Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Tina had changed out of her hospital gown and into a long black dress, exuding an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

Even John Walsh, who had once been soft-spoken and gentle at the nursing home, now stood solemnly behind her, his demeanor completely transformed.

When the others saw Tina appear, their expressions shifted dramatically.

"Master," they greeted, their voices tense.

"What's wrong? Did you all think I was on my deathbed? Is that why you've been acting so brazenly?" Tina's voice was sharp, slicing through the air like a blade cutting flesh, cold and unyielding.

Her presence alone spoke volumes. She wasn't just the head of the family-she commanded absolute respect. The instant she spoke, the atmosphere shifted entirely.

Even Mr. Grant, who had been swaggering moments ago, immediately shrank back, his arrogance dissolving like a mouse caught in a cat's gaze.

"Master, you seem to be in much better health. That's truly wonderful news," one of them quickly said, trying to appease her.

But the coldness on Tina's face didn't waver. "If I hadn't recovered, would my daughter have been bullied to death by you lot?"

"Master, what are you saying? We've always treated Miss Aurora with the utmost respect-how could we ever bully her?"

"Whether you've bullied her or not, I'm not interested in debating that with you. Mr. Grant, you just claimed that Mio is the only one worthy of becoming the head of this family. Since when, exactly, did you have the authority to decide that? When did my family become yours to rule?"

From the moment Tina entered the room, she had been targeting Mr. Grant with unrelenting precision. Her years of cunning and dominance were evident. If her methods weren't so formidable, Mr. Grant wouldn't have been so subdued in her presence.

first by winning through dishonorable means. I simply voiced my concerns." "Dishonorable? Fine. Let me ask you this: what is the family's long-standing rule for choosing the next head?" Tina's voice was icy as she stared him down, and Mr.

position is inherited by the current head's daughter,"

a nursing home recently, but I'm far from dead. And yet you couldn't wait to overturn the system? My daughter becoming the head of this family

made it clear that she wasn't someone to be trifled with.

control. She was their lifeline, their emperor in all but name. Every privilege they enjoyed, every profit they earned at the end of the year, hinged on her decisions. Crossing her would be

was only because Tina's health had declined that some had dared to entertain

advantage of the situation, convincing many to support Mio's rise by promising them greater

remained steadfast. The family had splintered into

control of the company to Mio. Mr. Grant, emboldened by his apparent victory, had seen his plans progress exactly as he intended-until Aurora unexpectedly

Mr. Grant began goading Mio into taking drastic measures

Mio that Aurora needed to be eliminated for

by ambition, Mio had agreed. Becoming the head of the family had become an obsession for him. He had been one step

with guilt and unease,

the final blow. Her vitality and commanding presence were nothing like the frail figure Mr. Grant had seen in the nursing home. He was already

"If that's the case, I'll take it as your consent. From this day forward, Aurora is the president of our

declaration was calm but absolute,

opened his mouth as if to protest, but in the end, he hesitated and said

something to say, speak up. Don't skulk in the shadows.

family's rules are clear, Miss Aurora is... an unusual choice. She wasn't even raised

contract was meant to test her abilities, but her opponent turned out

isn't a trivial matter. It requires making decisions that could determine the fate of everyone here. I simply worry that Miss Aurora is too young and lacks the experience to bear such a responsibility.

painted himself as the only one with

Hah, that's the funniest thing I've