Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

The spring night in the mountains carried a slight chill, but Aurora found herself enjoying the sensation. Sitting by the river, she listened to the gentle murmur of the water and the faint chorus of unknown insects.

"Mrs. Woolf, the mountains are actually quite wonderful," Aurora said, her voice tinged with contentment. "This feeling can only be experienced in person. In the big city, nights are filled with neon lights and noise, but you can't see the stars."

"I was worried you wouldn't like it here," Mrs. Woolf admitted, surprised at Aurora's enthusiasm.

"Mrs. Woolf, to tell you the truth, I've spent years buried in work, drowning in endless tasks and overtime. I haven't taken a single proper vacation in years," Aurora confided. These were words she had never shared with anyone before.

"But you're the boss of your company," Mrs. Woolf said, puzzled. "No one controls your schedule. You can take a break whenever you want."

"It's not that simple," Aurora replied with a faint smile. "The pace of society is so fast now. If I take a break, there's always the risk of losing the next deal to someone else.

"Humans have evolved for centuries, but deep down, we're still living in a survival-of- the-fittest world. I'm not just the CEO-I'm a ruler. My mind is constantly consumed with how to make the company stronger, how to avoid being swallowed by competitors. To be honest, it's exhausting."

"Aurora, you've really had a hard time," Mrs. Woolf said with a sigh. "You come from such a good background, yet you still push yourself so hard. There are so few people in this world who work as tirelessly as you."

Mrs. Woolf shook her head, feeling a twinge of pity. Though she had spent much of her life at sea, she understood the pressures of modern society. Many women, in pursuit of material comfort, would even go so far as to sell their bodies. Someone like Aurora-wealthy, privileged, yet still relentlessly hardworking-was a rarity.

"Mountains can collapse, and rivers can dry up. The only thing you can truly rely on is yourself," Aurora said softly. It was the deepest lesson she had learned after years of struggle.

"Then take this chance to relax," Mrs. Woolf said. "Seeing you like this makes my heart ache a little."

"By the way, Mrs. Woolf, I wanted to ask you something. It's about Justin."

Woolf

Justin, I can tell he's not a bad person.

responding. "It's rare that you don't hate him, especially after he kept you captive and separated you

now," Aurora said earnestly. "At his core, he's a good person. He

sincere. Other than taking her away, Justin had

Woolf said with

to

Woolf began, her voice heavy with emotion. "She was lively and adorable, and he adored her. Growing up in the mountains,

years ago, his family went on a trip to the coast. But they encountered pirates. Those pirates killed Justin's parents and his

a boy then, too small and frightened to fight back. All he

pirate leader, unaware that Justin was the son of the family they had just killed, saw potential in him and took

act impulsively. He had to endure. Over

his family. He killed the pirate leader and those responsible for the murders. But by then, he had taken over the

"So,

harm others, but to prevent more innocent lives from being lost. He used the money

ship you see? It's

uses the money he earns to build roads for the village and help

to your fiancé. But he's genuinely kind. If you stay with him, he won't harm or betray

of sympathy. She had thought her own life was tragic, but Justin's story was far more

earlier suspicions. Justin did have a

I look

a child when she died. I don't remember her features clearly. But now that you mention it, your demeanor does remind me of her. There's something angelic and pure about you, just like she was." Aurora had noticed certain