Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 235

“Parents?” Adeline chuckled coldly, devoid of emotion. “Are you asking about my biological parents, or the ones who dumped me in the trash can?”

Elliot remained silent.

At Feliz Gastro House.

The information Elliot had shared wasn’t immediately passed on to Daphne by Julie. Instead, she began scouring the internet for news about Chris.

As she was deep in her reading, her phone suddenly buzzed.

The number was one she had jotted down in Kieran’s office earlier. It was Kyle’s number. Kyle calling at this time puzzled Julie, but she picked up the call anyway.

“Kyle.”

“Joyce, it’s me.” His voice was low and steady on the other end of the line.

Julie asked, “Kyle, what’s up?”

“Sansa…” Upon mentioning the name, Kyle paused before asking, “Which hospital is she in?”

“Kyle, you want to see her?”

“Mm.” His response was monotone, void of emotion. But Julie could imagine that he must be quite on edge right now.

After a moment, he asked, “Would you come with me? Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

If what Dylan had said was true, then Kyle already had a girlfriend before he met Sansa. But he ended up with Sansa, almost marrying her. After they broke up, disappeared.

he

Julie wasn’t sure whether Kyle was a good guy or not, and she didn’t know why he suddenly wanted to see Sansa – whether he was genuine, or had other motives. But she knew Kyle was stubborn. If he really wanted to see Sansa, he would, even if she tried to stop him.

So, Julie asked Kyle, “Where are you now?”

“I’m in the building opposite you. Black BMW, license plate ends with 23. Kyle provided detailed information.

Julie looked out the window and indeed, across the street, there was a parked black car. Although she couldn’t clearly see the license plate number, her gut told her it was Kyle’s car.

His previous response was ‘I’m in the building opposite you. He had already 100% confirmed his location, but redundantly asked her where she was again.

Julie told Kyle on the other end of the phone, “Hold on a sec, I need to go to the restroom.”

After hanging up, she turned towards the restroom.

Just as she stepped into the restroom, she dialed Kieran’s number.

As soon as he picked up, his voice came through, “A classic steak from Feliz Gastro House, thanks.”

“I have a strong feeling your wife won’t be joining you for lunch today,” Julie said.

Kieran didn’t respond, waiting for her to continue.

Julie said, “Kyle wants to see Sansa. I might accompany him to the hospital. He’s currently downstairs at your office building, in a black BMW. License plate ends in

23.”

“Alright, be careful on the road.” Without asking for more details, Kieran hung up and turned to Karl, “That black BMW, license plate ends in 23, have someone tail it. Make sure Julie is safe.”

In reality, this was the goal of Julie’s call to Kieran.

All in all, she didn’t completely trust Kyle at the moment. She felt that he was a far cry from the person she knew back in the day. He’d become more mature, complex, and unpredictable.

After hanging up, Julie left the restaurant. She saw the black BMW parked in front of the restaurant.

As she approached the car, ready to knock on the window, the passenger door was opened by a woman. It was Lisa, the woman she’d seen at the hotel the night before.

Julie got in the backseat, nodded at Lisa with a smile and said, “Thank you.”

The car started slowly, left the restaurant, and headed onto the road.

The car was extremely quiet, only filled with the sound of the soft piano music. Neither Kyle nor Julie initiated conversation.

It wasn’t until the car stopped at a red light that the driver finally broke the silence with an awkward question, Excuse me, Ms. Abraham. Which hospital are we going to?”

Oakhurst Hospital,” Julie answered.

Breaking the slightly awkward silence, Kyle’s gentle voice suddenly spoke, “Julie, do you not trust me anymore?”

What?” Julie looked back into Kyle’s eyes, confused and unsure of what he meant.

Kyle glanced at the car tailing them in the rearview mirror but didn’t elaborate. He turned to Julie and asked, “Do you think I would hurt you?”

Julie found the question dangerous, but after some thought, she replied without fear, “If someone wants to hurt another person, they must have their reasons. If you really want to hurt me, I hope you tell me why first.”

“I won’t hurt you.” He said firmly.

