Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 305

When Julie and Julien pulled up outside Daphne’s apartment, they saw a swarm of reporters blocking the entrance. It was as if the entire paparazzi battalion had decided to lay siege to the building. Even the back door was under close watch.

Up on the twenty-third floor, Daphne cracked open her window and peered down. “Holy cow,” she muttered to herself, “it’s like an ant hill exploded down there. I’ve never been this famous; heck, in school I couldn’t even make the campus newsletter. Now, following Lord Lion’s fame, I’m all over the entertainment headlines….

Her phone had been blowing up with calls and messages since dawn. Frightened by the incessant buzzing, she had turned it off. She glanced at her nearly empty fridge, which now housed nothing but a cup of yogurt. Starve comfortably in her apartment, or brave the gauntlet of flashing cameras below? She chose the former.

Holding the yogurt, she poked a straw into it and took a couple of sips. Rubbing her belly, she said, “Little one, don’t blame your momma. It’s not that I don’t want to feed you, it’s your daddy-he’s too famous. If you get really hungry, you’ll just have to drink my blood, ’cause momma loves you that much.”

Daphne noticed her computer blinking with new messages. Julie and Lionel had both reached out to her. She decided to respond to Julie first.

Julie’s message expressed concern for Daphne’s safety and inquired whether she was still in her apartment.

Yogurt straw still between her lips, Daphne typed back, [Yep, holed up in here. The crowd downstairs is nuts. I’m afraid they’d crush me and my baby bump. If you’re coming up, bring me some food, will ya?]

Hearing the chat notification, Julie quickly checked her phone. Relieved that Daphne was okay, she responded, [Watch your mouth. Hang tight, Julien and I will figure out a way to get to you.]

Back on chat, Daphne immediately replied with a [Yes, my Queen (heart-eyed emoji).]

Julie chuckled at Daphne’s response while Julien parked the car near the complex’s entrance where the commotion was minimal, unnoticed by the horde of reporters. Julien and Julie stepped out of the car.

“Daphne’s right upstairs, but how in the world are we gonna get up there? Even if we do, we can’t just walk out with her in front of everyone,” Julie pondered. Just then, they heard a loud ‘bang’ from behind.

Julien quickly pulled Julie behind the vehicle for cover. The reporters all turned around but saw only a minor fender bender-nothing worthy of their attention-so they turned back to their stakeout.

“Talk about bad luck,” Julien said as they approached the scene of the minor accident.

Just as she was about to scold the inattentive driver, the passenger door swung open, revealing a pair of impressively long legs stepping out…

And there stood Marlon, Julien’s eyebrow arching in surprise.

Marlon, oblivious to Julien, was busy arguing with Harding who had emerged from the driver’s side. “Don’t give me that look, man. It was your who bumped the car, not me.”

“If you hadn’t been fondling my leg, we wouldn’t have hit that car’s bumper,” Harding retorted, shutting his door.

“Who knows, maybe you’ve got a thing for

me my phone,” Harding

back, “No way, I committed a

the phone from behind and tossed it to Harding,

was left speechless.

paying for the damages?” Julien asked, nudging Harding’s car

at Julien’s car,

raised an eyebrow, “Obviously.”

it,” Marlon pointed at Harding without hesitation.

Julien, “It was an

dismissively, “Forget

eyes bulged, “Wait! He gets a free pass and I have to pay?

called fairness,” Harding said, patting Marlon’s shoulder

both, “You guys

a mock salute for his boldness to provoke

fondled Harding’s leg, and I didn’t accuse you of

couldn’t help but laugh Julien rarely joked, but when she did, it was

indignant “For the record, I was after his phone, not his leg! It was in his pocket, you know?”

at Julie, “Sometimes, explanations just

“An excuse is just another

to complicate

Marlon, Harding replied, “For a guy, you’re pretty

aren’t any hotels around here,” Julien blurted

flabbergasted. “What do you mean?”

Julien asked with

sputtered. “Lionel asked me and Harding to come rescue Daphne, Book a room, my foot!”

out, Julie said, rolling her eyes at him, then turned to Harding. “Are you planning to just waltz past the reporters? Daphne just texted me and said that there are a bunch of them in the

How high-profile do you think I am? Do you really think those journalists can catch me?” Mr.

sudden epiphany, looking at Marlon. “I know how we can

“That’s how we got Flavia out when

the hand and take a