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

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

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

scene made Julien forget to stop him. Once upon a time, when she still had a pure heart, she had imagined such a beautiful and ordinary scene.

she loved, and a promise

man in her dreams

changed, even her dreams had stopped.

lights illuminated the wide asphalt road. Kyle’s mansion was

to reality, Julien tried

people who reject me pay a price. It’s

this is a threat…” Julien shoved the coat

looked him in the eye,

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

a dead girl

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

railing on the second floor, curious for the

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

said ‘There is no coward in our family’ with such

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

in power for many years, but a child had defied him. Even if it

doomed, he unexpectedly made his first

and said to Miles, “I need a toy.

was spared. She became his little

trained her to become an invincible female devil,

trust.

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

being baptized in

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

dark world, she was like a

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

his car door and tossed it

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

from behind her, “You never asked

him, willing to give her most treasured affection to him. So she tried to be innocent and offered herself to him, thinking it

was because she never expected to receive his love in return.

could sense his deliberate efforts to get close to her, perhaps even

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 over leaving me without