Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 303

On the drive to the cemetery, Julien gripped the steering wheel, turning to Julie, “No wonder it wasn’t found abroad. Turns out, Rankin’s final resting place is right here at Whispering Pines.”

It seemed they had been searching for quite some time. After the incident with Davina Field, Julie had asked Julien to help locate Rankin’s grave. Unexpectedly, even with Julien’s capabilities, it had taken this long to find it.

A light drizzle misted from the sky as they passed a florist. Julie asked Julien to pull over, then walked inside the shop.

She lingered among the blooms, contemplating her choice. The florist, eager to help upon learning Julie was visiting a friend’s grave, suggested an array of vibrant flowers, each more beautiful than the last.

Yet Julie’s gaze settled on a secluded corner.

The owner hurried over, “Ah, this is the Bird of Paradise. It’s also known as…”

“Strelitzia,” Julie finished with a smile, and then turned to a bunch of light pink gypsophila nearby. “Could you wrap these up for me?”

Her eyes had been on the Bird of Paradise, but in the end, she asked for the gypsophila to be wrapped. The owner handed Julie the neatly packaged flowers and then watched as she picked a single Bird of Paradise, settling the bill.

Back in the car, Julie placed the Bird of Paradise amidst the gypsophila.

Julien nonchalantly inquired, “What flower is that?”

Julie knew she wasn’t asking about the gypsophila.

“It’s Bird of Paradise, also called Strelitzia. It’s said to be the bird that flies to heaven, carrying all sorts of emotions and yearnings with it. If there’s a heaven, then a good soul like Rankin is surely there. The flower’s message is: No matter when, no matter where, never forget the one who waits for your love. It just… felt right for him.”

Julien remarked, “A flower is just a plant. All those nice and sad meanings, we attach them ourselves.” After saying this, noticing Julie’s expression, Julien quickly added in a softer tone, “But if there really is a heaven, he’s probably there.”

For Julie, hearing such words from Julien was nothing short of miraculous. She knew it was just an attempt at comfort.

“Julien, can I ask you something?” Julie asked tentatively, wary of broaching a sensitive topic.

ahead,” Julien replied,

about

Before Julie could finish, Julien’s curt reply cut her

interruption, but there

it might have upset Julie, and she explained

by the additional explanation, a flicker

moment, she asked, “How’s your investigation into the murder case going? You’re not working for the National Security Agency at the moment, right? So why are you

her mind

analysis, suspecting something else was inside, only to find out

dawned on Julien, who realized Julie must be jumping to conclusions. Julien quickly interjected, “Don’t get the wrong idea; it’s not

think I’m thinking?”

Julien remained silent.

“So there was no murder case, right?

that’s right, they were from him,” Julien admitted, knowing Julie had seen through the facade. There was no point in hiding the truth

a

anyone else?”

bouquet, Julie shook her head. No one but Hayden would dare such a

and Hayden, you guys…”

think; there’s nothing more to it,” Julien

to tell

a pause, Julien added, “Quad

The idea of Julien accusing Hayden of being ‘lacking in virtue’ was too amusing to contain. She could only imagine the look on Hayden’s face if

as a playful banter turned serious as she locked eyes with Julien and said, “You know, Julien, you and him, you’re both pretty tough. But when two tough people get together, it can take a lot longer to work things out. Like you said that night, have you ever thought about why you actually care

not the best at this stuff either. Even my relationship with Kieran got pretty messed up sometimes. But we complement each

shared her feelings, and had spent a lot of time in solitude growing

Julien acted as if she couldn’t care less, as if she didn’t even hear Julie speaking, sometimes even threatening to shut her up. But

friend Julien cherished deeply-someone who would tell you the hard

at the base of the

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