Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 31

In the car, the little boy, who had just been picked up from school, sat rather ungracefully on the child safety seat in the back.

Kieran, beside him, looked at the boy’s test paper, took a deep breath, and turned to ask, “Ivan Hernandez, spill it, how did you do on your test?”

“I got an “E.” Ivan, seated proudly in his car seat, announced his test score.

Karl, riding shotgun, struggled to contain his laughter.

One thing Karl had learned from the little boy was that there was always someone out there who could do better.

Kieran’s serious gaze was fixed on Ivan, this little boy looked just like him except for his mouth and his attitude.

You came in last in the class; have you got any self–respect left? Tell me, how did you manage to get an ‘E‘?” Kieran asked, resisting the urge to chuck the little boy out of the car.

Ivan pouted and then broke into a grin, saying, “I got one multiple–choice question right; that’s how I got an ‘E.”

the answer spaces, all of them were empty but crisscrossed with the words, ‘Kerry is not a

answer written on the whole test paper was the one

anger faded after a moment. After all, it was not the

this stunt.

words ‘not a human‘ on the paper and asked, “Do you know what this

rolled his eyes at his father, “You’re always hiring nannies, don’t

contemptuous look

with the nannies? Don’t they meet your aesthetic standards?”

a

at Kieran, and said, “Kerry, I’m only five! You should be finding me a stepmother, not a nanny! My teacher said children

Kieran was speechless.

licked his lips nervously and quickly buckled up

out a cigarette and thought of lighting

the little boy next to him, he

please smoke!” Kieran tossed the cigarette