Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 295

Glancing at the woman satisfied on the bed, half her arm peeking out from the cover, Kieran gently pulled the covers over her before slipping out of the room.

Just as he closed the door, there was a knock. Kleran beckoned the visitor in with a soft-spoken, “Come in.”

Karl entered and handed Kieran a photo album, “Pictures from Sycamore Village.”

Kieran flipped through the hefty album. It was filled with pictures of Karl and Ivan frolicking in the fields of Sycamore Village, their laughter captured in vibrant colors. Tucked at the end were two special photos of Julie, her radiant smile framed by blooming flowers. The photos were perfectly wallet-sized.

He replaced the old photo of toddler Julie in his wallet with one of the new photos. He placed a loving kiss on a new photo of smiling Julie before putting it to his wallet. Suddenly, the ringtone of his phone interrupted his momentary reminiscence. He glanced at the caller ID and answered the call, with a furrowed brow.

By the time Julie woke up, more than an hour had passed. Realizing she had fallen into Kieran’s trap, she sighed, wishing she had just called him ‘honey’. She changed into a fresh dress and carefully opened the door, only stepping out when she was certain there were no voices in the office.

Kieran, seated at his desk, heard her soft footfalls and asked, “Awake now?”

“Thanks to you,” Julie replied, settling down on the couch across from Kieran. “Did you see my phone?”

Instead of answering, Kieran pointed to a cupcake on the coffee table, “Hungry?”

The irresistible treat made Julie forget about her phone. She picked up the spoon, took a big bite from the cupcake, and asked, “Are you busy?”

“Why?” Kieran put down his pen and looked at her.

She hesitated before asking, “From a man’s perspective, do you think Kyle…” Julie then shook her head, “Never mind, should I call Kyle or meet him in person?”

“Honey…” Kieran suddenly put on an apologetic look.

Julie paused, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

“Kyle called me,” he confessed.

Julie didn’t see anything wrong with this. She placed her cupcake down and asked, “And? Did he agree?”

him about cooperating with Sansa’s treatment.”

anticipation deflated, she picked up the dessert

question you were

her cupcake, her eyes wide as she waited

handed her his phone, “I recorded the

on the recording were, “I heard about

you?” Kieran asked.

it’s

things we need

Kyle anticipated

before Kyle asked, “Mr. Hernandez, have you ever knowingly done

course he knew, since he had almost lost Julie because of what he

recording, “Sometimes, you do wrong things because you’re afraid of threats to her life. But the deepest wounds are those of the heart. So you realized, to protect

also made mistakes because his love for Sansa? Is that why he used her and Kieran’s past as an analogy? He seemed to know their history

Kieran, “I feel like I understand Kyle less and less.

wait for Sansa to wake up and

time with Sansa, talk to her, reminisce about old times. Ive also asked Karl to arrange more bodyguards for Sansa’s

the door. Quickly, she grabbed her cupcake and darted over

with excitement in his grip on his mobile, as he made

it all. So, Julie was intrigued, to say the least, by his uncharacteristic excitement. She couldn’t help but turn her attention toward Karl

Zenith’s secretary, Jesse, just called to set up a

the mention of Zenith, Julie’s calm facade crumbled. She rushed over to Kieran’s side, asking Karl, “What could

awaiting Kieran and

everything for tomorrow afternoon,”

put the new plan in motion.

blood for the test?” Julie ventured, a bold guess forming in her mind as she looked at Kieran with a touch of excitement.

to be thinking along the same lines. He immediately dialed Dylan on

what happened, but there’s been a glitch with the equipment here,” Dylan reported, “I know you wouldn’t trust anyone else to handle this,

that, Kieran

machine that had never given them trouble before chose this moment to fail… A coincidence? Neither Kieran nor