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.

try to argue further. Her dismissal was evidence enough. She packed nothing, grabbed her bag, and left without a

never imagined the woman he admired could do something like this. Ian patted his shoulder but said 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

grew stronger. Everything seemed

with processing orders and improving other skincare products. She intended to ride the momentum sparked by

was time to leave for the day,

hers, and no matter how close they were, she didn't want Julian

both people who should soar freely, not hold

and checked her watch. Mona was still twenty

time to spare, Aurora walked across the street to

Julian's warm touch. When had he become such a permanent presence in her world, always lingering

gentle smile crept onto her face, but it quickly vanished. She felt a gaze fixed on her. Aurora was no stranger to attention.

for the complete experience all for free. The

stare wasn't a casual glance from a passerby.

Parked not far away was a

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

energy. Ordinarily, when someone

he didn't avert his gaze. Instead,

Aurora 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

rang. "Miss Montgomery, where are you?" Mona's voice came through

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

feel his scorching gaze on

in his seat. He thought of the moment when she had smiled with the cup in her hands. It had been like winter

shifted his gaze away from where she had

car, the warmth inside a stark contrast to the frosty tension she carried. Her expression was icy, so much so that Mona couldn't help but ask, "Is everything