Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 285

“Want some more?” Daphne offered her ice cream to Julien like it was a prized possession.

Julien, without hesitation, took it from Daphne’s hand and started eating it voraciously.

In all the years she had known Julien, Julie had never seen her indulge in a snack like this. It was truly a sight to see. But…

Wasn’t her eating manner a bit too aggressive? It was less of eating and more of stuffing her mouth.

Was this binge eating a result of some traumatic experience, perhaps?

Julie gently patted Julien’s back, concern lining her features. Julien, with a mouthful of ice cream, looked back at Julie with a confused expression, as if asking ‘why are you patting my back?’ through her gaze.

“You’re going to get a brain freeze if you eat ice cream like that,” Julie remarked, watching Julien’s eating frenzies.

Julien then handed the now-empty ice cream tub back to Daphne:

Daphne tossed it into a nearby trash bin and chuckled, “I always thought you were too high and mighty to enjoy such earthly pleasures. Turns out you also love vanilla ice cream, just like me.”

Julien looked perplexed, “What ice cream?”

“…So, you just ate half a tub of ice cream without even khowing what flavor it was? Daphne asked, the disbelief evident on her face.

“That’s vanilla, vanilla ice cream. The one you just ate,” she said, trying to suppress her laughter.

“Ah,” was the only response Julien gave.

Julie suddenly grabbed Julien’s shoulder, “Who are you, and what have you done to my Julien?”

Julien swatted Julie’s hand away, and turned to Daphne, “Give me the couch.”.

Daphne glanced at the couch beneath her, a grey piece of furniture that had been with her for a while now.

She patted the couch, speaking to it as if it were a pet, “My dear couch, the queen has taken a liking to you. It’s an honor really. She wants to take you away, but don’t miss me too much. I’ll come visit you occasionally.”

“I didn’t mean your couch,” Julien retorted, looking at Julie, “I meant, I’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight.”

“You’re not going home tonight?” Julie asked, looking surprised, “Won’t Hayden be looking for you?”

countered, trying to play it

“My God, are you pretending to be cute? Hayden adores you;

for Julien go

Daphne nodded, “Yes, I think it’s love. How else

hearing this, Julien abruptly stood up and

where are you going?” Julie called

bed on the floor,” came Julien’s aloof

to stifle her laughter, leaning in to whisper to Julie, “Don’t you find her attitude adorable? I’ve thought of a

it?” Julie asked, merely curious, but not holding out much hope

a triumphant grin, revealed,

if she had lost her mind, “What if

child, “Sorry, baby. Your dumb mom didn’t think

patted Daphne’s shoulder sympathetically, “Don’t worry, Daphne. Your child has a smart father.”

exclaimed, grabbing Julie’s hand, “If it’s a

a prayer

ecstatic Daphne ran off to the bedroom

to her word, Julien had made a makeshift bed on the floor using blankets

two nicknames for my baby. If it’s a boy, we’ll call him ‘Prince’, and

her, “When are you and

was

heard Julien’s question and was

Julien’s question is quite constructive, Julie agreed, turning to Daphne, “What do you and Mr. Lionel plan to

complex family like Lionel’s. She says it’s like a deep, dangerous ocean, and with my intelligence, I might not survive. Not only would risk losing my child, but I might also lose

“Your mom is

Julien would support Edda

think? Just because the ocean is deep and dangerous, you would not even try to swim? What about the lifeguard who is waiting for you in the

how to hit the nail on the head with her metaphor. The world of the wealthy was an ocean, and she stood at its edge, wrestling with the decision to dive in. Her parents, standing by her side, were pulling her away from the water’s edge, while Lord Lion, the lifeguard of this metaphorical ocean, was eagerly waiting for her to take the

the most important question was, what should

her friend,

little experience in matters of the heart, this was a tough question. Not expecting Daphne to seek

smiled awkwardly at

the decision to dive in depends on whether the lifeguard can be trusted and if he can assure your safety, and not how deep the ocean

made sense to her. Perhaps being an outsider gave

own feelings. The most important factor was Lionel’s actions and choices, whether he was reliable, and not his societal standing.

Daphne slumped onto the ground, grabbed Julien’s hand, and looked at her gratefully. “You

seem to have forgotten that