Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 98

Kieran pressed Julie’s face into his chest, making her listen to his strong heartbeat

His steady breath flowed from above, and Julie felt her own heart begin to race. Her hands were tightly pinned to her chest, unable to move

Julie opened her mouth and bit down on Kieran’s chest.

She thought he was pretending to sleep, and that’s why she bit him so hard.

“Little wildcat..” Kieran gently stroked her hair, saying, “Go to sleep. I’m a bit tired. If you keep squirming around, I’m afraid something might actually happen.”

“Then go sleep in your own room.” Julie’s tone softened. She knew that fighting fire with fire wouldn’t work on Kieran.

However, she didn’t know that a gentle approach was still ineffective. Even though her tone softened, Kieran had no intention of letting her go.

He hugged Julie tightly. His voice sounded really tired. “Be good, let me hold you”

With that, his actions became gentler. He was holding her as if she were a precious treasure

His voice was already fatally attractive to Julie. Hearing him say this made her heart seem to skip a beat.

“Kieran.”

Julie called out but got no response.

She firmly called out again, “Kieran “

Kieran reached out and turned off the bedside lamp.

“Answer a question for me first.” In the dark, Julie finally mustered the courage to look up at Kieran.

“Mmm.” His gentle voice came from above, sounding genuinely tired.

“The person who said you were her brother-in-law in the video call is she a relative of Bertha?” Jule knew that, although Bertha was an orphan, she had always been looking for her relatives.

Therefore, when she heard someone calling Kieran ‘brother-in-law, her first reaction was that the softly spoken woman must have something to do with Bertha In her memory. Bertha was a very gentle person

Kieran knew Julie would ask this question.

Hearing her somewhat nervous and cautious inquiry, Kieran gave her a positive response.

“Yes. Her name is Camilla.”

“Camilla… Julie whispered. What a nice name

She suddenly remembered Bertha’s eyes staring at her before she died.

Bertha was very beautiful, with a completely different beauty from Julie. Daphne once described Julie’s beauty as a pearl, because only those with the patience to open the shell could see her stunning beauty. But Bertha’s beauty was apparent, like a diamond. Even if placed among ordinary stones, her dazzling light couldn’t be overlooked.

Therefore, when Julie found out that Kieran had betrayed her and turned to Bertha, she had mixed feelings, but she could understand Kieran’s choice. After all, everyone pursued beauty. Otherwise, she

wouldn’t have pursued Kieran so desperately.

After all that happened, Julie only remembered Bertha’s clear eyes looking at her before she died. It was as if she had never been tainted by the world.

A thunderclap came from outside the window, scaring Julie into tightly gripping the man beside her.

This sudden embrace took Kieran by surprise. He suddenly remembered how, in past thunderstorms, Julie would always cling tightly to him, treating him as a lifesaver and never letting go.

It was as if she were in the sea, on the verge of drowning, and he was her only lifesaving float.

Every time there was a thunderstorm, Kieran would think of Julie who was afraid of thunder.

He knew Julie was afraid of thunderstorms because, many years ago, on a stormy night, she lost her parents and her only sister became a vegetable. And on the day she gave birth, he personally said he would choose to save Bertha’s child.

Kieran gently patted Julie’s back, soothing her

It was just like the nights that they spent together many years ago.

Julie’s eyes suddenly became moist

She remembered the days she spent with Kieran, the nights they spent together, and the things they said and did

Outside the window, the thunder drowned out all the noise, making the entire room unusually quiet. So quiet that the sound of her sniffling was clearly audible.

Julie’s heart ached more and more as she remembered the past. She didnt know if it was the rainy night that made her vulnerable, or Kieran’s presence that made her so sentimental.

She gently leaned into his arms, no longer thinking about resisting, and said in a haze. “Tell me, how did we end up like this?”

Kieran knew Julle wasn’t really expecting an answer, so he just kept holding her.

Julie coveting this familiar embrace, stopped struggling.

His voice suddenly came from above her head. He said, “This is good too. You’re in my arms, and I’m in your heart.”

Perhaps his embrace was too comforting, or perhaps she was really tired, but Julie eventually fell asleep in his arms, not even the thunder outside could wake her

It was a dreamless night, and Julie slept very well

Julie was awakened by the alarm clock. Because the Gilded Gate Residences were a bit far from where she worked, Julie set her alarm for 6:50.

When the alarm went off, Julie’s head was a bit muddled as she reached out to find her phone

However, a strong arm came over her shoulder and, following her fingers, found the phone. The hand turned off the alarm and then rested on her waist Kieran’s head was on Julie’s back. His eager breath successfully dispelled any remaining sleepiness Julie had

She suddenly turned around to look at Kieran behind her. What happened last night suddenly came back to her.

Julie tried to move his hand. Somehow, they ended up sleeping in the same bed last night.

“It’s still early” Kierans voice rang in her ear.

I’ll make breakfast Julie found an excuse.

However, Kieran firmly refused. He said, “We’ll go out for breakfast later. Sleep a little more.”

In Julies mind. Kieran was not the type to sleep in. Once awake, he’d be up and about. But why was he insisting on sleeping now?

“Go on and sleep. I’ll go check on Ivan.”

“He’s not waking up until eight. Don’t bother him”

“How do you know he’s not getting up until eight?” Julie turned around, not expecting him to suddenly get close.

So, as she turned, her lips brushed against his.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Julie’s eyes widened in surprise as she dumbly watched the man’s deep eyes slowly open He was staring at her

“Um…uh…”

He suddenly bent down and lightly kissed her lips. It was a very shallow kiss, just a brief touch of the lips.

“That’s me giving it back. Don’t go stealing kisses from me, especially in the morning”

“That was

Before she could finish, he bent down and kissed her again. ‘Dont talk back to me, especially in the morning*

“Hey!”

“Shhhh. Either sleep or keep kissing.” He put a finger to her lips, and she promptly bit that finger

“What? I kiss you, and you bite me?” He looked expressionless at his finger held in her mouth. The feeling of her mouth around it made his heart flutter. For some reason, Julie felt Kieran’s gaze become a bit strange.

She let go of his finger and pushed him away. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

But he reached out and pulled her back. “Behave; don’t move, don’t make me do something excessive.”

It was he who made the first move and who provoked her first. How was she making him do something?

“Should I sue you while I’m in court today?”

“For sexual harassment? Kieran opened his eyes and gently touched her nose. “Let’s see how you defend yourself. I tell the judge honestly, it was me who shamelessly climbed into your bed, kissed you, held you, and then you bit me.”

Julie felt she didn’t need to be teased like this first thing in the morning.

So she bit his shoulder, leaving a row of deep and shallow teeth marks without any hesitation.

Then she looked at Kieran and spoke with satisfaction. “Not only did I bite you I left necessary evidence!”

After that, she asked him grumpily. “Are you going to let go?”

What if I don’t let go? What will you do, bite me a few more times?” His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Next time, remember to bite somewhere else.” “I hope you have some self-respect.”

He feigned a hurt expression and sighed. “How did your attitude change so quickly? Did you forget about last night’s tenderness after waking up?” Julie didn’t answer, as she too began to recall the intimacy between them last night.

Why did she feel her heart was starting to get out of control?