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

she picked up the dessert again and asked, “So you discussed

him the question you were

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

handed her his phone, “I

“I heard about Sansa’s treatment. I’ll cooperate as much as

you?” Kieran asked.

reply was a cryptic, “Sometimes, it’s

are things we need

Emily?” Kyle

Hernandez, have you ever knowingly done something wrong,

he had almost lost Julie because of what he

afraid of threats to her life. But the deepest wounds are those of the heart. So you realized, to protect her, you must not avoid wars, but win them.” He added after a long silence, “That’s why you returned to Joyce, to fight for her. And I,

in silence. Did Kyle mean he also made mistakes because his love for Sansa? Is that why he used her and Kieran’s past

like I understand Kyle less and less. There must be more secrets between

for Sansa to wake up and

there’s no need to do anything special. Kyle just needs to spend time with Sansa,

her cupcake and darted over to

grip on his mobile,

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

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

She rushed over to Kieran’s side, asking Karl, “What could Zenith possibly

nodded, awaiting Kieran and Julie’s

for tomorrow

put the new plan

Julie ventured, a bold guess forming in her mind as she looked at Kieran with a touch of

seemed to be thinking along the same lines. He immediately dialed

been a glitch with the equipment here,” Dylan reported, “I know you wouldn’t trust anyone else to handle this, so I’m going to move the sample to a different machine. I’ll have the results by tomorrow night, latest. I’ll call you.”

that, Kieran

before chose this moment to fail… A coincidence? Neither