Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Leonard was at a loss for words. He truly didn't know anything. Earlier, when he had asked Ian, the man had refused to say a word.

Ian shook his head. "Leo, I told you to stay out of this for your own good."

"For my own good? I know you and Heather get along well, but you can't just side with her because you like her! Don't forget, Gemma was someone you liked before. How can you let her be wronged like this?"

To Leonard, Ian was only helping Heather because he liked her, completely ignoring Gemma.

The office had grown lively with whispers and murmurs. Though workplace romances weren't explicitly forbidden, they always carried a certain awkwardness. Ian and Heather hadn't crossed any major lines, but Leonard's public confrontation clearly aimed to defend Gemma.

"Leonard, don't ruin things with everyone because of me. This is my fault." Gemma's pitiful appearance caught everyone's attention. No matter how you looked at her, she seemed like the one who had been wronged.

Ian took a deep breath. "Gemma, why can't you ever learn to behave? I didn't want to bring this up to spare you some dignity. But since you insist..."

"Don't!" Gemma panicked. Her initial goal had only been to stir trouble before leaving, hoping to cast doubt on Heather.

But Ian glanced at her and revealed the truth anyway. The room fell into stunned silence as everyone processed the story. Who would have thought that the seemingly gentle and kind Gemma could be so ruthless?

"Gemma, you knew how hard we worked for two weeks on this launch. How could you do this?"

"Exactly. Did we ever do anything to offend you?"

"You always seemed so refined, but turns out you're this kind of person."

Voices of accusation filled the air. Gemma couldn't take it anymore. She had assumed Ian's kind-hearted nature meant he wouldn't expose her.

But Ian was no longer the same man from their university days. He had people he wanted to protect now.

to argue further. Her dismissal was evidence enough. She packed nothing, grabbed her bag, and left

nothing more. Once Gemma was gone, no one felt any lingering attachment. If anything, her departure brought relief. She had been like a tumor, or perhaps a ticking time bomb. Sparing her this time

the company's cohesion quietly but noticeably grew stronger. Everything seemed to be moving in a positive

and improving other skincare products. She intended to ride

was time to leave for the day, Julian called to

matter how close they were, she didn't want Julian

both people who should soar freely, not hold each other

Mona and checked her watch. Mona was still twenty minutes away, but Aurora had already

her face. With time to spare, Aurora walked across the street to buy

cup spread to her hands, reminding her of Julian's warm touch. When had he become such a permanent presence in her world, always lingering

smile crept onto her face, but it quickly vanished. She felt a gaze fixed on her. Aurora was no stranger to attention. With her striking appearance, she had grown

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The stare wasn't a casual glance from a passerby. It was invasive, predatory, and made

not far away

meet the man's eyes. The rest of his face was hidden behind the tinted

burning with an aggressive energy. Ordinarily, when someone was caught staring, their first instinct would be

When Aurora noticed him, he didn't avert his gaze. Instead, he continued to stare boldly, making no

could see it clearly-his unfiltered interest. And it wasn't a

women in her position would have turned away, flustered. But not Aurora. She didn't shy away. Instead, she returned his gaze coldly, her demeanor regal and commanding, completely unshaken by gender

are you?" Mona's

there. I'll come to you," Aurora replied, her words breaking

as she turned and walked away, she could still feel his scorching gaze on her back. It

when she had smiled with the cup

and he shifted his

tension she carried. Her expression was icy, so much so that Mona couldn't help