Julie froze for a moment, then laughed, “I won’t hurt you either.”

She brushed off the tense moment with a joke, then changed the subject, “Kyle, you’ve matured a lot since the old days. You’re still young, but I feel like you’ve changed.”

“Every day brings change to a person. Especially considering we haven’t seen each other in years,” Kyle said calmly.

Julie nodded, “I heard your business is doing well. Have you been all work and no play these years?”

“Starting a business isn’t easy.” He summarized his past and then asked, “And you, how have you been?”

After thinking for a moment, Julie answered, “It’s indescribable.”

I

Throughout the journey, the two chatted but didn’t exactly grow closer. They were like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time. Julie was no longer the little girl who dreamt of conquering the

world with her martial arts skills. And he was no longer the boy who would gently stroke her head, teaching her to be a sensible boy.

When the conversation between them became less one-sided and superficial, Julie finally turned to Kyle and asked, “Kyle, why did you name your law firm S&J International Law Firm? Does it have any special meaning?”

She wanted to indirectly verify whether what Dylan’s friend Kelly said was true that Kyle once had a girlfriend named Jessica.

However, when Julie asked this question, she didn’t expect that Kyle wouldn’t answer. Instead, he suddenly turned around and looked at her in a direct way, as if he was quietly observing.

Feeling a bit nervous under his gaze, Julie slowly lowered her head, not asking any further.

But then Kyle suddenly said, “Joyce, you and Sansa are a lot alike.”

“How so?” Julie casually replied, “She’s gentle, understanding, persistent in what she likes and always puts others before herself. I’m not even half as kind as her. The only consistent thing I’ve done from a young age is probably chasing after Kieran.”

“Exactly.” He confirmed, “You two have the same approach to digging deep into things.”

After Kyle beat around the bush, Julie understood that Kyle was warning her not to dig too deep.

At this point, a normal person would stay silent. But Julie had always had her own unique way of handling things.

So, after Kyle said that, she confidently lifted her head, smiled and subtly replied, “Seems like people who dig too deep don’t always end up well. My sister is an example. What do you think, Kyle?”

Kyle didn’t answer Julie’s question, but instead gently adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, gave a slight smile and said, “Joyce, you’ve grown up.”

He used this sentence to end their conversation. He didn’t speak again until the car stopped in front of Oakhurst Hospital. Julie then got out of the car and led Kyle

1.

Just as Dr. Brice finished examining Sansa, he saw Julie and Kyle appear at the door of the ward. He knew Julie but had never seen Kyle.

“Sansa’s condition is still the same.” Dr. Brice said to Julie.

Julie smiled at Dr. Brice and nodded, “Thanks for your hard work.”

“Who’s this?” Dr. Brice asked, looking at Kyle.

After a moment of hesitation, Julie didn’t know how to introduce Kyle.

But Kyle took the initiative and introduced himself to Dr. Brice, “I’m a friend of Sansa’s. My name is Kyle. Can I come in and see her now?”

“Of course,” Dr. Brice nodded.

Julie nodded in thanks to Dr. Brice and followed Kyle into the ward.

Sansa was lying on the hospital bed, pale and weak.

She lay there, with white sheets slightly raised. A breathing tube was inserted into her nose, and although her eyes were open, there was no expression in them, making her look like a corpse.

Julie clearly felt Kyle pause for a moment, then slowly walked up.

Lisa wanted to follow, but was waved off by Kyle.

Following behind Kyle, Julie watched him carefully.

She wanted to tell Kyle that Sansa had been like this for many years, but she couldn’t get the words out.

Instead, Kyle suddenly turned around and looked at her with a slightly deep gaze, “Julie, can I be alone with her for a while?”

Outside the ICU ward, there was a large transparent glass, so even from the outside, one could clearly see what was happening inside.

So Julie didn’t refuse Kyle’s request, but paused for a few seconds before turning around and leaving.

She knew the chances of Sansa waking up were slim, but she still held onto hope, expecting Kyle to have some influence on Sansa’s recovery…