Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Chapter 499: Mom Will Protect You "Why is she here?" Tina's heart tightened as she spotted Aurora. She thought she'd clooking for her. Aurora had called multiple times earlier, but Tina hadn't returned a single call.

"She's probably here for the Stefani property," Erica replied calmly. "You've already reviewed their company's proposal. Didn't you personally decide to sell it to them?" Erica had long known the truth-Aurora was Tina's daughter. Tina, however, never admitted it. But if she wasn't her daughter, would Tina have chosen to sell such a prpiece of real estate to Aurora's company? Over a dozen companies had cto negotiate for the property, many of which had superior credentials, stronger backgrounds, and even offered better prices.

Over the years, Tina had quietly supported Aurora's company multiple times. Although she never used R Enterprise's name, she had secretly arranged for her friends to step in and help. Aurora remained unaware of all this.

How else could a young woman with no money or connections have taken her company public in just three years in a competitive commercial city like this? Tina's unseen efforts had paved the way for her success. And now, this property sale was yet another favor Tina had orchestrated.

"Isn't it usually Asher who handles company matters? Why is she here today?" Tina frowned, her delicate brows knitting together.

"I wouldn't know," Erica replied.

"It's too late to cancel now. Mira will meet with her. Let's hope she doesn't notice anything. If she asks to see me, tell her I'm not at the office," Tina said, her tone steady.

But deep down, Tina felt unsettled. Aurora's resemblance to her might raise suspicions with Mira.

"Alright, I'll make the arrangements. But, Mistress, are you truly planning to never acknowledge her? Especially with the family in such disarray now." Erica's voice held a hint of hesitation.

"What do you mean acknowledge? I have nothing to do with her!" Tina snapped harshly.

"Mistress, you might fool others, but not me. You have a scar from a C-section. Before you returned to the family all those years ago, you must have had a child. So where is that child?" Tina closed her eyes. If there had been even the slightest chance back then, she would never have left Aurora behind. That child was her life.

But what could she have done? If she didn't return to her family, what would have happened to them? From the moment she was born, she was burdened with responsibilities that others couldn't imagine. She had no choice in her birth or her fate.

Ssacrifices were unavoidable. She had borne all the pain herself to spare her child. The truth was something she couldn't reveal at the time, not even to Aurora.

Even though she worried about the challenges Aurora might face, it was still better than the alternative. Bringing her back into the family's world would have only led to more suffering.

"Mistress, your health is failing. You know it. You must decide on the next head of the family soon. Otherwise, the chaos within the family will spiral out of control," Erica said, her concern evident. "Years ago, your mother fought so hard to bring you back. You turned the tide and restored the family. Now, the situation is eerily similar. Those vultures are just waiting for you to collapse, ready to force you to hand over your position. Only the young mistress can-" "Enough! My affairs are none of your concern!" Tina's voice rose in anger. "Do you want my daughter to suffer the sfate as me? Do you think I've been happy for even a single day since I returned?" Tina's words cut through the air like a blade. Outwardly, she was the glamorous head of the family. But deep down, she knew her life was hollow. She felt like a walking corpse, enduring pain that wasn't just physical-it was in her very soul.

Every night, when she thought of her child's face, the pain becunbearable, like a knife slicing her heart. Words couldn't capture the anguish she felt. All she knew was that everything she did was for Aurora's sake, to give her a chance to live a simple, happy life.

"Mistress... I'm only worried about you," Erica said softly.

Tina suddenly started coughing violently. She grabbed a tissue to cover her mouth, pulling it away to reveal bright red blood.

"Mistress, please, don't let this upset you. Take your medicine," Erica urged, panic in her voice.

Tina fumbled for her pills, swallowing the white tablets quickly. Her face was pale, her exhaustion evident. "Erica, there's no point in hiding it anymore. Yes, she is my daughter. And it's precisely because I've been unhappy that I don't want her to live the slife as me," Tina confessed, her voice trembling.

"But, Mistress, the family needs an heir. She's your only child. If you let someone else take over, how will you honor your mother's wishes?" "One cannot have both loyalty and filial piety. Now leave me. I need stalone," Tina said, her face etched with sorrow.

Erica nodded reluctantly. "Please rest well." As Tina walked to the window, she gazed out at the rain-soaked city. The bustling metropolis looked dreamlike under the misty rain.

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 En waiting for you! Standing so high above it all, she felt no joy. Only cold, fatigue, and an overwhelming sense of emptiness filled her being. She unlocked her phone and saw a photo of Aurora on a yacht, dressed in a stunning gown. A man held her close, kissing her tenderly. Through the screen, Tina could feel her daughter's happiness.

"Aurora, stay happy like this. Don't worry about anything else. As long as I'm here, you'll be safe Tina om murmured, her fingers gently brushing the cold screen, as if she were stroking Aurora's face from years ago. Meanwhile, Aurora sat in the waiting room, her heart filled with anticipation and unease. Would she see her mother today? The elevator door opened, and someone escorted her to a lounge. "Please wait here. Our general manager will see you shortly." "Thank you," Aurora replied politely, feeling a trace of doubt. The general manager? That wouldn't be her mother, then.

As this thought crossed her mind, the sharp, rhythmic sound of high heels echoed in the hallway. From the footsteps alone, Aurora knew it wasn't her mother.

The door opened, and a woman entered, dressed in a black coat over a beige blouse. She looked polished and professional, exuding confidence.

The woman appeared to be around Aurora's age, perhaps in her twenties. To be a general manager at such a young age was no small feat, Aurora thought Standing up, Aurora extended her hand with a polite smile. "Hello, I'm Aurora." Mira's eyes flickered with surprise when she saw Aurora. The resemblance to Tina was uncanny. The astonishment passed quickly, replaced by a professional smile. mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1