Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

When Heather showed Ivy's photo to the women on the outskirts of the group, they exclaimed, "Yes, that's her! She said her name was Vivienne. Do you know her?"

"You're saying she disappeared from the ship too?" Heather's heart sank upon learning Ivy had been on the same cruise.

No one knew Ivy and Aurora's past better than Heather did. Ivy must have boarded the ship with revenge in mind after being expelled from the Montgomery family.

Heather couldn't shake the thought that the two must have had a confrontation. Perhaps they quarreled, and with the loose railing on deck, both of them might have fallen into the sea during their struggle.

"Yes, she boarded the ship with us, but after a while, we didn't see her again. We have no idea where she went," one of the women said.

"Mr. Warden, I'm afraid Miss Montgomery has truly fallen into the sea," Heather turned back to Mr. Warden, tears streaming down her face.

Before Ivy's connection to Aurora was revealed, Heather still held onto a glimmer of hope. But now, with both women mysteriously missing, the odds seemed

insurmountably grim.

"How are you so certain?" Mr. Warden asked, his face tense.

"Mr. Warden, the woman who disappeared along with Aurora is Ivy Montgomery. You've surely heard her name before. You must know what that means," Heather explained.

"Ivy..." Mr. Warden froze for a moment as the name clicked. "The former daughter of the Montgomery family?"

She's always harbored resentment toward Miss Montgomery. I suspect they crossed paths on the ship and argued. Coupled with a loose railing... the worst-case scenario is that they both fell overboard," Heather sobbed

at stake. And with Julian returning the next day, how would he explain this catastrophe? Julian Barnet was infamous for his ruthlessness. Anyone who crossed him would find themselves blacklisted from their social circles. Everyone knew how deeply he cared for Aurora. If she had fallen into the sea, even if they rescued her quickly, the situation would still

she had fallen. In the vast ocean, finding her was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Even if they managed to recover her, they

at the thought, unwilling to imagine the consequences. Julian would flay him alive if

and everyone was gripped with fear. Two people had disappeared-both likely gone forever. Only hours

vast and unforgiving. Recovering someone from the sea was no easy task, let alone after so much time had passed. Heather's eyes were swollen from

m. the next day that Julian landed. He hadn't slept all

landline number. Whoever called him must have been desperate. Considering how few people had his private number, he realized

unease crept over him. Had

his voice calm

other end sounded hoarse, practically unrecognizable. "Mr. Barnet?" "Yes, it's

the moment

happened to Aurora?" Julian's chest tightened as dread

We've been searching all night, but there's no sign of

mind went blank, as though thunder had struck him. Even his usual calm demeanor couldn't shield him from

Barnet? Mr. Barnet?" Heather called out when she heard no response. She

she fell into the sea? Explain it to me!" Julian finally found his voice,

the events as best as she could. On the other end of

was greeted by the sight of Julian standing

see Julian's eyes reddened, his expression a mix of anger and anguish. His hand trembled as he held

face the collapse of the heavens without flinching now looked utterly shattered. Rock, who had worked by his