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.”

reached out to remove the coat, intending to return

her away from the lake towards the woods. They walked in peace through the forest, both kept quiet, their eyes on the path ahead, at a moderate pace. A full moon illuminated their

love for years,

him. Once upon a time, when

road, a man she loved, and a

in her dreams

things have changed, even her

the quiet forest, the bright street lights illuminated the wide asphalt road. Kyle’s mansion was brightly lit, probably because Julien

back to reality, Julien tried to return the coat to

me pay a price. It’s a price you wouldn’t want

coat back at him,

looked him in the eye, unflinchingly

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 no intention of sparing her

was a dead girl walking.

overheard her assertive voice from downstairs, she said, “There is no

on the second floor, curious for the first time, and looked down

clenched tight. She seemed very nervous, but her pale face was calm and defiant. She could only look up

no coward in our family’ with such confidence and

provoked by her words, his face instantly turned

Even if it was the innocence of a child, it

the girl was doomed, he unexpectedly

the girl’s face, leaned on the railing and said to Miles, “I

was spared. She

a cruel society. He trained her to become an invincible female devil, eventually impressing Miles and earning his

trust.

unblemished eyes he had ever seen in his

in

she endured and obeyed him, never defying him, even trying

she was like

me,” Hayden said, not reaching out to take

his car door and tossed it in

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

behind her, “You never asked me if I love

love with him, willing to give her most treasured affection to him. So she tried to be

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

sense his deliberate efforts to get close to

me, are these efforts of yours, getting close to me, trying to please me, showing concern for me, because you love me? Or is it just guilt