Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 167

Since it was Julie’s request, Noah didn’t hesitate a bit to rip open the courier package, revealing a beautifully wrapped purple box inside. “Keep going,” Julie urged.

Noah opened the purple wrapping, revealing a delicate black velvet box that looked pretty fancy.

It reminded him of a ring box.

Julie glanced at Kieran, as if asking if he had anything to do with the package. After all, apart from Kieran and Elliot, no one else had ever presented her with a ring. And her name was clearly written on the box.

But Kieran just shrugged and said, “Anonymity ain’t my style.”

Well, figures…

A guy like Kieran, confident and unapologetic, when he gave her a ring, he’d put it directly on her finger, leaving no room for refusal.

While Julie and Kieran were talking, Noah had already opened the box.

Inside, there was a stunning ring.

The very emerald they had seen at the auction earlier that day.

After being stunned for a moment, Julie laughed and said, “Who’s so boring to send a fake over.”

“There’s a certificate of authenticity,” Noah held up the gem certificate to the camera.

Julie glanced at it and chuckled, “They’ve done a good job, even prepared a fake certificate.”

She casually teased, looking at Kieran with a playful smile, but his expression was serious. Her smile froze…

Kieran was usually confident, rarely showing such a serious look. Did this mean…

“What is it?” Julie asked hesitantly, “Wasn’t the ring bought at the auction? That can’t be the real one, right?”

She was partly asking Kieran’s opinion, partly comforting herself that it must be a fake. After all, who would spend 9 million dollars on an emerald ring for her…

But Kieran’s expression seemed to suggest the ring wasn’t a fake.

Instead of answering, he dialed a number on his phone.

Half an hour later, at Kieran’s command, Karl delivered the ring from Noblewood Retreat to their villa. Julie took a good look at the ring, then turned to Kieran with a serious look, “It looks the same as my mother’s. I can’t tell if it’s real or not…”

watch. It was 9:30 PM.

take you somewhere,” he handed the ring box to Julie.

back in the box and asked him with a puzzled look, “Where

took her hand and led her

to find a place to hide this ring!” Julie tried to

she didn’t realize the value of the ring. Now she felt like holding 9 million dollars in cash, feeling anxious, hoping to deposit it in a bank vault as

had slapped her for merely touching

the panic on Julie’s face, Kieran leaned in close, “My face is worth 9 million dollars too, but that doesn’t stop you from hitting me, does

managed a forced smile, “Where are you taking me this late?”

were going on foot. Where on earth was he taking her?

safe, but Kieran didn’t strike her as the type who’d patiently take her for a walk to

her for a walk. He led her to a villa and rang

a

the door was pushed open from inside.

fifties greeted Kieran with a warm smile,

Kieran asked bluntly.

referred to and nodded, “Yes, he’s home. But he’s been busy, didn’t

him. Are you here to

nodded, “I’ll go up.”

that, he led Julie

never been here before, didn’t know who lived here, nor who ‘he’ Kieran was referring to. But judging from Kieran’s tone and attitude, he

in front of a closed door.

was typing rapidly on a keyboard, surrounded by four computers, each running

lost! I’m busy! I refuse to believe I can’t beat this

Julie was speechless.

she guessed who the man was. She’d heard about Kieran’s cousin, Payne Hernandez, a brilliant hacker. Even the National Security Agency had tried to recruit him. But he loved his freedom and didn’t like constraints, so he publicly rejected their offer.

he went to assist a comic artist named Mister L, learning about comic creation. Later it was confirmed that the so-called Mister L was actually the eldest son of the Lamont family. Because they were so close, there were rumors that

had a kid, Payne quit his job as a comic assistant. She recalls people saying that Payne quit because he felt betrayed by Mister

course, most of the gossip was heard from

of chasing Kieran, Julie had bought off almost everyone around him, but for Payne, this legendary figure, she only heard the name, never met

when she saw him, she was

finally hit the enter key to deal with the “bastard” he was talking about, he turned to: Kieran and said, “Kieran, people say let bygones be bygones, why

the first time Julie heard someone refer to her as a bygone, a past that Kieran

emerald ring from Julie’s pocket and put it in front of Payne, “Check

and seriously asked Kieran, “Your cousin doesn’t even know anything about this ring, are you sure he can tell if this is real or fake?”