Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 72

After several trials and errors, Julie finally concluded that the keys in her hand were indeed faulty She whipped out her phone and called her landlord. The response on the other end of the line was swift. “Oh, so you still remember how to call me? The front gate won’t budge, right?”

The tone of her landlord was a dead giveaway “Sorry, I’ll definitely transfer the rent to your account tomorrow, Julie conceded.

Her gaze dropped to her plastered leg, and then she spoke politely. “Could you possibly bring the key over?”

An icy snort came from the other line, “Now you remember to pay the rent? How long have you been delaying the past few months rent? I’ve deducted all the deposit. Every time I called you, you always had some excuse to delay, right? I know you have a sick sister to take care of. That’s why I’ve been patient with you”

1 know, thank you. Are you home right now? I’ll come over to get the key”

Tve already told you!” The landlord’s voice came through, “A quarter’s rent plus the deposit. Only talk to me about the key after you’ve transferred the money to my account tomorrow. Otherwise, move out and stop hogging my space!”

And with that, the landlord hung up. When Julie tried to call back, the landlord’s phone was already turned off.

Kieran was watching Julie from a taxi not far from the gate.

Suddenly, a loud thunderclap resounded in the sky, startling Julie into a crouch and covering her head. But the pain in her leg made her sit down on the ground. The sight was heartbreaking.

Kieran immediately swung open the car door, his long leg about to step out, but he stopped abruptly. Julie had fled the hospital, so she probably didn’t want him to see her in this embarrassing state. So, he retracted his leg back into the car.

Julie was about to call Daphne but then remembered Daphne was on a business trip. Eventually, she put her phone down, defeated.

The spare key Daphne gave her was lost on that night when she and Kieran got drunk. She hadn’t had time to get a duplicate, so that she couldn’t stay at Daphne’s place now.

In the car, Kieran took out his phone and, after a few seconds of hesitation, dialed Ivan Hernandez’s number.

At the gate, Julie was about to check how much money she had left when her phone suddenly rang

“Mama Julie, it’s Ivan” A whimpering cry came from the other end of the line, laced with fear.

Julie immediately forgot about her homelessness and quickly comforted Ivan on the other end, “What’s wrong, Ivan? Don’t worry, tell me slowly.”

“I’m scared of the thunder, the little boy’s nasal voice was filled with sobs, sounding as if he had just had a good cry, tugging at Julie’s heartstrings.

at home?” Julie asked.

on a date, all

phone?” Julie rubbed her arm. In the pouring rain,

house? I’m really scared. What if aliens invade the Earth? What if they take me away,

mom.”

quite know how to respond

cried out to Julie, “Mama Julie, I’m all alone at home. You have to come quickly!

To the homeless Julie, Ivan’s call was

her his

have to be good. Boys need to be

Julie, hurry up, I’m waiting

up her mind, used the wall to stand up and started hailing a cab.

leaned towards the driver, instructing, “Please take her safely to

get out of the car. The taxi headed towards

didn’t expect to get a cab so easily. She immediately broke into a smile, climbed

pitter–pattered on Kieran’s body He watched the direction the

worry, I’ll put on a great

took shelter under the eaves of

when are you

Ivan, “Why do you like her so

find a reason. He could only say, “I just like her! Mom should be here soon, and I have to hang up

up Ivan was beyond excited

liked Julie, Ivan ran upstairs and pulled out a picture from under his pillow. It was a group photo. Kieran and Julie’s heads were pressed together. They both looked serious but couldn’t hide the excitement on Julie’s face. Although Kieran’s expression wasn’t exaggerated, the slight upturn of

nanny, Shawna, and asked, “Do you think

match, ain’t it? It’s a wedding picture. How

hired to take care of Ivan after Julie and Kieran divorced. Over the years, Ivan had many nannies, but only Shawna stuck around. They could say that she raised Ivan single–handedly. She knew Ivan looked at this photo every night before bed, so

looked like it was ripped right off a marriage certificate. Shawna frowned, thinking. “How could two people so perfect for each other end up divorced?”

“You can head home now, send everyone away, leave just one bodyguard Tonight, I want to coax my mom into coming to sleep with me,

she left, Shawna saw Ivan hopping around

you up to?” Shawna

squatting down, hugging his knees. He looked so pitiful that it