Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 24

Thankfully, possibly due to Raymon’s influence, today’s front page news in Whispering Pines didn’t include any of her and Elliot’s engagement news but was all about Kieran clearing up the rumors about his own marriage.

On the flip side, Simpo Co.’s PR department immediately got on the ball, slapping lawsuits on those entertainment magazines that first reported his marriage news with Bertha.

The news that Kieran had a previous wife named Joyce was also thrown into the limelight.

The whole thing suddenly got way more complicated and messy.

Julie switched off her phone, tossing aside all the trivial news, and made her way to the job interview location.

She thought finding a job in Whispering Pines would be a piece of cake, given the influx of people moving to the city for work. She couldn’t possibly struggle to find even an ordinary job, right? But the big city reality–checked her. She was way too naive.

She tried everything, from high–paying to low–paying jobs. But all she got was a string of polite rejections.

Elliot somehow got her number and called her just when she was feeling a bit blue and sitting by the roadside.

After seeing the unknown number, Julie thought she had landed a job and got all excited, until she heard Elliot’s familiar voice on the other end. Turn

around*

and saw Elliot in a casual suit, standing

both held their phones, looking at each other

clutching her phone, snap out of it. Meanwhile, Elliot crossed the street towards her. His pristine white

her.

about to turn around, to her surprise, Elliot embraced her in

there was a

an inch, causing a long line of cars behind it to start

seat, looked at Kieran in the backseat through the rear–view mirror

didn’t dare take any

window, his eyes seemingly unfocused. But in

Elliot to be so forward. The moment he embraced her, she pushed him away without

Kieran’s calm voice rang out in

starting, the

and profound

and said, “Mr. Hernandez, rest