Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 155

Fusion Delights Café.

Not long after Kieran’s call, Julie got a call from Daphne. After hanging up with Kieran, Julie and

Daphne agreed to meet at the nearby Fusion Delights Café.

Both Daphne and Julie were dressed similarly today, both wearing hats and sunglasses.

Julie thought it was reasonable for her to wear sunglasses. After all, yesterday’s press conference was

so lively that she could easily be recognized when out and about.

But why was Daphne being so mysterious?

“What’s up? Have you switched from journalism to paparazzi? Who are you tailing?” Julie teased

Daphne while chuckling.

Daphne sneakily showed her eyes, “I just don’t want to be recognized. You know, Mr. Lionel’s fans are

already discussing me in their group chats. If I didn’t cover my face yesterday, you might have never

seen me again!”

When Daphne mentioned this, Julie finally realized, “So the woman at the jewelry store yesterday was

actually you?”

Daphne leaned over half the table and covered Julie’s mouth, “Keep it down!!”

After saying this, she finally let go of Julie, patted her chest, and took off her hat and sunglasses, “If

even you couldn’t recognize me, I’m sure no one else could. That makes me feel relieved.”

“So, what’s the deal between you and Mr. Lionel?” Julie asked while sipping her coffee.

Daphne chuckled, “Haha, what if I told you I have no idea? Would you believe me?”

After a while, as if remembering something, Daphne turned to Julie and said, “By the way, he once said

I resemble his ex-girlfriend. Could that be why?”

Julie thought for a moment and responded, “It’s possible. As the romance s often say: ‘since I lost

you, everyone I fell in love with was like you, but they weren’t you.’ Maybe Mr. Lionel really sees you as

a replacement for his ex-girlfriend.”

Daphne nodded in agreement, “I think so too.”

She innocently picked up her coffee and took a sip, “Julie, what should I do?”

“Just reject him straight up, right? Clearly tell him that you are not his ex-girlfriend.”

Daphne thought about it and asked, “Is there a more efficient way?”

Julie nodded, “Get a boyfriend, and tell him that you already have a boyfriend.”

“Haha, stop kidding. I haven’t had a boyfriend for years. Besides, Mr. Lionel said that he likes stealing

other people’s girlfriends!”

“You took him seriously? After all, he’s the amazing Mr. Lionel. Unless he really loves you, he wouldn’t

go to such lengths to pursue you. Do you think he has that much time?” Julie said, laughing.

Daphne suddenly found this very reasonable, so she nodded seriously, then asked Julie, “Where

should I find a boyfriend?”

“Didn’t your mom ask you to go on a blind date yesterday? You can give that a shot.” Julie replied.

Daphne thought this was a great idea!

She took out her phone, opened Twitter and said to Julie, “I want to see if Mr. Lionel is still a hot topic. I

feel like the whole Internet is discussing us.”

Julie smiled and lifted her coffee cup. At this moment, she heard Daphne exclaim in surprise from

across the table, “Julie, you’re so lucky!”

“What?” Julie looked at Daphne with a puzzled expression, “Why?”

Daphne handed her phone to Julie.

Julie took it and saw the trending hashtags on Twitter. Some of them were about Kieran and Ivan being

caught on camera picking out a diamond at the jewelry store.

“Why doesn’t anyone buy me a diamond ring?” Daphne pouted discontentedly.

Julie laughed and looked at Daphne, “Maybe that ring wasn’t meant for me, or maybe they didn’t buy a

ring at all.”

Daphne pretended to be angry and took her phone back, “Julie, put away your act! Remember to tell

me all about the surprise tonight! I have to go now. I’m heading to the clothing store.”

Julie nodded and asked, “What are you doing at the clothing store? Is it for work?”

“I’m picking out a gown! Since Mr. Lionel accepted my interview last time, I promised to accompany him

to a charity dinner as a thank you. The dinner got postponed to tomorrow night, so I need to choose a

gown that’s suitable for the event.”

Julie nodded, “Alright, have fun.”

“Where are you heading later? You didn’t drive here. Do you want me to drop you off?” Daphne asked

as she was grabbing her bag.

Julie shook her head, “No need. You go ahead.”

Just as she finished, Julie’s phone rang.

It was a call from Ivan. He asked her to meet him at the Uptown Gastro House tonight.

On the way to the Uptown Gastro House, Julie pulled out her phone again to check Twitter. Many

people had followed her account and were leaving comments under her tweets.

There were very few people sending blessings, but many were attacking her.

