Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 284

Julien tucked away her shovel in disappointment. The footprint appeared to have been deliberately obscured, it certainly wasn’t Zenith’s.

Exhausted from digging, Julien felt like she could just tie Zenith up and give him a proper grilling!

She frowned, placing the shovel back into the toolbox.

Just as she turned to leave, she noticed Hayden had silently appeared behind her. The only man capable of sneaking up on her like that.

She had no doubt that Raines had betrayed her, so…

“How did you know I’m here?” she asked, unflustered by being caught red-handed.

Hayden glanced at the toolbox she was holding, “I came to take you to the barber shop.”

Clearly, he hadn’t forgotten her previous idea to shave her head.

Julien smirked at him, “I can handle my own hair. I appreciate your concern, but there’s no need for that. Thanks!”

“Who do you think made this footprint?” he pointed at the few footprints by the wetlands of the lake. Since he had noticed, Julien saw no need to hide anything from him, so she replied, “The man in black who tried to kidnap Emily.”

“I mean, who do you think made this footprint?” he repeated patiently.

“Zenith,” she answered honestly.

It was a late night by the lake, under the warm glow of a single street lamp. Julien and Hayden stood by the lake, their shadows elongated by the light. It was a cold winter night. A layer of mist rose from the lake, making it look mysterious and eerie.

Julien, lightly dressed, stood straight-backed.

As they stood stiffly by the lake, he suddenly asked, “Are you cold?”

Was he… caring for her? Julien thought it must be.

“I’m not cold,” she replied firmly, so quickly it seemed she hadn’t given it any thought.

Even though she claimed she wasn’t cold, he removed his black coat and draped it over her shoulders.

“You can be honest with me,” he said, gently pressing her shoulder. Her eyes were even brighter in the dark.

She replied without any emotion, “I am being honest.”

to remove the coat, intending to return it

her away from the lake towards the woods. They walked in peace through the forest, both kept

seemed like a couple that had been in love for years, taking a walk in the

a time, when she still had a pure heart, she

quiet road, a man she loved, and a promise of growing old together.

the man in her

changed, even

illuminated the wide asphalt road. Kyle’s mansion was brightly lit, probably because Julien had alerted the police earlier in

to reality, Julien tried to

a

shoved the coat back at

looked him in the eye, unflinchingly and

at her stubborn face, reminded of the first time he saw her. He had just returned from the shooting range, dressed all in black, holding a silenced gun. Raines had told him that Miles Simson had brought back a girl of unknown identity, but had

a

he accidentally overheard her assertive voice

floor, curious for the first time, and looked down at

figure, shaking with fear, her small fists clenched tight. She seemed very nervous, but her pale face was calm and

is no coward in our family’ with such confidence

to have been provoked by her words, his face

had defied him. Even if it was the innocence of a child, it was

girl was doomed, he unexpectedly made his first

girl’s face, leaned on the railing and said to Miles, “I need a toy. Keep her.”

Julien’s life was spared. She became his little sidekick.

in a cruel society. He trained her to become

trust.

that her eyes were the purest, most unblemished eyes he had ever seen

in blood, they

little girl saw him as her last straw. So she endured and obeyed him, never defying him, even

that in Hayden’s dark world, she was like a bright street lamp in the

you’ve never asked me,” Hayden said,

opened his car door and

completely uncurious, uninterested. She opened her own car door, about

came from behind her, “You never asked me if I

upon a time, she was head over heels in love with him, willing to give her most treasured affection to him. So she tried to be innocent and offered herself to him, thinking it was the ultimate expression of

because she never expected to receive his love in return. Or maybe, she wasn’t sure if

to get close to her,

me, trying to please me, showing concern for me, because you love