Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 307

She delicately held the cupcake in her hand, its frosting artfully swirled and topped with a fresh strawberry. Her fingers contrasted with the vibrant sweetness, and her softly curled hair was gathered into a low bun, with a few tendrils caressing her ears, adorned with pale pink teardrop pearl earrings. She wore a thin, white knitted sweater with a delicate openwork pattern that, despite its loose fit, accentuated her graceful figure. Her beauty was distinct, not the sultry kind that Adeline possessed with an almost aggressive allure, nor the austere elegance of a Julien. It was a clean, distinguished elegance that resonated with a unique quality.

From another woman’s perspective, like Julie’s, her allure was undeniable, and her voice… it was the kind that soothed the soul.

At that moment, Julie was leaning against Kieran’s back, looking at the screen that displayed the woman.

Kieran, for his part, didn’t expect Julie to be there at that moment, let alone to be leaning so affectionately against him. So when he turned his head, his expression was one of mild surprise.

Julie, who had been resting on Kieran’s back, slowly let go of his shoulder. Kieran was about to explain when Julie, with a smile, took the phone from the screen and, still smiling, said, “What a pretty cupcake. Maybe you could make one for me when you get back?”

Kieran was at a loss for words.

The woman, hearing Julie’s voice, looked up, clearly not expecting to see her suddenly, and after a moment’s pause, she smiled and nodded, “If you don’t mind.”

Julie laughed while holding the phone, “Mind? With such a gorgeous cupcake and a beautiful lady, how could I?”

She then moved in front of Kieran, playfully sitting on his lap, her arm around his shoulder and the phone in her other hand. The screen now showed both Kieran and Julie.

Julie turned to Kieran with a smile and said, “What do you think, Mr. Hernandez?”

It seemed to be the first time Mrs. Hernandez had taken such an initiative, and at that moment, Mr. Hernandez was still pleasantly shocked by his wife. When Julie turned to look at him, he was staring at her, seemingly lost in thought and not responding. Julie prodded him, “Aren’t you going to introduce

me?”

The background of the video call and the intimacy of their conversation suggested that this wasn’t their first chat, and they must have been quite familiar with each other for a while.

Hence Julie’s question to Kieran.

But before Kieran could answer, she chuckled and said, “You must be Joyce, right?”

With the memory of Annalise Hansen fresh in her mind, Julie took another look at her, half expecting another twist like Kieran having an aunt she didn’t know. But confirming no resemblance to Annalise, Julie nodded, a bit stiffly, “And you are?”

“I’m sorry to meet you like this,” she said with a timid smile, “I think Kieran should have told you about me sooner, but we didn’t want to burden you, so! didn’t introduce myself.”

deep look. His expression was meaningful as he gazed

somewhere before.

familiar, as

her composure, Julie prompted the woman on the other side of

my temper with Kieran!” She

shy nod, said

Kieran was sharp enough to slice. Her

she

he said, “Silly, this is Camilla

was stunned for a good ten seconds before

lifted her head and beamed at Julie, “Did you think

she almost went

words that Julie realized why the voice seemed familiar. She had overheard Kieran and Camilla on a video call before she and Kieran had reconciled, making

she was Bertha’s sister… Julie’s expression turned to one of mild embarrassment.

popped into view on the screen. A tuft of hair belonging to a little one trying to

at the screen, “Phoebe, say hello to your uncle.”

looked back at the camera. She was the spitting image of Lucián, from the shape of her face to her mouth and even her ears-just like a miniature version of him, except for those eyes. Clear and luminous, her beautiful big eyes seemed to hold

much alike, but their mannerisms and speech could seem similar at times. Bertha

turning around, was just staring blankly at the cupcake in her hand, silent and

and gently patted Phoebe’s shoulder, “Sweetie, why don’t you go sit on the couch and enjoy

up and

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09:55

Chapter 307

the other end of the video call, “Phoebe is still the same,

Kieran said,

turn to look

as if recalling a memory. “Last year, Camilla took Phoebe to Britain for treatment, but it didn’t

had encountered a child with autism once,

to emotions, refusal to communicate, delayed speech development, repetitive behavior, and a significant limitation in activities

interests.

ignore, they act but often against your wishes… With no explanation at hand, they are called “children of the stars” – like the stars in the sky,