Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

While others were still racking their brains on how to approach Michael Bardem, Asher had already secured a private meeting with him.

At least their starting point was higher than the rest. What happened next depended on whether Michael Bardem would grant them the opportunity.

Julian approached her and asked, "Does this mean we're succeeding?"

"We've only cleared the first step. Let's head home," Aurora replied with a faint smile. The room was crowded, and staying any longer wouldn't yield results.

"Perfect," Julian said, wrapping an arm around her waist as they left together.

From across the room, Mio Walsh had been observing Aurora's every move closely. Why was she leaving so quickly?

Meanwhile, since the moment Kyle had laid eyes on Aurora, his thoughts had been completely elsewhere. His growing interest in her only deepened Ivy's loathing.

Aurora had already taken so much from her-why did she have to steal Kyle too? Was Aurora sent by the heavens to torment her?

Ivy clenched her teeth, anger boiling inside. She wanted nothing more than to tear Aurora apart, piece by piece.

"Beautiful lady, may I have the honor of a dance?" A man's voice broke her thoughts. It was the perfect moment for dancing, and the dance floor was filling with couples.

Ivy turned around, startled, to see a refined and handsome face she had never encountered before.

"Are you talking to me?" she asked hesitantly. Aurora's presence had left her confidence shattered, making her unaccustomed to such attention.

"Yes," the man replied with a courteous smile. His demeanor was elegant yet seductive, almost like a vampire.

Ivy glanced at Kyle, who stood distracted nearby, and made up her mind. She bit her lip and agreed, "Of course."

She placed her hand in Mio Walsh's pale palm, and he led her to the dance floor with a smile. There was no denying the man's charm.

found herself blushing and her heart racing. Mio gazed at her with such intense tenderness it

they should have parted ways, but Mio lingered,

Ivy had been surrounded by shallow flatterers who sang her praises only to abandon her when the

had encountered before. His attention stirred a sense of vanity and left her feeling flattered. What Ivy didn't realize was

the chance to see you again?" Mio asked

him her phone number. It wasn't that she

despair, Mio had appeared like a ray of sunlight, dispelling the darkness in her

excellent listener, and much of the anger Ivy had harbored dissipated

lowest, Mio Walsh had appeared to comfort her. As she

had

to Ivy's whereabouts. Even as the banquet ended and they left, he remained

to the hotel, Ivy received a friend request from an unknown number. The profile picture was of a handsome man with a vampire's

she thought, recognizing

image of the

and understanding. Ivy accepted

"Did

yet, on my way back to the

happy to meet

the message melted Ivy's heart.

as if afraid of scaring him

always skirting just close enough to flirtation to stir

had felt as a stranger in

finally putting their phones away. Ivy had never met someone like him before.

Mio invited her to explore Rome together. Ivy was thrilled at the

him. To him, they were merely

left, he never bothered to ask questions. So when Ivy decided not to accompany him on business

she went downstairs, she saw Mio waiting with

for keeping you

here myself. Have you had