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

in peace through the forest, both kept quiet, their eyes on the

a couple that had been in love for years, taking

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 beautiful and ordinary scene.

she loved, and a promise of

in her dreams was him.

have changed, even her dreams had

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

to reality, Julien

people who reject me pay a

coat back at him, “I accept your threat.”

him in the eye, unflinchingly and defiantly.

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

was a dead girl

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

second floor, curious for the first time, and

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

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

to have been provoked by her words,

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

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

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

trained her to become an invincible female devil, eventually impressing Miles and earning

trust.

most unblemished eyes he had ever seen in his dark

baptized in

knew that the helpless little girl saw him as her last straw. So she endured and obeyed him, never defying him, even trying hard to be

she didn’t know was that in Hayden’s dark world, she was like

question you’ve never asked me,” Hayden said, not reaching out to take the

simply opened his car door and

uncurious, uninterested. She opened her own car

deep voice came from behind her, “You never

in love with him, willing to give her most treasured affection to him.

to receive his love in return. Or maybe, she wasn’t sure if his frosty demeanor even allowed for the

deliberate efforts to get close to her, perhaps even

these efforts of yours, getting close to me, trying to please me, showing