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

he simply 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

love for

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

and a promise of growing

in her dreams

things have changed, even her

mansion was brightly lit, probably because Julien

to reality, Julien

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

the coat back at him, “I accept your

the eye, unflinchingly and

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

a dead girl

he accidentally overheard her assertive voice from downstairs,

leaned over the railing on the second floor, curious for the first time,

but her pale face

no coward in our family’ with such confidence

have been provoked by her

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

he unexpectedly made his first

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

his words, Julien’s life was spared. She became

her how to shoot, fight, and survive in a cruel society. He trained her to become an invincible female

trust.

remembered that her eyes were the purest, most unblemished eyes he had ever seen in his dark world.

baptized in

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

Hayden said, not reaching

simply opened his car door and tossed it in the back

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

a clear, deep voice came from behind her, “You never asked me if I

time, she was head over heels in love with him, willing to give her most treasured affection to him. So she tried to be

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

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

to me, trying to please me, showing concern for me, because you love me? Or is it just guilt over leaving me without a word?”