Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Tflies when one is busy. In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed. Aurora often felt as though there weren't enough hours in the day-she would open her eyes in the morning, close them at night, and another day would be gone.

Julian, too, was constantly caught up in his work, barely able to catch his breath. Fortunately, Aurora had been doing well during this period, which allowed Julian to focus without distractions. What Aurora didn't know was that Julian had secretly hired private bodyguards to watch over her in shifts, protecting her around the clock. Each day, Aurora would mark her calendar with a check. With only a few months left until the wedding, she felt the days slipping by faster than she could grasp. Perhaps, she thought, the big day would arrive in the blink of an eye.

"Miss Montgomery, you haven't had a single day to rest lately. Honestly, even the men at the company seem exhausted. With Mr. Baaway, you've got to take care of yourself. If something happens to you, how could we possibly explain it to him?" Heather entered the office with a cup of coffee, her face filled with concern.

Julian called them every few days to ask about Aurora's condition. Each the heard how hard Aurora was working, he felt uneasy on the other end of the line. Yet, there was little he could do to change the situation. Aurora wasn't like other women-she was fiercely independent and strong-willed. She was a natural fighter who wouldn't stop until she achieved her goals.

"Don't worry about me. I'm healthy and fine. Do I have any appointments this afternoon?" Aurora asked, confident in her own physical resilience. She jogged every morning and rarely got sick.

The weather had warmed up with the arrival of spring. For two weeks straight, the skies were clear and sunny, as if winter had abruptly given way to spring. Aurora was spinning like a top, unable to stop. Although Asher was managing things in New York, Aurora, as the majority shareholder, still needed to oversee key decisions. Asher frequently updated her on significant matters, sending her proposals and reports for review.

Meanwhile, her own company was in a growth phase, requiring her attention to countless details. On top of that, she was still the creative force behind DO Jewelry. There was the major deal she had secured with Michael Bardem, for which she had promised to personally design exclusive pieces. Michael had done her a huge favor by placing such a large order, and she felt obligated to deliver her best work.

She also had a commitment to Gore for a new product line that was due soon. During the day, Aurora dealt with business matters; at night, she spent two to three hours working on design drafts.

Keeping busy, Aurora thought, was better than having idle tto dwell on missing Julian. When she allowed herself a moment of quiet, her thoughts would inevitably drift to him. Work distracted her, easing the ache of longing.

When inspiration struck, she would sit down and design wedding bands for herself and Julian, as well as the earrings and necklace she planned to wear on their special day. Over the years, Aurora had designed countless pieces of jewelry, but this was the first tshe was creating something for herself. The feeling was indescribable.

She remembered a time, long ago in high school, when she had designed an invitation card for herself and Hayden during a break between classes. But everything had changed since then. Back then, she had believed she would marry Hayden and bechis bride. Fate, however, had other plans. He married Susan, then divorced her, while Aurora left for New York, eventually choosing to be with Julian.

Life was unpredictable, she thought. As she pictured Julian's face in her mind, her heart softened.

Every night between ten and midnight, Aurora would sit under her desk lamp, sketching one design after another.

Heather glanced at the schedule. "Miss Montgomery, this afternoon you have a meeting with Mr. Lee regarding the fashion collaboration. It's at the MISS Café. I've arranged for Cameron to pick you up at two. Before that, you can take a break for lunch." Heather, who had once been timid, had grown into a capable professional. Aurora was confident she would soon be able to manage everything independently.

"Alright. Just ordertakeout for lunch," Aurora said, glancing at her watch. Every moment of her day was accounted for.

"Miss Montgomery, takeout again? I wouldn't dare tell Mr. Baabout this, or he'd be furious." Heather sighed, exasperated.

"Good job. Otherwise, I'd have to endure another lecture when I got home." Aurora smiled faintly. "Once this busy period is over, I'll take it easy. Go ahead." "Understood." Heather knew Aurora well enough to recognize that once she set her mind on something, no one could dissuade her. After taking a few steps, Heather paused as if remembering something.

"Miss Montgomery, aside from your afternoon meeting, there's also an evening event- a banquet hosted by Mr. Warden from Congi Group. He sent you a personal invitation. Will you attend?" "Mr. Warden? That's right, he's been trying to reachrecently to discuss a potential collaboration. I haven't had the tto meet with him. This could be a good opportunity. He's well-regarded in the industry, and we'll likely need his help in the future." "Yes, the banquet is on a cruise. Mr. Warden has invited top leaders from the beauty and skincare industry. Miss Montgomery, you're considered a prominent figure now, so it's no surprise he wants to collaborate with you. I'll make the arrangements." "A cruise? So we won't be returning tonight?" Aurora asked, setting aside her work.

"That's correct. Mr. Warden booked a luxury cruise with accommodations. You'll likely be spending the night onboard. If you'd rather not attend, I can decline on your behalf." "There's no need for that. It's an honor to be invited. Our company may have gained srecognition, but we're still relatively new. This industry gathering is a valuable opportunity. I'll go. You can accompanytonight." "Understood, Miss Montgomery." Heather marked the schedule to confirm Aurora's attendance. "Shall I order your usual takeout from the downstairs restaurant?" "Yes, Heather, you're getting better at guessing my preferences," Aurora said with a smile.

"It's my job, Miss Montgomery. If there's nothing else, I'll head out now."

"Go ahead." Aurora returned to her designs, sketching several pieces she really liked When Julian cback, she planned to show them to him and let him choose. Just as she was thinking about Julian, her phone rang.

"Tomorrow morning's flight. I miss you, Little Bunny," Julian said.

Even though it had been only two weeks since they last saw each m other, it felt like a single day to Aurora. Tpassed too quickly.

"I'll pick you up," Aurora replied quickly.

"Alright."

With Julian coming back, Aurora's heart filled with anticipation. Shen made a few final adjustments to her afens sketches, ready to show them to him when he returned. mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1