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 to

They walked in peace through the forest, both kept quiet, their eyes on the path ahead, at a moderate pace.

had been in love for years, taking

stop him. Once upon a time, when she still had a pure heart, she had imagined such

quiet road, a man she loved, and

the man in her dreams was him.

changed, even

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

bright lights brought her back to reality, Julien tried to

a price. It’s a price you

shoved the coat back at him, “I accept your

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

short, she was a dead girl walking.

heading upstairs from the back door to his room, but he accidentally overheard her assertive

second floor, curious for

fists clenched tight. She seemed very nervous, but her pale face was calm

is no coward in our family’

seemed to have been provoked by her words, his face instantly turned

had been in power for many years, but a child had defied him. Even if it was the innocence of a child, it was a

that the girl was doomed, he unexpectedly made his first request to Miles.

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

Julien’s life was spared.

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

trust.

purest, most unblemished eyes he

after being baptized in blood, they remained

that the helpless little girl saw him as her last straw. So she endured and obeyed

that in Hayden’s dark world, she was

asked me,” Hayden said, not reaching out to take the

door and tossed it in

uninterested. She opened her own

behind her,

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

to receive his love

deliberate efforts to get close to her, perhaps even

him, “So tell me, are these efforts of yours, getting close to me, trying to please me, showing