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

anticipation deflated, she picked up the dessert again and asked, “So you discussed work?”

the question you were

choked on her cupcake, her eyes wide as she waited for

handed her his phone, “I recorded the

were, “I heard about Sansa’s treatment. I’ll

you?”

cryptic, “Sometimes, it’s not good to dig

retorted, “Even so, there are things we need to understand,

Emily?” Kyle anticipated Kieran’s question.

have you ever knowingly done something wrong, but

since he had almost lost Julie because of what he had

wounds are those of the heart. So you realized, to protect her, you must not avoid wars, but win them.”

for Sansa? Is

understand Kyle less and less. There must be more

hair gently, “Let’s wait for Sansa to wake up and

with Sansa, talk to her, reminisce about

she grabbed her cupcake and darted over to the couch to make herself comfortable. Watching her, Kieran couldn’t help

on his mobile, as he made straight for

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

called to set up a meeting with you and

facade crumbled. She rushed over to Kieran’s side,

nodded, awaiting Kieran and

everything for tomorrow afternoon,” Kieran instructed.

himself to put the new plan

a bold guess forming in her mind as she looked

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

anyone else to handle this, so I’m going to move the sample to a

that, Kieran

chose this moment to fail… A coincidence? Neither Kieran nor Julie were buying