" "It wasn't one-sided. Daria loved Denis Vukic, but he loved her too. He's just incredibly good at hiding his emotions. Even I didn't notice.

"But by the tI realized it, Daria was already gone. I didn't know where she went. I thought it was best to keep the truth hidden, believing it was her way of finding freedom." Aurora's mind reeled. No wonder Julian had remained so calm last night when Denis Vukic mentioned Daria "dying" for him. At the time, she thought Julian was being heartless, but now she understood-he had known all along that Daria was still alive.

"Julian, if you knew they loved each other, why didn't you tell Denis Vukic? He could've gone after her and brought her back," Aurora said, confused.

Julian shook his head. "Do you think they would've reunited because of me? They hid their feelings for a reason- to avoid society's judgment.

"They see their love as something monstrous, something they can't reveal. What stands in their way isn't me-it's the world's expectations. Do you understand now?" Aurora nodded slowly. She tried to imagine herself in Daria's position. If Julian had been her adoptive brother, how would she have faced such a situation? Even without blood ties, the world would see them as siblings. To be together, they'd need unimaginable courage.

Daria, as an adopted child of the Vukic family, would have risked ruining not only Denis Vukic's reputation but also the family's honor. And with his father being a military man, Daria's inner turmoil made perfect sense. Compared to Daria's plight, Aurora felt her own struggles suddenly seemed insignificant.

"Julian, I'm glad you're not my brother," she whispered, burying her head against his chest. She listened to his heartbeat, feeling a deep sense of contentment.

"Even if I were your brother, as long as I loved you, I'd still want you. I wouldn't care what the world thought-I'd only want you," Julian said, pulling her tightly into his arms.

It was only after being apart that he truly realized how important Aurora was to him. Fifteen years ago, she was just a little girl with bright, expressive eyes.

He never expected that tiny spark to grow into something that would conshim for fifteen years, In someone had told him such a story before; he would've laughed. But when it happened to him, he realized how real it was. Only he could understand the bittersweetness of it all. "Why did Daria choose you?" Aurora asked suddenly. "There were so many men at your university. If she just needed a shield, why pick you?"

If you're loving the book, nel5sis where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience ath for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Because she knew I was the safest choice. I wouldn't fall for her, and she wasn't looking for a partner. Deep down, she had a subconscious aversion to all men. "She also knew my heart belonged to someone else. We were alike in that way. No matter what she did, I wouldn't have accepted her feelings. That's why she chose me," Julian explained simply.

Aurora sighed. The seemingly carefree girl had actually been the most calculating of them all. "Have you had any contact with Daria since she left?"

"No. It's like she vanished. She disappeared from all our lives. Maybe she's moved on from her feelings for ΟΤΙ Denis Vukic. Maybe she's married now, with children." Aurora thought for a moment. "Or maybe, after leaving, she realized she loved Denis Vukic even more than she thought. Maybe she's quietly watching him from somewhere." "Maybe," Julian said thoughtfully. "Little Bunny, do you know why I rushed here after five years? I didn't know if Denis Vukic had moved on from Daria.

"I was afraid he might fall for you. You have a certain warmth about you, just like Daria did. That's why I cwithout hesitation." "A certain warmth?" Aurora echoed, surprised.

"Yes. Both of you have a kind of softness that draws people in, making them want to protect you." mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1