Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Chapter 447: I’ll Only Say This Once

When Ian appeared in the office with a completely new look, everyone was stunned. Previously, Ian was known as a nerd-plain and awkward in his old-fashioned clothes, with long, unkempt hair that made him look far older than his age.

But after Aurora helped him with a makeover, the change was striking. When Ian walked in, all eyes were on him. Even Gemma, who was in the middle of applying lipstick, dropped it onto the table in shock. If this Ian had pursued her back in their first year of college, how could she have possibly said no?

Ian's tall and athletic figure, honed by years of basketball and exercise, had always been hidden beneath his frumpy sportswear. Back then, he wore oversized glasses with thick black frames, and his messy hair obscured much of his face.

Now, dressed in a sharp suit that highlighted his physique, with his hair styled neatly and contact lenses replacing his glasses, Ian looked like an entirely different person- like a refined young gentleman from a wealthy family.

"Ian, you look like a completely new man!" Gemma greeted him enthusiastically, even going so far as to link her arm with his.

Ian frowned and pulled his arm away. "This has nothing to do with you."

Leonard also came over, visibly impressed. "Wow, man, what happened? You're like a new person overnight!"

"I have work to do," Ian replied curtly. He remembered what Aurora had told him- trouble was likely brewing for the company soon. Determined to help her, Ian had already bought several books about perfumery the day before.

NE's actions against Aurora had filled Ian with self-reproach. If he had the skills, he could have created the perfect perfume for her.

Ian was the kind of person who acted on his thoughts immediately, regardless of his lack of experience. As long as he had a goal, he would start pursuing it without delay.

"Why are you buying so many books on perfumery? That's not even your field," Leonard asked, puzzled.

Things are slow lately anyway," Ian replied

do you know it's going to be slow?" Leonard and the others

get back to work," Ian said. By now, he had fully aligned himself with

changed-not just in appearance but also in demeanor. He was no longer the shy, self-conscious guy who couldn't even make eye

book. He read diligently, looking

how his sun- kissed skin radiated

short and adopting a more polished appearance. Like Ian, she had started researching perfumery and was

attracting attention from their colleagues. Heather had evolved from being a timid assistant in the Montgomery Group, often overlooked and ordered around, to becoming an independent,

who relied on feigned weakness to attract men, Heather's independence and warm personality drew genuine admirers. Flowers began appearing on her desk, and colleagues offered to stand in line for her meals or accompany her home after

to her head. She knew she still had much

ambition. Both he and Heather had found a mutual goal in Aurora. Though they never spoke much-just exchanged polite smiles when they happened to meet on the subway-they had become

Ian hadn't seen Aurora. Her absence left him with

day, he spotted Mona and finally worked up the courage to ask, "Manager,

is in New York for training," Mona replied. "Why? Did

she might be upset about not landing that order and decided to stay away," Ian said, masking his true

fragile. She's been through things you can't imagine. This is just a minor setback. She's in New York learning perfumery from a

that Ian was someone Aurora valued, so she didn't brush him off and instead told him

admired Aurora even more. Despite her status, she was still willing to humble herself and learn from the best, even leaving her two

head out now," Ian said, feeling much lighter after learning Aurora's

"Alright, take care."