Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 306

Daphne cast a timid glance at Julien before replying, “He’s returned to Noblewood.”

“He went back to Noblewood now, of all times?” Julie said, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Daphne nodded, “He’s gone home to fetch his passport. We’re getting ready to apply for our marriage license.”

This bombshell had Julie and Julien exchanging a look of mutual astonishment. Then Julie, bubbling with excitement, asked, “When did you two decide this?” “Yesterday. I wanted to tell you guys then, but you mentioned you were going to a gala, so… Anyway, he went back to Noblewood. He should be back tonight.”

Julie was still reveling in Daphne’s happiness, but Julien, still puzzled, asked, “Why the sudden decision to get married?”

“Didn’t Daphne say that if Mr. Lionel could win over her folks, she’d agree?” Julie turned her head to look at Daphne, who was sitting in the back seat. Daphne’s cheeks, flushed with a touch of bashfulness, held a hint of an embarrassed smile. Then she said, “It’s true that Lionel managed to charm my parents, but that isn’t the main reason. I just came to understand a lot of things that weren’t clear to me before.”

“Like what?” Julie asked on Julien’s behalf, and after posing the question, she turned to her.

“Yesterday, Lionel accompanied me to the prenatal checkup, he was tender and protective. The day before, he invited me home for dinner but brought along a lawyer to draft a prenup. Should we get married, his assets before and after the marriage would all be mine. This morning, I woke up to find the street swarming with reporters. Lionel was on the phone immediately. I’ve been thinking about what my feelings really are for Lionel. Is it just a fan girl crush, or do I genuinely like the man? His recent actions have moved me. Every morning, he makes breakfast before I even get out of bed. He sits by me when I’m suffering morning sickness. He speaks up for me when I’m under media scrutiny…”

Her lips curled into a gentle smile, “What he gives me is more than just moving-it’s an irreplaceable sense of security.”

“I’m Daphne, after all!” she exclaimed, “If he wasn’t someone I liked, would I have slept with him? That’s intimate, and there are no accidents in such matters-it’s not like it was against my will. The so-called accidents are just excuses. I like him, and he likes me. It might not be full-blown love yet, but since there’s mutual affection, why not give it a shot? And besides, we have a little one on the way!” She caressed her belly contentedly, beaming with sweetness.

Julien asked, “So, did you sign that prenup?”

Daphne nodded, “Sure did. It’s all notarized already, though the terms are a bit different. We agreed that if one of us changed mind, they should come clean early. Whoever cheats loses custody but maintains financial responsibility for the child. But we value our freedom; if the heart is not in it, clinging to a marriage won’t bring happiness, nor will it to the parents. And a child in a sham family? Unlikely to be happy either. So, the cheater forfeits custody but is still financially responsible. As for the assets, we’ll divide them according to the state laws. Prenuptial assets remain personal, postnuptial assets are split legally.”

Daphne, who often seemed frivolous, was actually quite rational. She just had a tendency to avoid confronting issues.

Out of the blue, Lionel somehow found out that Daphne was with Julie and made a call to Julie’s phone since Daphne had turned hers off in fright.

Julie handed the phone to Daphne. After connecting, Daphne was met with a torrent of Lionel’s concern.

Once Lionel finished his fussing, Daphne teased, “Lord Lion, do you treat all your exes nicely?”

“Not one ex has given me as much trouble as you do,” Lionel countered with affectionate exasperation, “I’ve spoken to your parents; don’t worry. I’ll come to pick you up tonight.”

“Okay.”

“And another thing…”

Daphne asked, Julie

I’ve posted

the subject, “Everything going smoothly on

about me; just rest up.”

the family registry that Lionel needed. Lionel, unfazed,

be out of your hair. If not, I’ll burn it, and we can both apply for a

Chris sharply featured brother, stood nearby clapping, his

hung up the phone but didn’t

“What’s up? Planning

Twitter,” Daphne replied, opening

to stay offline? The comments right

can handle it! How bad can it be?” Daphne opened

her asleep on the couch, her hand in his,

love that needs to be hidden, only people who choose not

thing was, Daphne had no clue when that photo was

picture of utter disaster, Julie cautiously reached out to snatch back her phone, only to be swatted

through the rear-view

didn’t even put a filter on the picture? Come on! As a celebrity, an A-lister for crying out loud, could he not have edited

makeup,” Julien chimed

caught Julie off guard.

Daphne’s mood quite a bit.

“Can I have my phone back now?”

over two million comments and more than five million likes, realized she was quite the

the comments, the most liked one had nearly four hundred thousand

read – [Feels like an April Fool’s joke come early, thumbs up

from Lionel himself. He wrote

was the most harmonious one in the bunch. The rest were an assortment of jabs, many not wishing her and Lionel well. When Daphne logged into her

tone, said to Julie, “You know, the last time my feed

Hernandez.”

situation, only to find out that Julien… didn’t even have the