Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 264

“I heard from Quad Dylan, Kieran murmured, his arms holding around Julle on the couch, their fingers tightly entwining. “He told me to make sure you rest well.

Julie bit her lip, “I also think maybe I was mistaken.”

“If he’s still in this city, as long as he’s alive, we’ll cross paths one day. If we can’t find him, one day he’ll come looking for us.” Kieran said.

Julie agreed with this perspective.

She nestled into his embrace, her gaze fixed on the flickering images on the television, her thoughts wandering far away until the ring of her cellphone pulled her

back.

The call was from Harding. As Kieran pressed the answer button, Harding’s voice filled the room, “Big news.”

“What?” Kieran asked.

“Remember Professor Fred’s assistant, Vanessa?”

“What about her?” Kieran asked.

Julie edged closer to the phone, listening to Harding’s voice from the other end, “We managed to get some information out of Vanessa. Professor Fred used to have a star student named Zenith Moore. He taught Zenith everything he knew. If we can’t trust Fred, we might be able to approach Zenith.”

“I’ve looked into Fred’s background. If Zenith was so important to him, why haven’t I come across Zenith in any of Fred’s documents?” Kieran questioned.

Harding explained, “Apparently, Zenith and Fred had a falling out. Zenith didn’t pursue a medical career anymore. Instead, he established an excellent team that provides crisis PR for well-known companies. You might have heard of Zenith Group.”

Indeed, Kieran had heard of this group. They had been around for five or six years and initially symbolized a philosophy of serenity from “zen”, hence the name Zenith Group. The president of the company was young, but he was known for being extremely elusive. No media or newspaper had ever managed to capture his actual appearance, not even a shadow.

“Zenith is the President of Zenith Group. He left the medical field after his fallout with Fred and established Zenith Group, Harding said.

Julie furrowed her brows, she had heard bits and pieces about this group before. She quietly asked Harding, “But if Zenith is so elusive, how are we going to get close to him?”

“Canary has already figured it out,” Harding replied, “Mr. Watson managed to get Zenith’s name from Vanessa. Julien used that information to trace Zenith’s assistant, Jesse.”

So Julien was Canary. Julie was hearing this for the first time.

“Are there any pictures?” Kieran asked.

Harding sounded regretful, “Unfortunately, no.”

But then he changed the subject, “However, we found out that Zenith is going to Cyrus Greens Golf Club tomorrow. I’ll send you Jesse’s photo. If you decide to try it out, just show up at Cyrus Greens Golf

Club tomorrow morning. Zenith has booked the entire club, but the President of Cyrus Greens owed you a favor, right? Getting in shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Thanks,” Kieran hung up.

Harding quickly sent over Jesse’s photo.

“A person that even Julien couldn’t get a picture of, interesting, Kieran mused, studying the photo of Jesse in his formal attire.

Julie asked Kieran, “But if Zenith has already left his career in medicine for business, it’s unlikely that he’d go back, right?”

“Let’s give it a try. Didn’t you say that as long as there’s a sliver of hope, we won’t give up?” He said, his lips curling into a tender smile, deeply attracting Julie.

“Cough, cough!” Daphne interrupted them from behind, causing Julie to quickly move away.

“Just pretend I’m not here, carry on!” Daphne said nonchalantly.

“Why are you coughing then?” Julie shot Daphne a look.

Daphne feigned innocence, “Can’t I have a tickle in my throat?”

Kieran got up, gently laying his hand on Julie’s shoulder before leaving her and Daphne some privacy. With a playful smile, he said, “Enjoy your chat.”

He left for the study, leaving Julie to pull Daphne down beside her on the couch, “What did your grandma say?”

Julie’s concern warmed Daphne’s heart, causing her to loop her arm through Julie’s and confess, “Grandma said I’m delightful and well-behaved. She also said that if I can’t find the right guy, she’ll

introduce a stepfather for my baby!”

Julie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Mr. Lionel might have a hard time deciding then.”

“Deciding on what?”

“Whether to kill you or the baby first, Julie said, looking at Daphne, “Did you come here to complain?”

Daphne grasped Julie’s wrist dramatically, “You know me all too well!”

“What’s wrong? Take it easy,” Julie pulled Daphne into a hug. “Did Mr. Lionel mistreat you?”

“Huh.” Daphne pushed Julie away, gripping her hand and said, “Do you know, my parents have never been this united before. They both vehemently oppose me marrying Lord Lion, saying that marrying to the aristocracy is like drowning into a sea of treachery. With my naivety, I could easily end up manipulated, or severely mental damaged. They keep instilling these complex rules of the upper class in me. But the point is, I never said I wanted to marry him!”

