Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Chapter 523: I Am Lucky Julian stood in front of Aurora, his joy as pure as a child's. Unable to contain her emotions, Aurora hugged him back.

"From now on, we're family. I hope you'll always be happy," she said softly.

"Little Bunny," Julian murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "In half a year, you'll graduate. It's tto start planning the wedding. Where do you want to get married?" In the past, Julian had scoffed at the tic love stories portrayed in movies and TV shows. How could love stay so passionate forever? Sure, at the start of a relationship, someone might seem perfect. But living together would inevitably reveal flaws. So many marriages fell apart over trivial disputes, unraveling into heartbreak.

But now, after living with Aurora, Julian understood. Those movies weren't lying. If you truly loved someone, even their smallest gestures and quirks becendlessly endearing. Her face, her smile-he could never get enough. His feelings didn't fade with time. They only grew stronger.

Julian realized that when love wasn't strong enough, it wasn't "reality" that destroyed it. The real issue was a lack of depth. In shallow love, the small irritations of everyday life could fester and grow, eventually tearing people apart. Blaming reality for a failed relationship? That was the ultimate cop-out.

For Julian, as long as love was strong, none of those little things mattered. All he could see was her smile. How could he ever grow tired of it? Hearing Julian mention marriage, Aurora was reminded that they'd been together for almost half a year.

"As long as it's with you, I don't care when or where we get married," she said with a gentle smile. "You plan it." "Alright," Julian said, determination glinting in his eyes. He resolved to give Aurora a wedding so special and romantic that they'd never forget it.

"How's work going?" Aurora asked.

"The perfis ready, and everything else is falling into place. As long as nothing unexpected happens, we'll be fine. You must've spent quite a bit promoting it across all those channels, right?" Though Aurora never worried about money in their relationship, she was an independent woman. She didn't like the idea of relying on a man financially.

Most women might complain that their partner didn't spend enough on them, but Aurora was different. She disliked the idea of spending a man's money altogether. Knowing her personality, Julian playfully tapped her nose. "I didn't spend much. Did you forget what I told you last time? Most of those media companies are mine. Do you think I'd charge myself for running ads?" Aurora chuckled. "Julian, I feel like I accidentally landed myself a billionaire." "Of course! And you're just now realizing that? Do you know how many women dream of being with me? But I'm hopelessly devoted-a fool waiting for one little girl to grow up." Aurora thought back to sixteen years ago when she'd been just that: a clueless little girl. She'd said something offhandedly back then, never imagining Julian would take it seriously.

"Seems like I had pretty good foresight back then," Aurora teased, laughing. "I snagged a billionaire without even trying. Asher used to say you were filthy rich, and I thought he was exaggerating. But now I see he was right- you're absolutely loaded." Aurora's laughter carried her back to when she'd just returned to the city. Asher had given her a list of people to win over, with Julian sitting at the very top of that food chain.

At the time, she hadn't known Julian was the sman from three years ago. She'd dressed her best, re- entering the city as a new woman, only to cross paths with him. What followed was a gof cat and mouse. At first, she couldn't stand him.

Who would've thought that one day, she'd fall for him so deeply, so completely, that even a single day apart from him would leave her restless? "What are you smiling about?" Julian asked, catching sight of her upturned lips.

Aurora looked up, her eyes sparkling. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she said, "I was thinking about you. About everything that's happened between us these past few months." Her words brought Julian back to a particular night. "You little troublemaker," he said with a chuckle. "That night, I'd been drugged and was in the bathroom trying to make myself vomit. Then I heard your voice outside the door. Do you have any idea how happy I was in that moment?" In those years, Aurora had picked up a smoking habit to numb herself. Living in New York had been tough, but when she learned Julian didn't like smoking, she'd quit.

"I was just borrowing a light," she said with a laugh. "How was I supposed to know I'd run into a weirdo?" Julian laughed too. "Borrowing a light in the men's room? Should I call you the weirdo? You're lucky you didn't run into a drunkard." "I wouldn't have been scared. I'd have beaten him so badly his own mother wouldn't recognize him." Aurora playfully waved her small fists.

Julian smiled at the memory of that night. "Sure, you're tough. But no more going into men's rooms, alright?" If you're loving the book, nel5sis where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "I'm not a weirdo," Aurora pouted.

"By the way," Julian asked, his tone softening, "you hatedso much at the start. When did you start liking me?" Julian had loved Aurora for years, but he'd always been curious about when her feelings for him had changed.

"I'm not sure," Aurora admitted.

"Maybe it was the first tyou madethat awful gingertea. Or when you tookto the beach to drink. Or maybe it was sixteen years e ago, on that deck, when a boy in white left a mark on my heart. "Julian, you might not believe this, but the reason I got together with Hayden back then was because he remindedof you.

"He liked wearing white shirts. His quiet, reserved nature melted into gentleness when

he was with me. Even his face looked a little like yours. He stirred something in my subconscious, ၊ suppose. Maybe I was using him as a stand-in for you. "But he wasn't you. He was just a shadow of the person I'd carried in my heart. I'm glad we finally found each other." too," Julian said, holding her tightly. "Honestly, I should thank Susan. If she hadn't meddled, I might never have had the chance to be with you." Embracing each other, they reflected on their journey, the trials and tribulations no one else could understand.

"There was a time," Aurora said quietly, "when I thought life was so unfair. Why did others get to have ΝΟ happy families while I was left with nothing but hardship? My family was a mess, my love life a disaster. "But now I know-maybe it was those hardships that taughtto cherish what I have.

They madeappreciate the tI have with my family and the man I love. "I am lucky." mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1