Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 168

From Payne’s place to where Julie and Kieran are staying tonight, it’s just a short stroll that takes less than ten minutes.

Having just hung out at Payne’s for a while, they stepped out to find it was already frosty. The chill of late autumn hung in the air. The dim streetlights glowed hazily through the frosty mist, casting a blurred light on the surrounding villas, making them appear vaguely visible.

When they left, Kieran casually grabbed a coat for Julie. Now, she draped it over her shoulders, but it didn’t do much to ward off the cold. The night wind carried a desolate chill that seemed especially piercing.

They walked side by side, maintaining a small distance between them.

After leaving Payne’s, they had been walking like this for about half a minute. You could tell that Kieran had deliberately slowed down to match Julie’s pace.

“What’s on your mind?” Kieran asked out of the blue.

Julie paused before answering, “At first, I was wondering if you had anything to do with No. 49, but now I’ve dismissed that idea.”

“Can you guess what I’m thinking?” Kieran asked, inching closer to Julie without her noticing.

Julie, too engrossed in the conversation, replied, “I don’t want to guess.”

Kieran seemed to anticipate her response, a playful smile playing on his lips. “I was thinking… what would have happened if you hadn’t stopped me from bidding for that ring. Who would have ended up with it and for how much? If you hadn’t interfered, who do you think would have gotten the ring?”

Julie glanced at the ring box in her hand and then smiled at Kieran, “I guess, in the end, it would still be mine.”

Kieran laughed, “My wife’s got a point here.”

Julie shot him a look, “You seem quite comfortable calling me your wife. You don’t have to be in character all the time, there’s no one else here.”

“True, my wife is definitely not a stranger.” Kieran reached out and playfully ruffled Julie’s hair, a casually affectionate gesture.

Julie dodged to the side, a bit uncomfortable. “You can talk, just don’t touch me!”

She took a step away from him, adding, “Never mind, you don’t even need to talk. I can’t out-talk you anyway!”

“Let’s change the subject.” Kieran suggested cooperatively.

Julie fell silent, unable to fathom what his next topic might be.

“Do you know about Platonic love?” Kieran asked out of nowhere.

Julie didn’t answer.

is a kind of spiritual love between people. It seeks soulful communication, rejects carnal desire,

of ancient Greece. Greek scholars believed that love between the same sex

at Julie, asking earnestly, “In your

a profound question!

to get away from this crafty and mysterious man. But he caught up easily, grinning cheekily, “You just

Kieran meant was: if he were a woman, then Julie should have a platonic love relationship with him. But since he was a man, they should have a deeper relationship. Basically, whether he was a man or

her way, and

pace with Julie, “So, you’re saying you don’t

-“Get lost!”

“My wife…”

by my

“My dear…”

name is Julie!!”

“My sweetheart…”

at him, “What are you up to? Weren’t you so cold and aloof when I was pursuing you? Where’s

not sure, probably fed it to

retorted, “Don’t blame Coco, Coco is only interested in your

was mocking him

could finish, Julie suddenly screamed, clutching his shoulder

saw a black fat cat dart out from god knows where, run

out of Julie. She clung tightly to Kieran, her body

one arm around Julie’s waist, and with the other, gently patted her back, reassuring her, “It’s okay,

and soothing, it hit her eardrums and

why

Kieran bent down

from falling. When she finally

hold you.” His calm words echoed in the quiet night.

popping out of nowhere in the dark. The bright eyes of these small creatures seemed very terrifying in the dark. As someone who learned to fight by reading

her to the bedroom she used to live

before, with the same

his beloved daughters, his little princesses. Darcey had always been dedicated to raising them as elegant girls. Kieran placed Julie on the soft round bed. The pink color didn’t quite fit with Julie’s character, but the woman wrapped in the beige coat, with her hair scattered, blended into this pink bed, looking as peaceful as a Barbie doll.

front of Julie, looking up at her sitting on

pitiful, even if he didn’t sleep with her in the bed, he would at least sleep on the sofa to stir up her sympathy. However, she

door closed did Julie’s frown

love? Julie