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?”

would he be looking for me?” Julien countered, trying to play it cool, yet

chimed in, “My God, are you pretending to be cute? Hayden

think Hayden’s feelings for Julien go beyond mere fondness,” Julie

a moment, Daphne nodded, “Yes, I think it’s love. How else could he put up with

abruptly stood up and headed towards

are you going?” Julie called

the floor,” came Julien’s aloof

covered her mouth to stifle her laughter, leaning in to whisper to Julie, “Don’t you find her attitude adorable? I’ve thought of a nickname for my baby.”

but not holding out much hope

Daphne, with a triumphant grin, revealed, “I’ve decided to name my

as if she had lost her mind, “What if it’s

Daphne quickly apologized to her unborn child, “Sorry, baby. Your

Daphne. Your child has

hand, “If it’s

Julie mentally said a prayer for

an ecstatic Daphne ran off to the bedroom to share the

had made a makeshift bed on the floor using

Daphne began, brimming with excitement, “I’ve thought of two nicknames for my baby. If it’s a boy, we’ll call him ‘Prince’,

of commenting on the names, Julien asked her, “When are you and Lionel

question… was

had just entered the room, heard Julien’s question and was

Julie agreed, turning to Daphne, “What do you and Mr. Lionel

to marry into a wealthy, 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 my own

“Your mom

was surprised that Julien would

Daphne, “What do you 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

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

important question was,

Daphne, the answer was anything but simple. She turned to her friend, Julien, with a look of desperation,

heart, this was a tough question. Not expecting Daphne to seek her advice,

awkwardly at Julien, Actually…”

plunge. Secondly, the decision to dive in depends on whether the lifeguard can be trusted and if he can assure

sense to her. Perhaps being an outsider gave Julien

The first thing Daphne needed to do was to understand her own feelings. The most important factor was Lionel’s actions and choices, whether he was reliable, and not his societal standing.

hand, and looked at her gratefully. “You

frowned at Daphne, “You seem to have forgotten