Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 71

Julie may be strapped for cash right now, but she didn’t take that gift card again.

She replied, “Since Ivan is such a cutie, I’ll chat with you for free once”

Then, she sent a smiley–face emoji

Julie was bending over to pick up her shoes, but a pair of large hands snatched them as her hand

touched the heels.

Julie lifted her head and accidentally bumped it against the table, grimacing with pain

She rubbed her head, lifted it, and, to her surprise, Kieran was squatting in front of her

He was kneeling on one knee, holding her high heels in one hand and gently resting the other on her

ankle, slipping the shoes onto her feet Julie was stunned for a second. Kieran took the other shoe Just

as he was pleased with Julie’s cooperation, she suddenly recorded as if startled

Kieran didn’t force her He put down the shoe and stood up.

“Why are you still working overtime so late?” He asked.

Tm off now Julie shoved her feet into her shoes, turned off her computer, and stood up

Maybe because she had been sitting for too long, she felt dizzy as soon as she stood up. She

accidentally twisted her ankle.

Kieran reacted quickly and held her steady.

Thank you, Mr. Hernandez She said, politely pulling her hand out of his.

Then she turned around and limped her way to the elevator.

Julie was frowning. Once in the elevator, she quickly pressed the close button.

Surprisingly, Kieran let her go just like that this time. Who knew if he had other things to attend to?

Anyway, he didn’t get in the elevator with Julie

Julie finally breathed a sigh of relief. There shouldn’t be anyone else in the company at this time.

She just twisted her ankle. Why did it hurt so badly?

Once she confirmed no one else was in the elevator, Julie rolled up her pant leg and looked at her

ankle.

It didn’t feel anything when she twisted her ankle. Now, looking down, she realized that her whole ankle

had swollen up in just a short while. The middle part was badly swollen and red.

Julie leaned against the wall helplessly, planning to go out and buy some medicine later

When she reached the first floor and the elevator door opened, Julie was about to step out when a pair

of men’s slippers suddenly fell in front of her.

Julie looked up and saw the man in front of her.

He was clearly in the office just now How did he get downstairs before her?

Julie looked at the pair of men’s slippers placed in front of her, then at her swollen ankle, and without

pretence, she accepted. She took off her heels, put on the slippers, bent down to pick up her shoes

and headed for the door.

“Aren’t you going to say thank you?” The man leaned lazily against the elevator door, watching Julie’s

retreating figure, looking like he was expecting some

praise

Julie stopped in her tracks, turned to look at Kieran, and gave a small smile, “I got hurt on the job. I

didn’t ask you for compensation, and I’m already very generous”

What she meant was that Mr. Hernandez giving her slippers was a given.

Kieran casually walked over to Julie, then extended his hand to her, “Let’s go. Out of humanitarian

concern, I should take you to the hospital”

“No need.” Julie walked around Kieran and headed for the door.

Kieran kept following her from behind.

Earlier in the office, Julie had no idea it was raining outside.

She stood at the door waiting for a taxi. Kieran was standing behind her

Neither of them fiad an umbrella Kieran wasn’t wearing a coat, just a light grey shirt.

Julie stood in front, hailing a cab. The rain fell on her arm, soaking her entire sleeve

Without thinking Julie glanced back at the man leaning against the pillar behind her. She didn’t know

why he came out and stood in the rain with her

The rain fell on the man His grey shirt was soaked, showing the shape of his muscles, which were

particularly eye–catching in the deep night.

The man didnt speak, just played with his phone casually

Julie retracted her gaze and focused on hailing a cab

Finally, when a taxi came, she quickly opened the door and hurriedly arrived.

“Oakwood Avenue”

However, Kieran had somehow already gotten into the passenger seat. He told the driver, “Whispering

Pines Hospital”

Originally, Julie was just planning to buy medicine at the pharmacy

-She didn’t know why this man, who had once broken her heart completely, was now treating her so

well.

Julie told the driver, “I don’t do carpooling”

Kieran put down his phone, turned his head and smiled, “Don’t make it hard for the driver. Driving in the

rain is not easy”

This guy was really too much.

