Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 183

“Julie!” Daphne called out as she chased after her.

Lionel, left with no choice, pulled his hoodie over his head, picked up his shoes, and followed.

When did he start fetching shoes for other people’s wives?

Daphne followed Julie, calling her name. She watched as Julie walked past the operating room and

stopped outside.

“Is this the patient from the explosion at the old factory at Enchanted Pathway?” The doctor asked the

nurse at the entrance of the operating room.

The nurse nodded, her expression serious.

“Has the victim’s identity been confirmed?” The doctor asked.

“The victim is six foot two, the CEO of Simpo Co…” The nurse began to reply.

Before she could finish, Julie collapsed by the bedside, startling the nurse and the doctor.

Daphne, who was about to come over, was shaking her head in disbelief. “No way… It can’t be…”

“The victim has been burned beyond recognition…”, The nurse gently reminded Julie, whose hand was

resting on the edge of the white bedsheet.

She didn’t say a word, but tears kept falling like pearls off a broken string.

Her hand remained on the sheet, but she didn’t lift it.

Her hands were trembling, the fingertips of the hand gripping the sheet turning white. Tears streamed

down her face.

She bit her lower lip until the last bit of color faded.

Seeing Julie like this broke Daphne’s heart. After all, the victim was the man Julie loved the most…

“Julie…” Daphne choked out, stepping forward to support Julie. She comforted her gently, stroking her

back.

“We don’t have to look anymore, Julie… okay?” Daphne said, freeing one hand to gently hold the one

gripping the sheet.

“No… It’s not him!!” Julie growled out. Ignoring Daphne’s attempt to stop her, she yanked off the sheet

covering the body.

A strong smell of blood hit their noses instantly. Daphne quickly turned her face away. She couldn’t

bear to face this scene, let alone look at the charred body of Kieran.

Seeing the unrecognizable man didn’t stop the tears welling up in Julie’s eyes. She tried to touch his

face with her trembling fingers, but she couldn’t.

“No, I don’t believe it!” Julie shook her head. She grabbed Daphne, her voice hoarse as if someone

was choking her. “Daphne, tell me it’s not him, right?”

Daphne shook her head, unable to utter a word.

Watching Daphne’s expression, Julie suddenly lost all her strength. Turning back to the man on the

bed, she dug her nails into her palm. The pain kept her awake, but the more awake she was, the less

she wanted to face reality.

Her mind was filled with memories of him, playing out like a slideshow.

She had imagined countless endings, but she never thought it would end like this. She had loved him.

She was willing to give everything for him, even her own life. She had also hated him, hoping he could

die in place of her child.

She was torn between love and hate, struggling on the edge of the abyss. She blamed him for pushing

her into the abyss, but she forgot that she didn’t want to climb out.

Because of the past falls, she became afraid…

But it wasn’t until this moment that she realized what she was truly afraid of.

It was just a dream, right?

When she woke up, she would find herself still in the company’s restroom. She had just had a big fight

with him…

She wouldn’t be troubled anymore. She should apologize to him; tell him personally that she forgave

him. She should tell him how much she loved him.

3

She shouldn’t dwell on their past mistakes, nor should she punish each other for them. She should

cherish every moment.

The ending shouldn’t be like this…

It’s said that when a person is extremely sad, the words they want to say become inexpressible. It feels

like a fishbone stuck in the throat…

Tears flowed uncontrollably. Though her gaze was fixed on the body on the bed, her eyes were empty.

Daphne was so heartbroken that words couldn’t describe it. She stepped forward gingerly, trying to call

Julie’s name, but received no response. Julie was like a lifeless puppet.

Helpless, Daphne could only stay with Julie, sharing her pain.

Lionel was about to step forward, but the shoes were snatched from his hand.

“You once said you wouldn’t cry for me even if I died. I guess your tears were meant for someone else,”

a familiar voice suddenly sounded beside Julie.

Like a puppet, Julie turned her head mechanically at the sound.

Kieran, holding her shoes in one hand, walked up to her, gently wiping away her tears with the other.

“Little liar. Didn’t we agree not to cry?”

He put the shoes on the floor, but Julie didn’t react. She just stood there stiffly, her nose sniffling. She

even started crying harder.

Kieran handed the shoes back to Lionel helplessly, then bent down to pick up the rigid little woman and

headed for the ward.

10:59

Lionel was speechless.

