Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 52

Julie actually adored kids and had daydreamed about what she and Kieran’s child would look like. Although she figured it would be better if their child Inherited more of Kieran’s traits, the thought still filled her with excitement.

However, with the collapse of her failed marriage, her once soft heart shattered into pieces. So when a cute little boy with a baseball cap popped up in front of her, her heart almost skipped a beat.

The kid was wearing a baseball cap, and all she could see were his feet in flats.

At that moment, Julie was standing at the entrance of the Noblewood Retreat villa, blocking the path of Ivan

He looked up along Julie’s legs, and finally had to remove his cap to see who was standing in front of him. She was wearing an off–shoulder white dress with lace embroidered on it. The dress was designed fabulously, and dazzling rhinestones were on her pure white flats.

To Ivan, the makeup–free Julie looked stunningly beautiful.

She look a second look at the little boy and was about to leave, when Ivan suddenly let go of his intention to find his dad and grabbed Julie’s dress.

Julie stopped, looked down at the child, frowned, then squatted down and touched his head. “Do you want to get in this villa?”

Even though Ivan was young, he could tell that the beauty in front of him didn’t seem to like this place much. So, he decisively shook his head, saying, “My home is next door.”

“Ivan…” A nanny in her forties behind him tried to talk but was cut off by Ivan. “Shush or I’ll get your boss to fire you! