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.

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

song ended, they should have parted ways, but Mio lingered, showing

flatterers who sang her praises only to abandon her when the Montgomery family cast

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

see you again?" Mio asked as they

Ivy hesitated before finally giving him her phone number. It wasn't that she had any untoward intentions toward

her moment of despair, Mio had appeared like a ray of

listener, and much of the anger Ivy had

appeared to comfort her. As she walked away, Mio's

fish had taken the

Even as the banquet ended and they left, he

the hotel, Ivy received a friend request from an

she thought, recognizing the

conjured the image of the warm,

so gentle and understanding. Ivy accepted

later, a message arrived: "Did you

my way back to the hotel," Ivy replied

was really happy

cheerful smiley face accompanying the message melted Ivy's heart.

over the keyboard, as if afraid of scaring him

was witty yet respectful, always skirting just close enough to

and the loneliness Ivy had felt as

Ivy had never met someone like him before. Because of Mio, the night

explore Rome together.

To him, they were merely distractions or tools to satisfy his

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

at the hotel. When she went downstairs, she saw Mio waiting with a warm

for keeping you waiting,"

late. I just got here myself. Have you