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.”

remove the coat, intending to return it to him.

wrapped an arm around her shoulder, leading 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 way

in love for

made Julien forget to stop him. Once upon a time, when she still had a pure heart, she had

a man she loved, and a promise of growing old

in

things have changed, even her dreams

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

back to reality, Julien tried to return the coat to him.

me pay a price. It’s a price you

coat back

in the eye, unflinchingly

in black, holding a silenced gun. Raines had told him that Miles Simson had brought back a girl of unknown identity,

she was a

upstairs from the back door to his room, but he accidentally overheard her assertive voice from downstairs, she said, “There is no coward in our family!”

on the second floor, curious for the

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

she said ‘There is no coward in our

by her words, his

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

unexpectedly

the railing and

was spared. She became his

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

trust.

purest, most unblemished eyes he had ever

baptized in blood, they remained pure.

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

was that in Hayden’s dark world, she was like a

asked me,” Hayden said, not reaching

door and

completely uncurious, uninterested. She opened her own

came from behind her, “You

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,

as he pointed out, she never questioned whether he loved her back. Maybe it was because she never expected to receive his love in return. Or maybe, she wasn’t sure

deliberate efforts to get close to her, perhaps even trying to bridge the distance.

to me, trying to please me, showing concern for me, because you love me? Or is it just guilt