Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 271

Karl had secured a beachfront villa for their vacation. When Julie and Kieran arrived with their son Ivan, Karl had everything ready.

Ivan, who hadn’t seen Karl in ages, was thrilled and greeted him cheerfully, “Karl!”

“Why are you here, Karl?” Ivan asked, walking up to him.

Karl replied, “I’m here to keep you company, young master.”

Kieran turned to Ivan, “Tomorrow, you’ll hang out with Karl. Your mother and I have some important matters to attend to. The day after, we’ll take you out for some fun. Deal?”

“Important matters?” Ivan gestured for Kieran to crouch down to his level. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Kieran, amused by Ivan’s mysterious demeanor, leaned in closer to hear what he had to say.

Julie watched as Ivan whispered something into Kieran’s ear, but she was too far away to hear anything. Just as she decided to move closed Ivan had finished speaking.

“Is that so, Kieran?” Ivan asked, looking up at Kieran expectantly.

Kieran patted the young boy on the shoulder with admiration and nodded approvingly, “That’s right. So, wash up and head to bed. Tomorrow, accompany Karl to enjoy the tulips. Show Kari around town, okay?”

“Understood!” Ivan, gripping Karl, asked, “Where do I sleep tonight?”

Karl began leading Ivan’to his room but was interrupted by Ivan’s question, “Have you ever heard about a poem written by someone named Lewis?”

“Lewis?” Karl was puzzled.

“Yes, Lewis.”

Karl found himself at a loss for words. Fortunately, Ivan wasn’t too keen on getting the answer right away and continued, ” In the beauty of spring, only the roses are the truly beauty, blossoming and dazzling all people. I’ve forgotten the first two lines. My mom once read them to me. Can you google it and write the poet down for me later? I’d like to memorize it!”

As the two voices faded into the distance, Julie couldn’t help but smile.

She approached Kieran and asked, “What did our son just tell you?”

“Guess,” the man teased, his deep voice echoing as he ascended the staircase.

If Julie could guess, that would indeed be surprising!

4

“Then give me your wallet.” She caught up with him and blocked his way.

Caught off guard, Kieran scooped Julie up in his arms and carried her into their bedroom, swiftly locking the door behind them. He gently laid her down on the soft bed, the white sheets contrasting beautifully with her red dress.

He leaned over her, tenderly pushing her hair away from her face and planting a soft kiss on her cheek.

His unique scent filled her senses, and his gentle kisses made her forget everything else.

“What did you just ask me, my love?” He asked, with his deep gaze filled with affection.

Julie’s thoughts were in disarray, and she couldn’t remember what she had wanted to ask.

Seeing her confusion, Kieran kissed her again and then got up, “I’m going to take a shower.””

It was only after he had disappeared into the bathroom that Julie remembered, “The wallet, the wallet, I was asking for your wallet!”

She reached into his trouser pocket, expecting him to dodge, but instead he leaned against the bathroom wall, raising his hands above his head in surrender..

Caught off guard by his sudden compliance, Julie’felt a bit out of sorts.

His trousers were tight against his muscular legs, and his thin wallet contained just a few banknotes and a couple of cards.

Seeing that he wasn’t resisting, Julie reached into his pocket. Suddenly, he let out a soft moan, startling Julie, “Be gentle.”

Julie quickly covered his mouth; “Don’t make a sound!”

One hand over his mouth, she reached into his pocket again. This time there were no unexpected sounds, but as soon as she touched his trousers, he shifted uncomfortably. His eyes stared at her with a look of innocent anticipation.

Finally, Julie gave up, releasing her hand from his mouth, “You win!”

Accepting defeat, Julie walked out of the bathroom and even closed the door for him.

Kieran grinned, calling out to her, “Are you sure you don’t want it? The wallet!”

“I don’t need it, just don’t say that’s me in the photo.” Julie replied, busying herself with packing her suitcase. But in her mind, she was plotting to catch him off guard by barging in while he was showering. She didn’t believe he would shower with his trousers on!

Soon, the sound of running water filled the bathroom.

A wicked smile hooked up at the corner of Julie’s mouth, similar to the anticipation mixed with a hint of excitement she used to have before shaking up a wasp nest as a child. She tiptoed to the door, then suddenly twisted the lock and pushed open the bathroom door, stepping in.

She had imagined that the man would be washing his hair at this moment, but the image of Kieran with a head full of suds didn’t appear. Instead, she was met with a forceful pressure before she even had a chance to fully see Kieran’s current state, followed by an overwhelming kiss

That kiss, as if punishing, came with a fierce momentum, stealing all her breath. But his hands were tenderly holding her waist, pulling her close to his body.

The misty shower curtain poured down from the top of their heads, filling the bathroom with fog. The entire room was enveloped in this dreamy mist, making Julie forget why she came in, as he took her to a distant, extreme place…

Later, all she remembered was his voice, warm and indulgent, whispering in her ear, “Sweetheart, I’m at your mercy, praise me.”

Julie clenched her teeth refusing to praise him until the next morning when she remembered to ask him the question she had forgotten the night before.

“What did Ivan whisper to you last night?” Julie asked the man brushing his teeth in the bathroom the next morning, leaning against the door frame.

He beckoned her over, and Julie, tiptoeing, put her ear close.

Suddenly, he leaned down with a mouthful of foam, and kissed her cheek.

She immediately began to wipe the foam off her face, giving him a stern look in the process.

The man simply laughed, pointing to his own face, “You can get your revenge.”

“Alright, you wait.” Julie bent down to take off her shoes.

Kieran stepped back, grabbing her hand that was holding her shoe, “Alright, alright, I’ll tell you. Yesterday, when our son asked if our important task was to give him a little sister, I said yes.”

As he held her hand, Julie took the opportunity to kick her shoeless foot at his shin, only to hear a crack in her toe. The pain was intense, making her grit her teeth.

Kieran quickly let go of her hand, asking in concern, “Are

you alright?”

“I’m fine!” She replied defiantly, despite the pain causing her to scrunch up her face.

Watching his wife, Mr. Hernandez could only laugh helplessly, carrying her to the couch and gently massaging her toes. The pain was reflexive and subsided soon, and seeing Kieran’s worried actions, Julie felt warmth spread through her, “Go rinse your mouth, it’s almost noon.”

By the time they were ready to leave, it was around ten in the morning. Ivan, excited, had gone to the beach with Karl early in the morning. Kieran looked at the address sent by Julien, which was the residence of Zenith’s grandmother.

According to the information, Zenith’s grandmother, Dahlia Moore, used to live in an old house by the street. But after Zenith started to prosper, he moved her to a newly built villa area, just a few minutes’ walk from where Kieran and Julie were staying.

They decided to be straightforward, planning to visit directly under the guise of being Zenith’s business partners. Kieran held a gift in his hand and rang the doorbell.

After a while, the door was answered by a housekeeper who, after asking their purpose, let them in.

Julie and Kieran followed the housekeeper into the villa. Their original plan was to find clues about Zenith from Dahlia Moore. However, they never expected to find Zenith, who should have been in Whispering Pines, sitting on the living room couch with his grandmother Dahlia…