Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Aurora's heart tightened as his tone shifted. "What's the downside?" she asked.

"Our fate will be altered."

Aurora had heard countless myths about gods defying destiny, stories she once dismissed as nonsense.

"Altered?" she repeated.

"Do you know why even emperors relied on our family's astrology? It's because no matter what could or couldn't be divined, the head of the family always knew the

answers.

They could predict not just family fortunes but even the fate of a nation. The family head foresaw that if our lineage continued its natural course, we would soon face complete destruction.

Astrology is about balancing yin and yang. Emperors have both visible and hidden forces-women represent yin, and men, yang. Our family represented the hidden force, while another branch remained visible. The family head divined a catastrophic disaster for us, while the visible branch was destined for ten generations of wealth and glory. Faced with this, the family head panicked. There were over a hundred members in the family at the time. If we fell, our name would vanish from history entirely.

After weighing the pros and cons, the family head not only uncovered the secrets of fate but manipulated them, swapping our family's destiny with that of another.

It's said that on the day the other family was wiped out-executed to the last person- snow fell in June. Our family head led everyone to escape to New York.

But something strange happened. From that generation onward, every family head's lifespan shortened by ten years.

The family head explained that it was heaven's punishment for the sins we committed. Others say it's a debt of lives we owe, a debt that must eventually be repaid. Borrowed lives must one day be returned.

The family head who led the escape foresaw all of this. She spoke of karma, saying that debts must always be paid. At the time, we didn't believe her. Who would've thought her words would come true? Whether it's a curse or retribution, each family head's life has grown shorter with every generation.

Even your mother only knows the basics-she's far from a master. And you? You probably don't even understand the concept of yin and yang. Perhaps this, too, is heaven's

Aurora deeply moved. She

his final comment. "So... Mom only

was stunned. She had always dismissed this as a baseless rumor, hoping the truth wouldn't

year ago. I saw it

voice faltered when he mentioned Aurora's grandmother. For

he composed himself and continued. "Your grandmother was healthy at first, but when she turned fifty, her condition suddenly worsened. Doctors couldn't explain

Bramwell Elderstone's eyes. These weren't the tears

bonds that transcended the usual master-servant relationship. Perhaps Mr.

picture of my grandmother? I've never seen

family, you'd have seen them too." Bramwell Elderstone pulled out

grandmother at grand events, others captured her in everyday moments. Aurora could tell from the photos

showed her older photos, with a distinct vintage quality. The images had clearly

picture of her grandmother holding

immediately recognized the cherubic little girl

on your mother's

at the strength of her family's genes. She could see traces of her

like her mother, thirty percent like her

staring at Aurora's face as if lost in

of my mom and grandmother? Where's my grandfather?" Aurora asked, suddenly realizing the

next part of the story-about

face turned serious again. Aurora sensed the importance of what he was about to say and nodded eagerly.

this world relies on balance. Our family represents yin because, for generations,

you remember the