Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Inside a luxurious jewelry box lay a three-carat diamond ring, its brilliance radiating an almost blinding glow. It was impossible for something like this have been discarded casually at her doorstep. Julian glanced toward the quiet villa next door, his expression darkening.

"Seems like someone still hasn't given up," he said, his tone laced with jealousy. Aurora held the ring in her hand, lost in thought.

She remembered how, before her eighteenth birthday, Hayden had promised her with absolute certainty:

"Aurora, I have a surprise for you tomorrow."

"What kind of surprise?" she had asked, anticipation lighting up her face. Back then, she had no idea what awaited her the next day.

"You'll find out soon enough."

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Either tell me from the start or don't say anything at all! Now that I know there's a surprise, I won't get any sleep tonight," she had teased, wondering if he had prepared a special gift for her.

"Tomorrow will come soon enough," Hayden had reassured her.

But no one could have foreseen what really awaited them the next day. It wasn't a surprise-it was a complete collapse.

If Susan and Ivy hadn't conspired together that night, Aurora would have gotten engaged to Hayden on her eighteenth birthday. Perhaps the story would have unfolded differently.

Julian, heartbroken, might have left the place entirely. That night, he had only attended as a bystander, intending to witness her happiness. If she had chosen Hayden, Julian wouldn't have stood in their way, and the two of them would have missed their chance completely.

Aurora imagined what life might have been like. Even if she had stayed with Hayden, Susan wouldn't have let it rest. She would have done everything in her power to destroy their relationship. Ivy and Genevieve wouldn't have tolerated Aurora's presence in the Montgomery family. Even if she had gone to the Alvarez family, Joaquin might not have accepted her.

Her life wouldn't have been happy. If it weren't for that night, which forced her to wake up and grow stronger, she might have ended up even more miserable in the long run.

seemed everything had been

a perfect fit. Of course, it had to be from Hayden. She raised her hand, her mind

get engaged after we graduate. I can't wait to spend my life

graduation seems a little rushed, doesn't it? I'm only

ago, women at eighteen already had children in school? I've made up my mind-you're the one for me, so whether it's sooner or later, it's going

I still feel like your parents don't like me very much.

No one else

she had said, though her lips had

for you," Hayden had added. "I haven't taken over the family business yet, so I

But in the world of the wealthy, a few carats were average. Still, Hayden had wanted to give Aurora the best he could. A three-carat diamond seemed small to him, though

marrying you, not the ring. What would I need a

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echoed in her mind, leaving a bittersweet ache in her heart. In her best years, she

on her birthday four

hand and slipped the ring off her finger immediately. "You're not allowed to wear someone else's ring," he said,

laughed softly, amused by his reaction. "Relax, Julian. There's only you in my heart. I just wanted to

"And now you know."

up on me," she

what we have," Julian snapped,

our relationship is so strong. What could possibly break

was in the past now. She had no reason to wear

Julian's expression shifted. "Hurry