“So, you’re not going to marry him?” Julie asked, looking at Daphne seriously.

Daphne asked, “Julie, do you think a marriage without love can be happy? A marriage bound together because of a child, can it be measured by happiness?”

“And what are you looking for? A mutual affection?” Julie inquired.

At this question, Daphne fell silent.

Observing Daphne’s melancholic gaze, Julie posed another question, “If there was no Mr. Lionel, have you ever thought about who you would want to marry?”

“Ordinary, common, someone who loves me, someone I love… I don’t know. But the whole situation is beyond my imagination now. I was thinking, let it be, Daphne whispered.

Julie patted Daphne’s shoulder, “So, what’s your initial gut feeling?”

“Give it a try?” After uttering these words, Daphne shook her head, “Oh gosh, the thought of marrying Lord Lionel makes me feel like I have saved the world in my past life. It’s surreal, too surreal. What’s in it for Lord Lionel? My unborn child? That doesn’t add up, he could have found a beautiful and intelligent woman, wouldn’t he want these genes?”

Just as Daphne’s words trailed off, Lionel Kemp suddenly appeared at the villa’s entrance, looking at Daphne with a serious expression, “Shouldn’t you be asking me these questions?”

“Holy moly, did you call Lord Lionel?” Daphne whispered into Julie’s ear, wishing she could turn into a fly and fly away.

Julie shook her head innocently, “My phone’s dead. I didn’t even receive your call, so how could I call Mr. Lionel?”

“Oh gosh, did Mr. Hernandez betray me?” Daphne was on the verge of tears.

Kieran, as if he had super hearing, stepped out of his study just in time to see Lionel at the door, he was a bit surprised and asked, “Why is Mr. Lionel here so late?”

“… to pick her up.” Lionel walked towards Daphne and extended his hand, “Are you coming on your own or should I come up with a wedding car?”

Daphne stood up, took a deep breath, and smiled at Lionel, “I’ll go on my own. I have some questions for you.”

Due to Alaric and his wife’s strict prohibition and Lionel’s busy schedule after quitting the entertainment industry, Daphne had been avoiding Lionel since their last encounter at Machu Picchu.

And so, Daphne departed with Lionel, leaving Julie without a say in the matter. She could only turn to Kieran and ask, “Wasn’t it you who called Mr. Lionel?”

He shook his head, “I thought Daphne was staying the night.”

“Then who notified Mr. Lionel?” All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Just as Julie finished her sentence, she saw Annalise bouncing out of the guest room, asking, “Guys, is there any late-night snack? Something sweet would be nice! Did Lionel pick up Daphne? That was quick!”

Kieran eventually decided to visit the Cyrus Greens Golf Club the next morning to meet the rumored Zenith.

With Amanda’s consent, Julie accompanied Kieran. They dropped off Ivan at school. Unlike usual, the young boy didn’t rush out of the car, instead, he asked Julie seriously, “Mom, are you and Kerry planning on having a second child?”

Julie, who was unbuckling her seatbelt, froze.

Ivan, mature beyond his years, said, “I saw on the news that the government encourage to have more children. Mom, you and Kerry should give me a little sister! She has to be cuter than Cupid, I will hold her, share my food and toys with her, and I will protect her with Dad.”

“Right, our own child.” Kieran turned around and high-fived Ivan.

Ivan winked at his father.

Julie said, “Ivan, you’re going to be late.”

“Mom, remember to give me a sister, I love you.” The little boy pecked a kiss on Julie’s cheek before hopping out of the car and heading to school.

“Right, I love you too.” The man in the driver’s seat leaned over and planted a kiss on Julie’s cheek before starting the car, heading straight to the golf course.

They were greeted by the founder of the golf course, Cyrus Nelson.

As Cyrus led Kieran and Julie towards the golf course, he casually asked Kieran, “Does Mr. Hernandez’s company have a crisis that needs Mr. Moore’s team’s help?” “Not really, it’s a private matter,” Kieran replied to Cyrus, “Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Nelson.”

Cyrus waved it off with a smile, “No problem, seven years ago if it wasn’t for Mr. Hernandez giving me this land, this golf course wouldn’t have been built!”

He pointed at a man in a white golf uniform and cap, grinning at Julie and Kieran, “That’s Mr. Moore right there.”

Julie and Kieran followed Cyrus’s gaze and were simultaneously taken aback…