Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

The square was packed with people tonight. In its center stood a large, symbolic clock. Every year, friends, couples, and families gathered here to listen to its chimes and wait for the arrival of midnight.

Among the crowd, Ivy held onto Mio Walsh's arm. She used to scoff at the idea of coming to hear the clock's chime. How childish, she'd thought. What's so special about a clock chime? If it didn't ring, would midnight not come? Would the new year not arrive?

But tonight, standing beside Mio Walsh, when he asked how she wanted to spend the evening, she blurted out, "Let's go listen to the clock chime."

"Listen to the clock?" Mio Walsh looked at her with mild skepticism, his expression asking what could possibly be interesting about that.

"Yes. You'll understand when we get there," Ivy replied with a mysterious smile.

By eleven o'clock, the square was already bursting with people. Mio Walsh hadn't expected such a large crowd. "What's so special about this clock chime?" he asked.

"People say that hearing it brings happiness," Ivy explained, though she felt embarrassed. Back then, she would have dismissed such an idea as childish, and she assumed Mio Walsh might think the same.

But he didn't laugh at her. Instead, he tilted his head and smiled warmly. "Then let's listen to it for a little longer."

Ivy's face flushed as she met his gaze. His handsome features and charming smile made her heart race.

"Wait here for me," Mio Walsh said suddenly.

"Huh?" Though unsure of what he was up to, Ivy obediently stayed where she was.

A few minutes later, he returned, holding a Mickey Mouse balloon.

so many people here. If you hold this, even if we get separated, I'll be able to find you right away,"

took the string, feeling a warm glow in her chest. "I'm not a little girl. It's embarrassing

are a little girl," Mio

warmth was something Ivy had never experienced before. She'd had plenty of boyfriends in the past, but none of

temporary distraction. Before being cast out of the

reality. After witnessing the genuine love between Julian and Aurora, she began to yearn for the same. She wanted a boyfriend who would treat her as Julian treated Aurora. And now,

Ivy was utterly

left," Mio Walsh said, taking her

There's no need to push

closer must mean being closer to happiness," Mio Walsh

would never forget the man who held her hand so

by her side, she forgot the chill. All she remembered was

the front, standing among thousands of people eagerly awaiting midnight under the clock. Midnight came every day, yet no one paid attention to it-except tonight. Tonight, the thousands gathered in the square were filled with

began to chime, Ivy and Mio Walsh stood hand in hand. The sound rang out-one, two,

I only want this person by my side. If he can stay with me, I'm willing to live an ordinary life, to be a

once touched by love, she softens,

glanced at Ivy and the crowd around them, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips. Only fools believed in such superstitions, he thought. Weak and powerless, they sought divine intervention for things they couldn't achieve themselves. Strong people didn't need gods or fate. Mio Walsh believed only in himself. Destiny was never in anyone else's hands-it was in

masking his disdain and returning to the considerate lover Ivy knew. She,

feeling a sense of fulfillment, as if she'd accomplished something

walk alone at night," Mio Walsh said. He hadn't come all this way

hotel isn't far from my apartment anyway," Ivy said, secretly hoping to spend more

her to the entrance of her apartment complex. "You live here?" "Yes. You can head back now. It's late,"

you to your door. I won't feel at