Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 195

After getting Ivan all dolled up, Julie and Daphne glanced at their watches and realized it was almost

time for their rendezvous. So, Julie and Daphne took Ivan and headed to the restaurant a bit early.

“Julie, you and my godson just chill at this table, if things get too heavy,”

“I’ll jump in to help!” Ivan said, glancing at the menu while talking to Daphne.

Daphne and Ivan high-fived in agreement, “You’re awesome!”

“Fix your collar!” Julie stood up to fix Daphne’s outfit.

Daphne gave Julie a bear hug, saying, “Darling, if the guy turns out to be a total dog, come over and

pretend to be my true love, okay?”

“Sorry. I just don’t swing that way.” Julie patted Daphne’s shoulder, “Go get ’em, brave girl!”

“Hold the fort!” Daphne, clutching her newly bought mini skirt, gracefully walked over to the table next

door and ordered a lemonade.

Truth be told, Daphne wasn’t too hopeful about this blind date. She had read too many horror stories

online and was pretty much prepared for the worst.

Yet, to her surprise, the guy her mom’s friend set her up with wasn’t bad at all.

He was dressed casually in a white shirt, a dark grey blazer and black slacks. Not exactly a knockout,

but he was neat and tidy. He seemed to recognize Daphne and gave her a slight smile.

Then he walked over to Daphne, holding a single red rose, and offered it to her like a true gentleman.

One rose, a polite gesture, not too over the top.

Based on the first impression, Daphne was quite pleased with him.

Julie also quietly observed the man across Daphne, he was way more promising than her last blind

date.

“Hello, Ms. Daphne, I’m Nigel Ted.” The man flashed a set of pearly whites as he spoke, instantly

winning brownie points.

“Hi, I’m Daphne.” She took the rose from him, giving him a slight smile. “Thank you.”

Julie thought it was a good start. She was about to order when she saw Ivan engrossed in his phone.

“Ivan, what are you doing?” Julie asked curiously.

“I’m chasing a girl!” Ivan said proudly.

“What?” Julie looked over and saw Ivan trying to add Julien as a friend on his phone.

Julie thought for a moment, and then said to Ivan, “Don’t you think you’re a bit too young for this?”

“Hmm. Mommy knows best!”

“So, you and Julien?”

“I’m just getting in line. Who knows if she and my godfather might break up?” He suddenly looked

hopeful and reached out to Julie, “Mommy, I heard godmother say you know Julien, right?”

Julie nodded, a bit confused. The kid had only met Julien once when Julie was kidnapped, how did he

become so fond of her already? But then she remembered that the little guy called her mommy the first

time they met. That didn’t seem so weird anymore.

She reluctantly took out her phone, but instead of giving it to Ivan, she asked, “Can you tell me why you

like Julien so much?”

“She’s cool! She can protect me!”

This unique perspective left Julie speechless.

Ivan took Julie’s phone. “Thank you, mommy!”

Julie knew that based on Julien’s personality, the kid was in for a disappointment, so she didn’t stop

him. It might be more effective to talk to him after he got rejected.

So Julie simply turned to look at Daphne and Nigel. But to her surprise, they were suddenly acting quite

chummy. They were chatting away like old friends, so much so that anyone who didn’t know better

might think they were a couple!

Julie was taken aback. She didn’t expect Daphne to warm up to her blind date so quickly. Just as Julie

thought Daphne was quite satisfied with Nigel, she saw Daphne actually taking the initiative to hold his

hand. Looks like she really liked him!

However, the truth was, Daphne was patting Nigel’s hand in sympathy, asking him, “Mr. Ted, be honest,

do you have some sort of problem in the bedroom?”

Nigel gave Daphne an embarrassed look, then smiled, “You misunderstood, I’m perfectly normal.”

“Mr. Ted, don’t get me wrong. I think it’s okay, modern life is stressful! Having issues in that department

is quite normal. Anyway, you don’t mind my past. I think you’re very honest, which is a good thing. If

you really have problems in the sack, no worries, I know a great doctor.”

Seeing that Daphne was about to go off on a tangent, Nigel quickly held her hand, explaining, “I’m

perfectly normal, you can rest assured. Like I said, I had two girlfriends and we didn’t sleep together

because I believe in not rushing into things. I think people should have principles, maybe I just didn’t

think they were the right ones for me!”

