Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Meeting such a kind and warmhearted elder at this moment felt like a blessing to Ivy, as if she had found warmth in the coldest winter.

"Thank you, Grandma," Ivy said sincerely.

"No need to thank me, child. You've had a hard time too. Just stay here and rest for a while. I need to step out for a bit," the old woman replied with a gentle smile.

"Alright," Ivy nodded. Her heart, battered and broken by life and by Mio Walsh, felt a faint trace of warmth for the first time in a long while.

Yes, there were bad people in the world, but there were also many good ones-like Frank, and like this kind old woman.

In the simple room, Ivy took a shower and changed into clothes belonging to the old woman's daughter-in-law. The wound on her forehead was carefully bandaged with herbs from the mountains. Even though those two men had left, Ivy wasn't sure if they might still be lurking somewhere nearby. She didn't dare step out of the old woman's house, not even into the yard.

Despite this constant worry that the two men might suddenly return, Ivy found herself unexpectedly at peace here.

The small mountain village was far from wealthy, but it offered Ivy a kind of tranquility she had never experienced before. There was no television, no modern appliances, and certainly no Wi-Fi. The only phone in the house was an old flip phone, its only entertainment a game of Tetris.

Ivy wondered how the old woman spent her days. She soon found out-the yard was filled with flowers and plants, which the woman tended to every day. She also ventured into the mountains to gather wild vegetables and, during her free time, put on her reading glasses to embroider insoles.

At first, Ivy thought life here would be unbearably dull. But to her surprise, the days passed much more comfortably than she had imagined. For the first time, she felt free from the worries of money, the size of her home, the quality of her clothes, or any of the other troubles that had weighed on her before.

taught Ivy how

are you making these for?" she

that flashed through her mind wasn't Mio Walsh, but Frank-the bearded,

must be making them for someone special, right? I understand. If it's for someone you love, you should choose patterns with special meanings-like mandarin ducks swimming together or swans with entwined necks," the old woman teased with a knowing

for a friend," Ivy insisted, though

alright. Then what pattern

you're working on now look nice,"

and he's always so busy. Kids grow up and can't stay by your side the way they did when they were little. I just want to make him as many insoles as I can. That

been struggling more and more. Sometimes it takes me half a day just to thread a needle. Getting old

waiting for you! Perhaps it was because she had been lonely for so long, but the old woman became especially talkative when speaking with Ivy. She shared thoughts and feelings she had never expressed to her own son. Listening to her, Ivy felt a pang of sadness.

for all the love and time their parents sacrificed. Yet no matter how much children

thread the needle," Ivy

bittersweet smile. Though her tone was lighthearted, Ivy could hear the sadness beneath her words. "Grandma, I promise I'll come back to visit you. I love this place.

to an old woman like me. All I can do now is wait and hope," she replied with

lie to you," Ivy

about healing her body; it was healing her soul as well. For the first time, she saw her past self clearly-how foolish she

karma for her past actions. She had never believed in karma before, but now

he had gotten lost several times along the way. But at last,

complete experience all for free.

make sure the other was safe. Knowing he was getting closer had calmed