The driver had already started the car. Whispering Pines Hospital was not far from Simpo Co

Soon, the driver parked in front of Whispering Pines Hospital.

Before opening the car door, Kieran looked at Julie calmly and asked, “Do you want to get out of the

car yourself, or do you want me to carry you out?”

“I’m going to Oakwood Avenue”

“So you want me to carry you?” Saying that, he actually got out of the car and also opened Julie’s car

door.

Julie glanced at Kieran, who was blocking her way, and pulled the car door back twice, but Kieran’s

hand had firmly grasped the handle. Even with all her strength, the door didn’t budge.

Finally, Julie said, “If you don’t let go, how can I get out?”

Kieran sighed lightly, then bent down and lifted Julie out of the car.

Julie wanted to resist, but Kieran said, “Don’t move. If your ankle is fine after the check–up, I’ll let you

go. You said this is a work–related injury, so I have to take responsibility”

“I can walk,” Julie said firmly. The position she was in his arms was very stiff.

Kieran looked down at her. His star–like eyes locked onto hers, asking her, “Are you scared?”

“Scared of what?” Julie was as stiff as a board in Kieran’s arms.

He asked her, “Are you afraid to fall in love with me again?”

Kieran suddenly turned dead serious, catching Julie off guard.

After a bit, she finally collected herself. Looking at Kieran sincerely, she said, “There’s no chance for us

to love again.”

“There will be.”

He held her. Transparent raindrops trickled down his face, sliding down his prominent nose.

Julie glanced at his handsome chin, gently saying, “Kieran, I can’t love you again because I still love

you. I’m scared of your closeness because I love you,

so I want to avoid you. The more I love you, the more I hate you. Sometimes, I even wish we could go

down together. Even if I skinned you alive, it wouldn’t quench my hatred for you.”

She said this calmly but with emphasis, each word clear.

While she seemed calm on the surface, her heart was a storm.

Kieran held her at the entrance of the emergency room. The air seemed to freeze.

Their eyes met, filled with shared pain.

Julie always thought Kieran’s eyes hid a universe of depth and mystery, So she fell for him at first sight,

unable to extricate herself.

If she’d known she would hate him this much one day, she would rather have never met him.

If not for a doctor suddenly emerging from his office, Julie can’t imagine how their stare–off would have

ended

Kieran carried Julie into the doctor’s office.

She thought her ankle sprain was minor, but it needed a thick cast. Now she really couldn’t walk.

While Kieran was queueing for Julie’s meds, she left the hospital alone.

It was late.

Rainy days were Julie’s least favourite. She hated getting her shoes wet and the sudden sounds of

thunder.

Tonight’s lightning seemed to want to split open the entire sky.

Julie took a deep breath, took off her coat and wrapped it around her cast. She wanted to call a cab

with her phone, but there was no signal.

So she had to stand quietly at the hospital entrance, waiting for a taxi to pass.

Taxis were rage this late, especially in this downpour.

When Kieran came out to look for Julie, he saw her leaning against a big pillar at the hospital entrance,

standing on one foot. She had taken off her coat and wrapped it around her cast. She was looking

expectantly in the direction of the oncoming traffic.

Her clothes and hair were soaked, but she didn’t care.

Kieran wanted to go over to her, but he was stopped by Julie’s words echoing in his ear. “The more I

love you, the more I hate you”

In the end, Kieran stopped, only watching Julie’s figure from afar.

Kieran took out his phone and called two taxis.

Seeing a taxi coming, Julie waved happily.

Kieran got into the other one after seeing her limp into the taxi.

Follow her, Kieran said calmly.

Looking down at her cast, Julie was reminded of a night five years ago.

That night, like tonight, was pouring rain with thunder and lightning.

She would never forget how Kieran had calmly told the obstetrician to “save Bertha“.

Suddenly, the air in the taxi felt suffocating. So, she rolled down the window, letting fresh air in

At this moment, Julie wanted to go home, curl up and sleep.

But, she didn’t expect that when she got home, she found her key wouldn’t turn the lock.