He looked at Daphne seriously, “Although I have my own principles about this, what I just said was

from the heart. I don’t mind about Ms. Daphne’s past, given the chance, I’d rather get to know you in

my own way, not through rumors and gossip.”

“Okay, so you’ve seen the tabloids?” Daphne had a hunch when Nigel mentioned rumors and gossip.

Nigel laughed, “I’ve heard that the media can be quite imaginative. If you don’t mind, I’d rather hear

your story from you when the time is right.”

Daphne was actually quite interested in such a gentlemanly and elegant man. It wasn’t until they were

holding hands that she realized it. She quickly pulled her hand back, then looked at Nigel with a full

smile and said, “Of course, if I have the chance, I would also like to get to know Mr. Ted personally.

Nice to meet you!”

“No need to be so formal. I’ll call you Daphne, and you can call me Nigel, okay?” He proposed.

Daphne immediately agreed happily.

The meal was quite enjoyable. Nigel works in investment and financial management and had work in

the afternoon. After the meal, he insisted on taking Daphne home, but she declined, saying she had

made plans with friends. So she sent Nigel to his car.

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10:45

Chapter 195

Only after Nigel had turned around and left did Daphne run over to Julie and put her arms around her

shoulders. “What do you think of Nigel?”

“You’re the one who held his hand. Why don’t you tell me what you think of him?” Julie retorted.

Daphne reminisced. “He’s a good guy, and he doesn’t mind my past relationships. I think I can try

dating him.”

“You need to get to know him more to understand his true character. But I have to warn you.”

“What?” Daphne looked at Julie, puzzled.

Julie pointed to the billboard across the street and said, “Are you sure you’ve cleared things up with the

guy on the billboard?”

Seeing Ivan beside Julie, Daphne had been holding back for a long time but ultimately didn’t dare to

mention the one-night stand. She looked at Julie and said, “I’ve seen ugly ducklings turn into swans,

but I’ve never seen a pheasant turn into a phoenix. The ugly duckling can become a swan because it

was a swan to begin with. Cinderella could marry the prince because she was from a wealthy family.

Just like you and Mr. Hernandez, you two were meant to be. But Mr. Lionel and I are not suitable.”

Rejecting herself? Although Julie thought Daphne’s thinking was wrong, she didn’t refute her. Because

she understood, if her own financial condition was not good, she might not have the courage to pursue

Kieran for so many years.

The economic foundation determines the superstructure. This saying is not without reason.

But she sincerely said to Daphne, “Daphne, I think your analysis is quite reasonable. But you only

considered the status of the two people and forgot to consider your own feelings. In your heart, what

kind of person is Mr. Lionel?”

“He’s got a good personality, a good body, that’s it.”

“What?” Ivan, who had been playing with his phone, suddenly looked up at Daphne, “Godmother, do all

you girls like guys with good personalities and good bodies?”

Julie gave Daphne a look.

Daphne quickly laughed and explained to the little guy, “I mean he’s good-tempered, has a nice

personality!”

“Exactly, that’s what she meant.” Julie gently touched Ivan’s head.

Ivan seemed a bit confused, then he nodded, “No wonder Kerry is always so popular.”

“Kerry is indeed a heartthrob!” Daphne laughed happily as she dialed her mom’s number.

Julie glanced at the time on her phone, worried that Kieran might be busy, so she chose to text him,

“We’re done here, should I take Ivan home first?”

“Bring Ivan to the office! And bring me lunch.” Kieran replied quickly.

Julie didn’t expect it was so late, and Kieran hadn’t eaten yet.

So, after saying goodbye to Daphne, Julie gave Kieran a call..

“What do you want to eat?”

“Who else could it be but you?” Kieran’s voice came from the other end of the phone.

Julie was taken aback, unsure how to respond. Then the man’s voice came over the phone again, “Karl

actually asked me who has the final say on hiring a secretary.” So he was answering Karl’s question

just now, not hers?

Julie stood in place, stunned.

“What did you just ask me?”

“Nothing.”

“Could you bring me a salad? You come to the office. I have some news to tell you.” The man finished

speaking, hung up the phone, the smile on his lips deepening.