Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Aurora and Julian spent a night at the Alvarez family's residence before returning to Montgomery Manor. Oswaldo and Asher had hit it off surprisingly well.

Now, Oswaldo, Asher, Magnus, and Aurora were all sitting together, playing a game of Chinese checkers. Despite the simplicity of the game, their sharp intellects turned it into an intense, almost nerve-wracking battle.

Of course, Julian was deliberately losing. How could he bear to win against Aurora or the elders?

"Julian, you're holding back again. Don't think I didn't notice, even though you were sneakier this time," Aurora pouted.

"I wasn't!" Julian denied, though not very convincingly.

"You once said that men hate to lose, didn't you?"

"Well, you don't understand. Men hate losing to opponents, but you're not my opponent. You're my precious one."

"Enough! You're making my teeth ache!" Asher pretended to gag in mock disgust.

"Who's here?" Oswaldo, finding the group amusing, turned his head toward the sound of the opening door.

"It's Miss Ivy," the butler replied, his face betraying some awkwardness. Everyone in the household knew about Ivy's situation by now.

This time, Ivy seemed to have learned her lesson. She came bearing food. "Grandpa, happy New Year," she greeted warmly.

It's hard to turn away someone offering smiles and good wishes-especially on New Year's. Surely, if she'd walked in asking for five million dollars again, no one would have entertained her plea.

Year. Leave the food and go," Oswaldo said curtly. He had never liked Genevieve's family, and now that it was confirmed Ivy wasn't Magnus's child, he didn't even bother masking

act. There was guilt in her eyes, but Aurora didn't say anything. Ivy's affairs were

appearance, asked, "Have you eaten? If not, stay and eat

been counting on this. She was indeed hungry

her home. She'd spent so many summers

checkers? Mind if I join?" Ivy asked, trying to blend in. There was still one

"Go ahead," Asher said.

others played with the precision of chess masters, their every move calculated. She, on the other hand, was like a kindergarten student trying to match wits with PhD scholars. She lost within a

Aurora, the true daughter of the Montgomery family, was

I won," Aurora said with a triumphant

because Julian set you up for it!" Oswaldo huffed. "That's it, I'm done

dinner," the butler said cheerfully, pleased that Oswaldo was in

on her plate, the other pouring

Aurora knew Asher had feelings for her, yet she still allowed him to

heard your new company is doing really well. You're growing so fast now. I was hoping you'd come back and help out at home, but it seems you've outgrown the

doing just fine under your leadership. You're still so young-you've got at least another decade or two to run it.

proudly. "Independent and self- reliant, just like I was back in the day. You don't need to worry about the

built your own business without relying on the Montgomery family at all. You wouldn't believe how impressed my old friends are. Even Joaquin, who used to always

warmth, but every word felt like a dagger to Ivy. Shares. The Montgomery family business. These were the things she had once coveted the

treated Aurora like a goddess while Ivy was reduced to being

the other day. You

hesitantly, "Julian has a big contract in Europe from February to April, and I'll be

Oswaldo declared firmly. "You'll get married on June 29th. Is April not enough time to