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.

was evidence enough.

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 might

but noticeably grew stronger.

meanwhile, busied herself with processing orders and improving other skincare products. She intended to ride

to leave for the day, Julian called to say he wouldn't be able to

busier than hers, and no matter how close they were, she didn't want Julian to sacrifice

who should soar freely, not hold

still twenty minutes

time to

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

quickly vanished. She felt a gaze fixed on her. Aurora was no

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casual glance from a passerby. It was invasive, predatory, and made

gaze. Parked not far away was a black car. From the back seat,

rolled down just slightly, enough for her to meet the man's eyes. The rest of

someone was caught staring, their first instinct would be to

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

unfiltered

away. Instead, she returned his gaze coldly, her demeanor regal and commanding, completely unshaken by gender

Montgomery, where are you?" Mona's voice came through the

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

away, she could still feel his scorching gaze on her back. It was as though

moment when she had smiled

and he shifted his gaze away

she carried. Her expression was