Because of the news about Kieran and Ivan at the jewelry store, many gossip-lovers began to revisit

yesterday’s press conference and noticed that Julie indeed wasn’t wearing a ring yesterday.

Therefore, various guesses emerged online. Some people suspected that Julie and Kieran were forced

to get married due to public

pressure.

Julie didn’t mind and actually found these speculations quite reasonable.

When the car stopped in front of the Uptown Gastro House, Julie noticed that there weren’t many

customers in the restaurant. It should have been peak dining hours, but the restaurant was not

crowded. Kieran probably booked the whole place.

A waiter led Julie into the restaurant.

A path of flowers and candlelight that could make anyone dizzy. Julie had experienced this feeling ten

years ago. Back then, it was her birthday. She had booked an entire restaurant all to herself, declined

all other friends’ invitations, prepared flowers and candles, and then invited Kieran. She even prepared

a touching speech to confess her love, but…

Kieran didn’t show up that night.

It always hurt Julie when she thought about it, so she stopped thinking.

Ivan walked up to Julie with a bouquet of roses in his hand, saying “Mama, you’re stunning!”

Julie didn’t

She smil

Ivan shoot d

if he was being sincere. Coming to a candlelit dinner in a T-shirt and jeans, she might be the first.

took the roses from Ivan, “Thank you, Ivan.”

This head generously, “You should thank Kerry! It’s all Kerry’s money anyway.”

“Taking care of r me is no easy task for Kerry.” Ivan defended Kieran and took credit for him.

But Kieran just sat there, not saying a word.

Ivan helplessly glared at his dad, but got no response, he frowned in frustration. He coughed and then

stood up to address Julie and Kieran, “I’m going to the restroom. No fighting, you two!”

Who’s the kid here again?

Ivan left with Noah.

Noah was a retired Marine, and since Ivan was born, he had always been his personal protector, so

Kieran naturally let Ivan go with him. As soon as Ivan left, the waiter began to serve the food.

Outside, Ivan looked at Noah with concern and asked, “Noah, you don’t think my mom and dad will

really start arguing, do you?”

Noah laughed and shook his head, “Mrs. Hernandez loves Mr. Hernandez very much, and Mr.

Hernandez loves Mrs. Hernandez too.”

‘Right! Otherwise, I wouldn’t exist! Haha…” He let out a couple of laughs after saying that. Ivan looked

at Noah happily, “Let’s go, I’ll treat you to ice cream!”

Noah looked at Ivan, “Don’t you want to go back and eat with them?”

“I’ve decided not to bother Kerry today, or he might end up a lonely old man.” Ivan said seriously,

nodding his head in affirmation.

Noah laughed helplessly, wondering whether it was luck or misfortune for Mr. Hernandez to have such

a thoughtful son.

In the restaurant.

After Ivan left, only Julie and Kieran were left in the restaurant.

They haven’t had a quiet meal together like this for many years. Almost every time they used to eat

together, they would part with a fight in the end.

Kieran looked at Julie and explained, “This was all Ivan’s idea.”

He sure knows how to wash his hands of responsibility.

Julie asked Kieran as if casually, “So was it also Ivan’s idea for you guys to go to the jewelry store?”

Kieran, holding the ring box in his pocket, couldn’t help but frown.

Julie looked up at Kieran and smiled, “Don’t you want to ask me how I know?”

Kieran didn’t ask, instead, he took out the ring box, then pushed it towards Julie with two fingers, “Ivan

insisted that I buy this.”

Julie didn’t take it.

Kieran carefully opened the box, took out the item inside, played with it a bit in his hand, then seriously

asked Julie, “Do I need to

kneel?”

She thought, this isn’t a proposal, why would he kneel?

Julie shook her head and said, “No need.”

Then, she took the ring from Kieran’s hand.

Kieran kindly reminded her, “Ring finger.”

Julie gave Kieran a slightly annoyed look, but finally obediently put the ring on her ring finger.

However, she found the ring to be surprisingly fitting.

She looked at Kieran in surprise, as if asking him why the ring was so perfect. Kieran replied, “The

wedding ring you threw into the lawn of Noblewood Retreat was designed by me over two months and

made by my own hands.”

Julie knew at the time that the diamond ring was unique, but she had always believed that Kieran was

forced into marriage. He didn’t care about their wedding, let alone a ring, so when they divorced, to

vent her anger, she took off the wedding ring and threw it out the

window onto the lawn..

But she never thought that it was actually handmade by him…

Julie suddenly felt at a loss.