Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Chapter 72 Mr. Alvarez, Please Show Some Respect

Hayden saw a woman both familiar and strange, her face shrouded in gloom that

couldn't be dispelled. "Aurora, I'm here." He had thought long about what to say when they met, but upon seeing her, he swallowed back his words, a bitter taste filled his

throat.

"Do you mind if I smoke?" Although she asked, she was already lighting a cigarette with practiced ease. Her nails were painted a dark red, which made her slender, fair fingers even more striking. Her need for cigarettes wasn't great, but she would smoke when annoyed, such as now upon seeing Hayden. Though she had let go of their past, just seeing his face involuntarily brought back images of him and Susan in bed. She had once liked Hayden, and the thought still nauseated her.

Seeing the dramatic change in Aurora's demeanor, Hayden was overwhelmed by mixed feelings. "Aurora, smoking is bad for your health."

"Spare me your lecture, Mr. Alvarez. We agreed today was just for catching up, so from what position are you lecturing me?" Aurora looked at him disdainfully, expertly exhaling smoke, her smoking bearing a fatal attraction to men.

"Aurora, I know you still blame me. There was more to the situation three years ago. That day, I was actually planning to propose to you. But Susan tricked me into her room and drugged me, making me mistake her for you. I have been regretting that ever since." He felt his actions had greatly hurt Aurora, turning her into the person she was today.

Aurora responded coolly, "Even if what you say is true, you're about to get engaged to her. Is there really any point in explaining to me?" She saw love like the smoke dancing in the air, visible, yet when reached for, nothing but emptiness.

After hearing his explanation, she thought of Julian. She remembered the night she returned home and the incident in the bar's restroom. Julian was also drugged, but unlike Hayden, he had tried to throw them up in the restroom despite being at a club where he could have sought relief with any woman. They faced similar situations but with different outcomes. Was it that Hayden lacked self-control, or were they simply not meant to be?

"Aurora, although I wasn't sober then, I felt responsible for her and must make up for my mistake."

"You really are a considerate man. No wonder I liked you so much." Aurora almost wanted to applaud him if he were as good as his words suggested. If that were true, how could he sit so calmly across from her now? He was here to meet his former lover, yet he kept their meeting from Susan, whom he claimed responsibility for. He was merely afraid of Susan's discovery of his fickle heart.

She stood up, leaned over, and playfully lifted his chin while blowing smoke into his face. Aurora's face flickered within the smoke like a siren, far more seductive than she had been in the past. Hayden almost instinctively pulled her into his arms.

had already stepped back. "Mr. Alvarez, please show some respect. You're about

stubbed out her

loved you.

ma'am. Here are your drinks and steak." The waiter's voice from beyond the

on the table. Hayden glanced over, remembering how Aurora used to detest

either. How had everything changed

the waiter said quickly

felt no appetite. "Aurora, didn't you used to hate

can change? Just like how I once loved you," Aurora retorted, draining

downed her drink, Hayden remembered

could no longer see any trace of

good things." Hayden suddenly missed the girl who used to hold his hand and smile

were gone. Aurora just coldly chuckled, without

her silence, Hayden asked, "Aurora, why didn't you contact me at all during these

was unaware of what the Montgomery

was not

successful future for

hadn't left, she would

few knew

to cut ties with all of you," Aurora

gaze, realizing that Aurora had changed drastically,