Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

They were going to be investigated? On the ship, everyone exchanged uneasy glances, silently questioning the necessity of Julian's actions. To them, it was nothing more than an unfortunate accident. The thought of a formal investigation, with all its complexity and red tape, was too much to bear.

"An investigation? Mr. Barnet, we understand that you're grieving, upset, and even angry right now. We all feel terrible about what happened-no one wanted this to occur. But, you see, we all have things to attend to today. Once the ship docks, perhaps we could quietly move on. After all, this was just an accident, wasn't it?" "An accident?" Julian's piercing gaze locked onto the man who had spoken. A cold smile crossed his face. "Then explain this to me: how do you account for the condition of these railings? Everywhere else, they are intact and sturdy. If there were a structural issue, it would be widespread, not isolated to this one section." "Well... maybe the workers cut corners during construction. Over time, this part of the railing might have weakened." "Cut corners? On a cruise ship this lavish? Cutting corners on interior décor or hidden components might be plausible, but the railings? They're one of the most critical safety measures on the ship. What kind of idiot would risk cutting corners there?" "Even if someone tampered with the railing, it's also possible that Ivy herself did something to it. Maybe she brought this upon herself and fell into the sea as a result." "If Ivy had the skills to tamper with railings, I'd almost be impressed. If she could pull that off, I'd gladly chop my head off and let you use it as a stool. No, someone here- someone among you-is the one who tampered with the railing. I'm giving you ten minutes to cclean. If you step forward now and tellthe truth, I might be lenient.

The police will be here in less than ten minutes. When they arrive and uncover the truth, I'll make sure you'll never recover from this for the rest of your life." Julian's sharp, hawk-like eyes scanned the group. One man's heart pounded in his chest. He hadn't expected Julian to arrive at this conclusion so quickly. Damn it! If he had known Julian was this perceptive, he would have arranged for someone to extract him sooner.

After all, it wasn't as though he'd killed a politician or someone important. Tampering with the railing and giving Ivy a push had been straightforward enough-it was just another job for a professional hitman like him.

The night before, he had effortlessly taken out two targets and even found tto enjoy himself with a woman, confident that he'd leave the ship today without a hitch and collect the rest of his payment.

Julian was just a businessman, no matter how clever he seemed. The tools he'd used were already at the bottom of the sea. No one would trace it back to him.

Yet, as Julian's sharp gaze bore into him, the man felt a flicker of fear. He knew Julian's words were a bluff meant to trap someone, but those piercing eyes made him hesitate for the first time.

"Mr. Barnet, you're overthinking this. It was clearly just an accident," someone interjected with a yawn, eager to end the conversation.

"Apologies, everyone," Julian replied, his tone cold. "These are extraordinary circumstances, and they require extraordinary measures. If you're tired, feel free to rest. When the police arrive, I'll call for you if needed. If you're hungry, the kitchen has prepared breakfast. Please go to the dining room." Mr. Warden, caught in the middle of the tension, dared not offend anyone. As the others dispersed, Julian remained persistent.

"Taketo the other areas," he said.

"Of course." Heather led Julian through the places they had visited earlier. As Julian retraced their steps, his mind was filled with images of Aurora walking these spaths.

He knew her chances of survival were slim, yet he couldn't help but pray to the heavens for a miracle. Aurora was only 22 years old-far too young to leave this world. "Mr. Barnet, this was our room last night. Miss Montgomery said she'd go out to catch sfresh air and return to sleep. It's my fault-I should have brought her back myself," Heather admitted, her voice filled with guilt. Suddenly, she slapped herself hard across the face. Aurora had been her mentor, her guide in life, and one of her few true friends. Heather's regret was overwhelming. If only she had taken Aurora back to the room, perhaps none of this would have happened.

Julian scanned the room. It was untouched-Aurora hadn't returned. Her small bag and toiletries were still there. His fingers tightened around a familiar piece of clothing: her pajamas. His eyes reddened as he held them.

He had picked out those pajamas for her himself. Not long ago, they had gone shopping for the new year, wandering through the mall together.

"Julian, I want to get snew pajamas. Which one do you think looks best?" she had asked, tilting her head adorably.

He had gently patted her head. "This one." Aurora had glanced at the pajamas, which were decorated with cartoon bunnies. "Don't men usually prefer something a little sexier? Why are you picking something that looks like it's for kids?" "Because, to me, you'll always be my Little Bunny," Julian had replied with a smile. Aurora had nodded obediently, accepting his choice.

Now, the pajamas remained, but she was gone.

Julian's grip tightened, and his emotions nearly overwhelmed him. Heather watched as this strong man fought back tears, her own heart aching at the sight.

Though Aurora and Julian had appeared happy and successful in recent times, Heather knew from Aurora's confidences that their journey had been fraught with challenges. Why was fate so cruel? After all they had endured, why did they have to face this separation? Even as a bystander, Heather found the situation unbearable.

Julian forced himself to rein in his emotions. There was still so much to do. The killer was still on board, and he would not let them walk free.

"Go to Mr. Warden and getthe records of everyone on this ship," he instructed. "Understood." Heather wiped away her tears. No matter what had happened to Aurora, those who remained had a duty to seek justice for her, to ensure she could rest in peace.

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! Julian began analyzing the records meticulously. Then, he made a call to an old contact.

"I need you to do something for me." "Nit. Sprice as usual."

"Investigate someone-lvy Montgomery. Find out who she's e been in contact with and what's been going on with her lately. I need every detail." "Got it."

After hanging up, Julian made another call, this tto Tina. She had previously warned him to protect Aurora, and he had failed her.

Who had the most reason to want Aurora dead? The obvious answer was Walsh Though he was far away in New York, he couldn't be ruled out. Tina picked up quickly.

"Hello?" "How have you been?" "Sas always. How's Aurora?" "She... she's doing well." Julian couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth.

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