Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Ivy had always suspected that Genevieve's past profession might not have been honorable. After all, how many mistresses could claim to be virtuous women?

But this was the first time Genevieve had frankly spoken about her past. The truth was both as Ivy had imagined and yet not entirely the same.

"Mom, this isn't your fault. It's the fault of those who take joy in mocking others."

"How is it not my fault? Back in my day, getting into college was a major achievement, especially in our small town where most people dropped out of middle school or even elementary school to work.

When I got into the best high school in the city, your grandparents were overjoyed. Graduating from that school guaranteed you at least a shot at college.

Your grandfather poured his heart and soul into my education. If I hadn't been blinded by the lure of money, I could have gone to college and secured a bright future.

But I was too young and gave in to the temptation of material luxuries that should have come later in life.

The man who kept me as his mistress had no intention of marrying me. I was left alone to have an abortion, expelled from school, and your grandmother cried for days until her eyes were red.

I'll never forget the cold, lonely feeling of lying on that operating table. But back then, I didn't think I was wrong-I thought the world was unfair.

I believed it was their jealousy and ridicule that pushed me to that point. That's why I fought on my own afterward.

When your grandparents found out what I was doing, they thought I was incorrigible and completely cut me off. They disowned me and forbade me from returning home.

Our family had always been scholars, with ancestors who held high-ranking positions in government. They couldn't bear the shame I brought.

I felt they didn't understand me, so I refused to go back. At the time, I was earning a lot and was addicted to that lifestyle, so I didn't think about home.

until I ended up in this situation, with you and your brother, that I finally understood your grandparents'

wasn't for me to earn a fortune or live a

down. I lost my sense of morality, and that's why I ended

things that would inevitably bring retribution. It wasn't a

then, I thought it was consensual-two

you. Ivy, promise me, won't you? From now on, live a simple life.

she used to scorn had now become the one she yearned for most. A quiet, uneventful life didn't seem

Ivy nodded. "Okay."

them quickly and tell me if they're good. I remember you and Zach loved dumplings when you were little. I saved some for Zach-when he comes back,

had been talking a lot lately. Perhaps her time in prison had changed her. She now cherished every moment she could spend with

into a dumpling, the meat filling spilling into her mouth-savory, even slightly sweet. But there was

to Genevieve's words, tears fell one by one

crying, Ivy?

days we spent with the Montgomery family." Ivy hastily made

mother's current health and fragile state of mind, it would be too much for her

retribution truly existed, she felt it had already been

we had everything we could ever want in the Montgomery family. We

has passed, and maybe that's not a bad thing. You've grown so much more mature-there's always something

to find solace in hardship. What began as resentment had gradually turned into acceptance. Ivy

something gained

stays lucky forever, and no

temporary. We've endured so much pain already-there won't be anything worse ahead. Good fortune will come, Ivy. Believe

murmured, "Yes, suffering is

your food,"