Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 49

In the private room of the hotel.

It seemed like everyone was conspiring, despite so many available seats, they’d left the one next to Julie for Kieran. By the time Kieran came back from his call, the only spot left was next to Julie,

Daphne, worried, whispered to Julie, Julie, should we swap seats?”

Julie shook her head. Swapping seats now would only make things more awkward, wouldn’t it?

She tried to keep things lowkey. The first half of the dinner went smoothly until Porter, having had too much to drink, suddenly became melancholic and started reminiscing about the past. He even blurted out to Julie, Julie, you have no idea, I used to admire you so much, you were so head over heels in love! Why didn’t you end up with Mr. Hernandez? Here, Julie, I toast to you, for love, for youth!”

With that, Porter handed Julie a full glass of hard liquor

they last saw each other. They always had so much to catch up on when they gathered. After a few drinks, everyone was a bit tipsy. They all stood up and egged Julie on, “Come on, Porcupine’s

to leave

who just had an appendectomy, could not drink, otherwise, she

she had to drink the liquor, Julie bravely picked up the glass

to be so gutsy! Viviana, you should toast to Julie, weren’t you guys roommates?”

up for a good time, raised her glass and smiled at Julie. “Julie, here’s

can’t hold my liquor well,

fun. How about we play Quarters? If you win, I drink. If you lose, you drink two?”

waved her off. “No way, I don’t know how to play”

Kieran’s voice suddenly sounded from

couldn’t help but glance at Kieran, mentally chewing him out.

can pick the next challenger. If you lose, you keep challenging until you win. After we go around the table, we pick a new