Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

The second group to arrive was Nick, Robert, and Irene. As soon as the door opened, Julian was greeted by Robert's overly enthusiastic face.

"Ta-da... surprise!" Robert exclaimed, holding a massive cake in his hands.

Julian frowned. "It's New Year's, and you brought a cake? Did something scramble your brain?" "Bringing supplements or whatever would be boring. This is a specially ordered cake. I guarantee you'll be shocked when you see it," Robert declared proudly.

Looking at the lively and eccentric Robert, Julian couldn't help but wonder how he and Nick could be brothers. The two were polar opposites, as different as night and day.

Nick's face was cold, as though he were owed millions of dollars. He seemed much more composed, handing Julian a paper box.

"Happy New Year," Nick said curtly.

Julian glanced at him and felt like he wasn't celebrating New Year's but instead hosting someone on a solemn occasion.

"It's good that you came," Julian replied as he accepted the gift.

Irene, meanwhile, seemed unusually quiet and well-behaved. Julian's gaze shifted between her and Nick, wondering what might have happened between them this time.

"It's cold outside. Cin," Julian said, brushing off his thoughts. Whatever was going on with them was none of his business. Love was a matter no outsider could meddle in.

Julian welcomed them inside. Robert, ever the chatterbox, immediately started looking around. "So this is your love nest? Why is it so small? It's not your style at all." The beachside villa was modest compared to Julian's usual living standards. Except for Asher, no friends had visited before.

Before Aurora returned to the country, Julian had lived in his enormous villa, which was absurdly large-at least five times bigger than this one. It had a swimming pool, a tennis court, and various other amenities. But back then, in his pursuit of Aurora, he had resolutely moved next door to her. Later, he shamelessly moved in with her. Living with Aurora brought him so much joy that he never once minded how small this house was. Every day, his thoughts were consumed by her.

"That's the perspective of a single man," Julian said bluntly. "Once you have a girlfriend, you'll realize that being with her is all that matters." "Pfft! So what if you're all paired up? Big deal!" Robert retorted, his lively energy shining through. Despite his cheerful demeanor, his head was always buried in medical books, leaving no tfor romance.

"No worries. There's another single guy here. You two can keep each other company. He's in the kitchen," Julian teased, throwing Asher under the bus without hesitation.

If Asher hadn't been busy cooking, he would undoubtedly have stormed out with a spatula to confront Julian. With more people arriving, the villa quickly beclively. Robert, like a spinning top, darted straight to greet Aurora.

"Aurora, sorry to trouble you today. Who's that guy?" Robert asked, unfamiliar with Asher.

"He's Asher. You can call him Ashy. He's here to helpin the kitchen today," Aurora explained briefly. "Ass?" Robert quipped, mispronouncing the nickname.

"Do you believe I'll smack you with this spatula?" Asher threatened, waving it in the air. "Alright, stop messing around. Julian, take the guests to have sfruit. The kitchen's full of smoke and oil," Aurora said, amused by the two jokers.

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! "Sure," Julian replied obediently. "Robert, stop bothering Aurora. Let's head out." Just as Robert was ushered out, Irene appeared at the kitchen door. "Wow, such a dutiful wife!" "Irene, you're here," Aurora greeted.

"Do you need help? You look pretty busy," Irene offered.

Aurora thought of Julian, who was a disaster in the kitchen. Who knew if culinary incompetence ran in his family? She quickly shook her head. "No need. Asher is helping me. We're good here." But Aurora was wrong. Irene not only knew how to cook but was exceptionally skilled at it. Otherwise, how could Nick, who usually kept everyone at arm's length, be so attached to her? "Never mind. You look overwhelmed. Lethelp," Irene said, putting on an apron. The moment she started slicing and dicing, Aurora realized she had encountered a master chef.

"Irene, how are you so good at cooking?" Aurora asked in amazement. Her own skills were at best beginner to intermediate. Her food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't particularly impressive either-just standard home-cooked meals.

Irene's expertise, however, was evident. She didn't seem like the type to be so skilled in the kitchen.

Aurora stared in shock as Irene smiled faintly. "I've had my share of hard times. In those days, being able to cook was nothing." Julian had never gone into detail about Irene's past, but Aurora could guess that behind Irene's glamorous exterior lay a difficult story. Everyone had their own painful experiences that were hard to talk about.

Stopics were better left untouched, and Aurora wasn't foolish enough to pry further.

Just then, the doorbell rang again. This time, it was Denis, arriving with cold air clinging to him. His expression was distant, a clear sign that there was still no news about Daria.

"Ashy, Irene's got this covered, and most of the dishes are done. Go take a break," Aurora said.

Seeing Irene's efficiency, Asher washed his hands and stepped out, leaving the rest to her.

In the living room, Denis sat with a cold expression. Nick was nearby, looking like a stone-faced statue, completely detached from bis m surroundings, Robert, on the other hand, was poking around the villa, examining everything with intense curiosity. Julian sat between Nick and Denis, feeling like he was stuck between two blocks of ice. If this weren't his house, he would've joined in the cold war, making it three frozen statues in a row. "Still no word about Daria?" Asher asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"No. She hasn't cback to the villa since that day. I'm hoping she'll return for the New Year," Denis replied.

Denis had initially thought Daria might cback to tidy up the villa, but from Christmas to nearly New Year's, she hadn't shown up.

"Don't worry. She'll show up when the tis right. Maybe she'll surprise you this New Year," Asher said, dropping his usual humor to offer scomfort.

"Let's hope so," Denis murmured. He wasn't discouraged. Compared to the years Daria had waited for him, his one month of waiting was nothing.

As long as she returned, he could wait as long as it took. Gradually, the group warmed to conversation. They were all leaders in their respective fields, and their shared excellence naturally drew them together.

From stock markets to corporate management, their opinions were strikingly similar it was no surprise, given their comparable levels of achievement and vision. "Having such a great chat? Perfect timing-I have something for you all to do," Aurora said, walking in with a large tray.

"What do you need us to do?" Julian asked, clearly under Aurora's thumb.

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