Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Chapter 394: The Face Off

Ian had always been a bookworm, never dated through his childhood or adolescence. When he finally reached university, he fell for Gemma the moment he first saw her. Gemma, with her long black hair and white dress, perfectly matched the innocent and pure image Ian, the bookworm, had always fantasized about.

Years passed, and now Ian found Gemma clinging to him, a complex look in his eyes. He remembered Ivy on her first day of school, shy and as pure as a bowl of clear water, without a speck of impurity. But now, she was heavily made up, wearing cheap perfume, and posturing provocatively in front of him.

In Gemma's mind, Ian, who had never been with a woman, was easy prey. She thought she just needed to spend one night with him to show him the pleasures of a woman, and then he would be forever under her spell.

"Ian, I really like you and want to be with you. Since you know the company's president, could you put in a good word for me? That way, I can get a job there, and we can be together. I'm doing this for our future," she said, sweetly but deceitfully, believing no man could resist her charms, let alone the inexperienced Ian.

Gemma's overconfidence blinded her to the deep disgust in Ian's eyes. "Gemma, could you please get off me? This is making me feel nauseous."

"What did you say?"

Gemma, always confident and having men dote on her, couldn't believe Ian's words. Seeing her astonishment, Ian pushed her away and said, "It seems you didn't look in the mirror before you left the house. Gemma, let me be clear. I must have been blind to have ever liked you, but that was the past. Now, I have regained my sight, and I don't like you, not even a bit. Not now, not ever. We will never be together. Please, have some dignity, and don't assume every man is interested in you."

Ian calmly adjusted his suit. He had always been a pushover at school, always trying to help everyone if he could. In Gemma's eyes, he was a fool, his good grades not enough to mask his meek nature. He used to be too scared to even speak to her; if she glanced at him a bit longer, he would turn away blushing, lacking the courage to even look at her. She would have never approached him if not for the help he provided with homework, viewing him as utterly beneath her.

Yet now, the man she had always looked down on spoke to her without a blush, with such certainty.

"Ian, who do you think you are? If you hadn't been so desperately chasing after me back then, I wouldn't have given you a second glance! What are you acting all high and mighty for now?"

Gemma raged, her face turning red.

me wonder if I was out of my mind when I pursued you.

away, leaving Gemma stunned. She had been rejected by the very bookworm she had looked down upon. Why did she

Ian left, he noticed that his friends

Aurora, and Julian, ever perceptive, noticed a few had been tailing them for a while. Frowning, he suggested, "Aurora, you

going to deal with

since we entered the lobby. I'll check it out." This was Aurora's company, and Julian would not tolerate any

need, they're here for me. I'll handle it,"

"Do you know them?"

Julian asked, puzzled.

the same university as me. They probably just want to

reassured

here," Julian relented, learning they

they momentarily panicked. Though they had wanted to meet Aurora, now that she

unable to meet her gaze directly, as if they were from different worlds, fearing that even an extra glance would be an

pointedly, standing before

you with Mr. Barnet, we didn't

you also here

Ian to scout some