Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Ivy had never felt so clever in her entire life. Those short ten minutes had bought her precious tto escape. Fearing the two men might catch up, she ran without thinking, her lack of experience with mountain trails quickly becoming evident. Her delicate upbringing left her stumbling with every step, and eventually, her foot slipped, sending her tumbling down a steep slope.

She rolled faster than she could run, panic surging in her chest. She had no idea where she would end up, her hands desperately searching for something to grab onto. After what felt like an eternity of spinning chaos, she finally cto a halt.

She realized with relief that her thick jacket-borrowed from her ton the ship-had protected her. The jagged rocks she had encountered along the way could have easily torn her skin if she had been wearing anything thinner. But her relief was short-lived. The moment she stopped, her head struck hard against a large rock, and a deafening crash echoed in her skull.

A warm stream trickled down her forehead. She gingerly touched it, only to find her hand covered in blood. Every bone in her body felt like it had been shattered. Her head throbbed with pain. But fear of the two men kept her moving. She couldn't stop. They were locals-used to the rugged terrain-and she had to get as far away as possible.

Ignoring the blood and the pain, Ivy crawled and scrambled forward. But no matter how determined she was, she couldn't outrun them. Their angry voices echoed closer and closer.

"This is your fault! She must've realized something was off. We should've just dealt with her in the car!" "How is it my fault? She acted so convincingly! You didn't notice anything either!" "Shut up! Look at her-she's just a pampered little princess. She couldn't have gone far. Hurry up and catch her!" Ivy's eyes darted around, desperate for a hiding spot. That's when she saw it-a hollowed-out tree trunk. Without hesitation, she squeezed herself inside, curling her body tightly. From the outside, it looked abandoned.

The footsteps grew louder. She bit down on her hand so hard she could taste blood, terrified that the sound of her breathing might betray her.

Please, God, she prayed silently. Just this once-don't let them find me.

Her heart pounded so violently it felt like it might burst out of her chest. Blood trickled from her forehead, sliding down her eyelids. She clenched her eyes shut, too afraid to face reality.

"Damn it! I saw her run this way. How could she just disappear?" "Who knows? She probably went that way. Hurry up! If I catch her, I'll make her regret it." Their voices rang out just inches from her hiding spot. Ivy held her breath, her body trembling uncontrollably. Finally, their footsteps faded away.

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! Ivy slowly relaxed, her stiff limbs cramping from the tension. She wiped the blood from her eyes with trembling hands, staining her sleeves red. She hugged her knees tightly, too afraid to leave the tree trunk.

Tears slid silently down her face as she thought about the nightmare she had endured. She bit down on her sleeve, muffling her sobs.

In the past, no matter how hard things got, she had always clung to Walsh as her hope. But now, his words- "Let's break up"-echoed endlessly in her mind.

Tears mixed with blood as they streaked her face. For the first time, Ivy found herself spending the night in the wilderness, unsure if she would survive.

But it wasn't she thought of now. It was Frank-silly, clumsy Frank, who had always treated her with nothing but kindness.

"Frank..." she murmured, her voice barely audible. It wasn't until this moment that she realized who truly cared for her.

Her mind wandered to Walsh. He had been the perfect lover-attentive, skilled, and knowledgeable about what women wanted. That one night had been flawless. He had known exactly how to make her feel good. But now, as she reflected, she understood. A man could only be that skilled if he had been with countless women before.

She suddenly saw it clearly: she had been the only one lost in the moment. hadn't felt anything. To him, she was just a means to an end.

Frank, on the other hand, had no experience. He had relied solely on instinct to satisfy her, and yet shel had felt more alive with him than she ever had with Mio. Even when the effects of her medication had worn off, she had willingly stayed with him, losing herself in his warmth. The two men were worlds apart. had never loved her-not truly. He had merely played the role of a perfect gentleman. While their bodies had been intertwined, there had been no tenderness in his eyes-only detachment.

Ivy felt like a fool. She had been nothing more than a puppet, dancing for Mio's amusement.

Tears streamed down her face as she laughed bitterly at herself. She clutched her clothes tightly, her body shaking uncontrollably. The pain she felt was unbearable-not the physical pain from her injuries but the deep ache in her heart.

Only when she thought of Frank did she feel the slightest hint of warmth. She missed his embrace, his m comforting presence. But all she had now was a crumpled piece of paper with his phone number. She had memorized it long ago, but in the middle of nowhere, she had no way to call him.

Exhausted from crying, Ivy eventually drifted into a restless sleep. When she woke, her head throbbed and her body felt like it had been run over by Επ a car. The bleeding from her forehead had stopped, but her face was smeared with dried blood, and she looked utterly disheveled. Her lips cracked from dehydration, but she forced herself to keep moving. If she stayed here, she would die.

Crawling out of the tree trunk, Ivy looked back at the hollow that had saved her life. Perhaps this was karma, she thought. Perhaps she was finally paying for the mistakes of her past.

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