Was he just a shoe-fetcher?

“Mr. Hernandez isn’t dead?” Daphne asked in shock, watching Julie and Kieran’s retreating figures.

Lionel smirked, looking at the shoes in his hand. “He’s not dead!”

“That’s great!” An excited Daphne threw herself into Lionel’s arms, shouting in celebration.

Lionel couldn’t help but laugh.

After Daphne calmed down a bit, she turned to the nurse. “If Mr. Hernandez is alive, then who is this

person? Didn’t you say he was six foot two and the CEO of Simpo Co.?”

The nurse looked at Daphne somewhat awkwardly. “I… I didn’t finish. I meant to say that this person

was brought in by the CEO of Simpo Co., but we don’t know his identity…”

Daphne went silent.

Poor Julie had cried so needlessly!

Julie kept crying, nonstop.

From the initial despair, to the later grievances, to the present relief and joy.

Kieran gently laid her on the hospital bed, picked up a cotton swab to tend to the wound left on the

back of her hand from the 1.V., and with a smile filled with fondness and helplessness said, “Look, I’m

not injured, am 1? Why are you crying? If you don’t want me to…”

Before he could finish, Mrs. Hernandez who was sitting by the bed suddenly reached out, grabbed his

face and shut him up with a kiss.

Her action was hasty and unskilled.

It was more like a symbolic punishment and a chaotic expression of love.

After going through a life and death challenge, she finally understood a truth that Kieran had known

long ago.

Only by being alive, can one talk about love. Life is the prerequisite and foundation for all emotions.

In the past, she was always torn between loving him and hating him, mentally conflicted. It was not until

death almost separated them that she realized, loving someone is a very selfish and stupid act.

Everyone who falls in love is stupid. They just love another person in their own way, foolishly wanting to

possess and protect them, without ever asking if that’s what the other person needs. Like today, if Julie

could choose, she would definitely not let Kieran come to save her. Even if such a choice would make

Kieran feel guilty for a lifetime, she would still make this choice without hesitation.

Suddenly, she remembered what Julien once told her. She said, “Julie, a person’s luck is limited, and

your luck was exhausted the moment you met Kieran.

This time, Julie believed without a doubt.

In the past, she hated herself for loving Kieran too much, and for her love never being reciprocated.

However, if someone is willing to give up all their wealth and life for you, if this is not love, then what is

it?

Thinking of this, Julie suddenly pushed Kieran away.

Kieran, who was about to deeply kiss her, was caught off guard and retreated two steps.

He frowned at Mrs. Hernandez.

“Where’s the money?” Julie asked Kieran eagerly, “Where’s the share transfer contract? Did Davina

really take the contract for notarization?”

“…” Kieran gently wiped the corner of his lips and looked at Julie, “Have I lost my charm, or have you

become greedier than before?”

Embarrassed, Julie smiled, “I’m just concerned about the results of your hard work over the years…”

“For you, I’m willing to give up everything.” He sat next to her, somewhat displeased, pulled her hand,

and continued to wipe the bloodstain with a cotton swab, “From now on, I’ll be a total pauper. You

support me! I’m not picky about food, don’t eat much, can work, and can keep you company in bed!”

Julie was speechless.

She pulled her hand back. Her brain finally started functioning normally. She was a lawyer!

“According to the Contract Law, if a contract is reached due to serious misunderstanding, or if the

conditions of the contract are obviously unfair, such as one party using fraud, coercion or taking

advantage of the other’s difficulties to make them sign the contract against their true intentions, then

the victim has the right to request the court or arbitration institution to change or cancel the contract…”

Mr. Hernandez’s face darkened.

Julie was indeed his good student.

“Could you also remind me what the Marriage Law stipulates about sexual obligations between

spouses?” Kieran raised an eyebrow and asked Julie. Looking at Kieran’s serious expression with a

hint of smugness, Julie thought for a moment, and then replied seriously, “According to the Marriage

Law, if a couple is forced to marry, the forced party can request to annul the marriage. The request to

annul the marriage by the party under duress should be made within one year from the date of

marriage registration. If the party whose personal freedom is illegally restricted requests the marriage

to be annulled, it should be made within one year from the day the freedom is restored.”

“So Mrs. Hernandez wants to divorce me?” Kieran raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of danger.

This time, Julie shook her head quickly, “No divorce! Never, even if it kills me!”