Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Time flies when one is busy. In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed. Aurora often felt as though there weren't enough hours in the day-she would open her eyes in the morning, close them at night, and another day would be gone.

Julian, too, was constantly caught up in his work, barely able to catch his breath. Fortunately, Aurora had been doing well during this period, which allowed Julian to focus without distractions. What Aurora didn't know was that Julian had secretly hired private bodyguards to watch over her in shifts, protecting her around the clock.

Each day, Aurora would mark her calendar with a check. With only a few months left until the wedding, she felt the days slipping by faster than she could grasp. Perhaps, she thought, the big day would arrive in the blink of an eye.

"Miss Montgomery, you haven't had a single day to rest lately. Honestly, even the men at the company seem exhausted. With Mr. Barnet away, you've got to take care of yourself. If something happens to you, how could we possibly explain it to him?" Heather entered the office with a cup of coffee, her face filled with concern.

Julian called them every few days to ask about Aurora's condition. Each time he heard how hard Aurora was working, he felt uneasy on the other end of the line. Yet, there was little he could do to change the situation. Aurora wasn't like other women-she was fiercely independent and strong-willed. She was a natural fighter who wouldn't stop until she achieved her goals.

"Don't worry about me. I'm healthy and fine. Do I have any appointments this afternoon?" Aurora asked, confident in her own physical resilience. She jogged every morning and rarely got sick.

The weather had warmed up with the arrival of spring. For two weeks straight, the skies were clear and sunny, as if winter had abruptly given way to spring. Aurora was spinning like a top, unable to stop. Although Asher was managing things in New York, Aurora, as the majority shareholder, still needed to oversee key decisions. Asher frequently updated her on significant matters, sending her proposals and reports for review.

Meanwhile, her own company was in a growth phase, requiring her attention to countless details. On top of that, she was still the creative force behind DO Jewelry. There was the major deal she had secured with Michael Bardem, for which she had promised to personally design exclusive pieces. Michael had done her a huge favor by placing such a large order, and she felt obligated to deliver her best work.

She also had a commitment to Gore for a new product line that was due soon. During the day, Aurora dealt with business matters; at night, she spent two to three hours working on design drafts.

Keeping busy, Aurora thought, was better than having idle time to dwell on missing Julian. When she allowed herself a moment of quiet, her thoughts would inevitably drift to him. Work distracted her, easing the ache of longing.

the earrings and necklace she planned to wear on their special day.

then, she had believed she would marry Hayden and become his bride. Fate, however, had other plans. He married Susan,

she pictured Julian's face in

and midnight, Aurora would sit under her desk lamp, sketching one design

the fashion collaboration. It's at the MISS Café. I've arranged for Cameron to pick you up at two. Before that, you can take

been timid, had grown into a capable professional. Aurora was confident she

takeout for lunch," Aurora said, glancing at her watch. Every

wouldn't dare tell Mr. Barnet about this,

when I got home." Aurora smiled faintly. "Once this busy period is over, I'll

recognize that once she set her mind on something, no one could dissuade her. After taking a few steps, Heather paused as if remembering

aside from your afternoon meeting, there's also an evening event- a banquet hosted by Mr. Warden from Congi Group. He sent you a personal invitation. Will you

right, he's been trying to reach me recently to discuss a potential collaboration. I haven't had the time to meet with him. This could be a good opportunity. He's well-regarded in the industry, and we'll likely need

the banquet is on a cruise. Mr. Warden has invited top leaders from the beauty and skincare industry. Miss Montgomery, you're considered a prominent figure now, so it's no surprise he wants to collaborate with you.

cruise? So we won't be returning tonight?"

booked a luxury cruise with accommodations. You'll likely be spending the night onboard. If you'd rather not

may have gained some recognition, but we're still relatively new. This industry

Montgomery." Heather marked the schedule to confirm Aurora's attendance. "Shall I order your usual takeout

Heather, you're getting better at guessing my preferences,"