Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 283

Raines had always been skeptical of Julien’s relationship with Hayden. It wasn’t that he disliked Julien; he simply saw her as a femme fatale who could easily bend the well-respected and principled Hayden to her will.

Julien, on the other hand, didn’t care about Raines’ opinion of her. But Raines had noticed a change in Julien since she had returned from a trip abroad with Hayden. She seemed more self-assured, less restrained. Not only was she bending Hayden to her will, but she had also become more assertive in her dealings with

Raines.

What puzzled Raines the most was why he was now following orders from Julien to investigate Zenith’s whereabouts.

He waited patiently in his black Passat parked near the rear entrance of Zenith’s suburban villa.

Julien arrived in a white Ford Fiesta and joined him in the passenger seat of his car. She got straight to the point, “Has Zenith been in Sycamore Village today?”

“Yes,” Raines replied.

Julien’s usually stoic eyes seemed to hold a touch of gravity. Raines couldn’t tell what she was pondering, but he remembered his reason for meeting Julien.

“Do you think the man who abducted Emily… knew her from before?” Raines asked. He had not only come to inform Julien about Zenith’s whereabouts but also to ask her this question.

Since Raines was Hayden’s right hand, Julien wasn’t surprised by Raines’ keen observation.

“I tried to probe Emily about it when we brought her back to Fred-earlier today,” Raines continued. “There’s a strong possibility that Emily and the man in black know

each other.”

“Zenith,” Julien said, unusually calm for a discussion of this sort with Raines.

She added, “Zenith is Fred’s former student, and Emily is Fred’s daughter. It’s only logical they know each other.”

The crux of the matter was that Zenith and Lucian shared remarkably similar features.

“I also noticed that the man who took Emily looked a lot like Zenith, in terms of height and physique. But… Zenith is currently on his way back to Whispering Pines from Sycamore Village.” Raines, being Hayden’s right hand, was well versed in the matter of Lucian and Zenith.

Raines ventured a bold guess, “You don’t think Zenith and Lucian could be the same person, do you?”

Julien remained silent, so Raines continued, “Although I’m not exactly a genius, I can at least make some basic deductions. Firstly, Lucian is semi-paralyzed and in all the photos we have, he is seen seated in a wheelchair. But Zenith is physically whole. Secondly, Lucian’s whereabouts are unknown, while Zenith, though enigmatic, has traceable movements. Lastly, Zenith used to be a doctor and now he’s a businessman. He has never had any unique experiences or background. But the man who kidnapped Emily is well-trained and adept. So, are you suggesting that these three individuals are in fact just one person?”

suddenly said his name.

a

thought she was about to compliment his analytical skills, but instead, she simply said, “You talk too

at her and said, “Why did you

tools I asked for?”

vehicle as well and retrieved a toolbox from the trunk. Without a word, she

thought, staring

seemed

work for Hayden, not you. If he asks,

at him.

Raines remained silent.

a mutual affection and are secretly engaged. How about that?”

taken

Raines because of his

his car door shut and driving away swiftly.

femme fatale, Raines thought, vowing to keep his distance from Julien in the future, even avoiding eye

to Sycamore Village, Zenith sat in a black

him a phone with a furrowed brow, “Mr. Moore,

the phone and pressed the answer

from the other end, “Mr. Moore, everything has been taken care of. Your previous tracks have

the lake. After rescuing Emily, Julien had meant to return to the villa for evidence collection tools, but Julie’s sudden disappearance in Sycamore Village had forced her to fly there immediately. Only

it was still dark. But now, after a full

the footprints by the lake were

lake. It was soft, and any adult man’s weight would inevitably leave footprints. These

which was unusual.

photos, hesitated. Not until she noticed an odd discoloration in the soil. It seemed as if someone had layered fresh soil

then stepped on it

dug into the soil with a shovel, confirming her

who had been watching through a telescope, grew serious.

seconds of hesitation, he spoke into the phone, warning Zenith, “Mr. Moore, Canary is too sharp.”

surprised, and he hung

and that Julien

for a few seconds. He dialed a number, “Did you mess