Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Ivy collapsed to the ground, her strength drained. She had never imagined that even her last lifeline, Mr. Raymond, would slip away because of Aurora.

Aurora. Aurora. Why was it always that damn Aurora? Ivy repeated the nin her mind over and over, consumed by hatred. Because of Aurora, her life had crumbled to this state. And yet, Aurora continued to cast her shadow over her.

Dragging her despondent self downstairs, she found Kyle already seated at the dining table.

The other women sat at a separate table, leaving Kyle alone at the head of his. He seemed like a monarch reigning over his kingdom, solitary and unapproachable, exuding cold indifference.

"Miss Montgomery, join us for breakfast," the butler said with his ever-present, polite smile.

Ivy shook her head. "No, thank you." There was no reason for her to stay any longer. Kyle had made it clear-he wouldn't help her.

"Then allowto arrange a car for you. Transportation is quite inconvenient from here, and with today being the first day of the new year, there won't be any taxis around." The butler's meticulous attentiveness felt almost too kind.

"Thank you," Ivy replied. She didn't refuse the offer. Walking on foot from this place could take days.

Stepping out of the villa, she was met with falling snow, still steady and relentless. After spending the night in the warmth of the villa, the chill that hit her now felt piercing.

The snowflakes danced gently through the air, creating an undeniably beautiful scene. But Ivy's heart felt colder than the frost around her.

The car drove off slowly. The driver, who had given her a lift on a few occasions before, recognized her. "Miss Montgomery, where would you like to go?" "I..." Ivy hesitated, unsure of where she should head to. She had barely slept the night before, her face still carrying yesterday's makeup, and her entire body felt grimy and uncomfortable.

Finally, she gave the driver her apartment address. She decided it was best to go home, take a shower, and rest. She felt like she was on the verge of collapse. Dragging her exhausted self into her apartment, Ivy was greeted by the sight of Genevieve sitting alone at the dining table, eating dumplings.

"You're back, Ivy? Perfect timing. I was bored last night and made a ton of dumplings. Cand eat," Genevieve said cheerfully.

"Mom, I need to take a shower first," Ivy replied.

"Alright, but don't take too long. I'll cook sfor you right now-it won't take long," Genevieve said, oblivious to Ivy's somber mood.

"Okay." Ivy quickly went to her room to shower. Emerging later in warm pajamas, she found Genevieve excitedly waving her over.

"Ctaste my cooking, Ivy. You've grown up without ever trying dumplings made by my hands, haven't you?" "True," Ivy said with a touch of melancholy. "Back when we lived with the Montgomery family, we could have anything we wanted just by asking. You never needed to cook." "Let's not dwell on those days," Genevieve said with a smile. "The important thing is that we're still alive and well. After everything that's happened, I've cto understand that freedom and health are worth more than all the gold in the world.

"Your grandmother used to tellthat when I was young. Now, let's eat dumplings to celebrate the new year. We'll all be together-Zach too, even though he hasn't chin two days." Genevieve's tone carried a hint of complaint, though there was no real blin her words. To her, Zachary was still her child, a boy who hadn't truly grown up.

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! Hearing Zachary's nbrought a pang of sadness to Ivy's heart. She bit into a dumpling filled with meat.

"Hardly anyone makes their own dumplings anymore," Genevieve mused. "I still remember sitting at the wooden table as a child, with your grandmother chattering away as she taught me. So many years have passed, and now you're all grown up." During their luxurious days with the Montgomery family, Genevieve rarely thought about her own family. But now, in the quiet, those memories crept back, especially of her childhood.

"Mom, why have you never told us about Grandma and Grandpa? All these years, we've never even met them," Ivy asked.

Genevieve sighed. "Ivy, it's not that I didn't want to talk about them-there's a reason. Back when I was in school, I was always top of my class. I was the pride of our family.

"When I was accepted into the best high school in the city, your grandparents were overjoyed. But coming from a poor, small town to a big city, I couldn't resist the allure of its glamour.

"My friends changed. They weren't like the ones I grew up with, wearing simple clothes. They mockedfor my plain, homespun dresses.

"It didn't matter how good my grades were-they calleda 'country bumpkin.' People in the city looked down on me." "Mom..." Ivy's heart ached as she listened to her mother's story.

"At first, I thought my studies were everything. But I grew resentful of the ridicule and started dressing up.

"Your grandparents were just ordinary folks. It was already a struggle for them to support my education. The allowance they gavebarely covered basic expenses. "So, I bought cheap clothes from market stalls. I was naturally good-looking, tall, and slender. A little effort in dressing up, and suddenly, I caught everyone's attention. "Boys lined up to talk to me, inviteout, and givegifts. The girls, jealous, continued to mockfor wearing cheap clothes.

"I refused to accept it. Just because they were born into better circumstances didn't mean they were better than me. I was determined to change everything.

"I started working part-tduring holidays and weekends. That's when I met someone who changed the course of my life.

"He was a married man, but he offereda monthly allowance of three thousand to be his mistress. Back then, three thousand was an astronomical amount.

"I began wearing designer clothes, carrying luxury bags. No one dared to look down onanymore. I becobsessed with this lifestyle, and my grades plummeted.

"By the second semester of my junior year, I was near the bottom of the class rankings.

I told myself it didn't matter-graduating and getting into college, was just a means to make money. I was already earning, so why wait? "I enjoyed that life until I got pregnant by accident. That man had a wife and children, and when his wife found out, she caused a huge scene at my school.

"The school expelled me. Your grandparents were humiliated and furious.

"After being kicked out, I couldn't bear the thought of staying in that small town forever. V returned to the city to look for work.

"At first, I took legitimate jobs, but they were exhausting and paid little. I paid little. Through an introduction, I ended up Working at a nightclub, serving drinks.

I It was degrading, but the money was fast. "I thought I'd find a long-term benefactor there-after all, the place was full of wealthy men.

"But one misstep leads to another. Ivy, I made so many mistakes in my life..." mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1