Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 286

“Are you laughing or crying? You’ve been chuckling nonstop.” Julie leaned in closer to Daphne, curious to know who was on the other end of the phone call. But Daphne handed the phone to Julie as if it were a hot potato. Her face, a picture of relief, left Julie puzzled.

Meanwhile, Julien was lying quietly on the carpet, lost in her own world, oblivious to the commotion between Julie and Daphne.

Until Julie suddenly cried out, “Hayden?”

At the sound of his name, Julien sprung up from the floor like a zombie, startling Julie who moved closer to Daphne for comfort.

Even though Julie had no idea what Hayden had said, she handed the phone to Julien, saying timidly, “Julien, it’s for you!”

Upon hearing Hayden’s name, Julien wanted to hang up. But when Julie handed her the phone, she immediately pressed the end call button and irritably tossed it back to Daphne.

Daphne’s admiration for Julien reached it peek point.

“Is it okay to just hang up on Hayden like that?” Julie asked, concerned.

Julien didn’t respond. This was the first time she had the audacity to hang up on Hayden. Usually, she would follow his orders without question.

Julie thought for a moment, then said, “Well, Hayden spoils you, so it should be fine, right?”

“Hayden spoils me? You are talking nonsense!” Julien coldly retorted, sitting up again!

Daphne clutched her chest. She couldn’t handle any more surprises from Julien.

Instead of answering Julien’s question, Julie turned to Daphne and asked, “Don’t you think Hayden treats Julien differently?”.

“It seems like it. Remember Ivan’s birthday party…”,

“What happened then?” Julie asked.

“We were having a barbecue in the garden, remember? Mr. Watson took me out there. Later, I went back to my room to get my phone and saw Mr. Dylan, Annalise Hansen, and Hayden…”

“And then what?” Julie asked, looking at Daphne curiously.

Annalise tried to

suddenly echoed, Julie and Daphne both looked

however, acted as if nothing happened, and looked at Daphne coldly,

then continued, “Hayden shook off Ms. Annalise’s arm and told her he would hit her even if she’s

herself, pretending

grunted, “He would hit a woman. I’m lucky to be alive.”

asked Hayden why

dirty his

shoulder in an attempt to comfort

only said to Ms. Annalise, ‘Because she’s my woman, you’re not. Even though he wasn’t talking to me, I

he said

“Isn’t it

Hayden likes Julien. Why else would he

I’m a good

and Julie were stunned. Julien’s words seemed to

and Payne were in the room discussing something. So, I spent some time with Hayden. Then he

What question?” Daphne asked, eyes wide

past decisions. I told him that since it’s in the past, all I can do is to be there for Ivan. I can’t change the past and I don’t want to live in hate, so let it go. But when Hayden asked me that, I didn’t really get it. So,

with my answer. He argued with me, and it didn’t sound like he was defending Kieran. Instead, it sounded like he was defending

on the

mysteriously disappear? Isn’t that the root of all the tension between you two? Maybe, just maybe, Hayden’s stubbornness

7

do with me?” Julien pulled a blanket over her head. “I only agreed

off the bed and yanked the blanket off Julien’s head. “What do you mean, ‘Adeline’s safety net’? Are you implying that something’s going on between Adeline and

excitement at bay. She rushed to Julien’s side and stared at her with wide eyes. “But Adeline likes Elliot,

be her safety net? God, this is

sat up and patted the blanket. “Fine, I’ll explain

Daphne sat in rapt attention, waiting for Julien to

there really is something going on between Hayden and Adeline, then I’ve been wrong about Hayden. I’ll stand by you, no matter what.”

hand, almost

about to speak, the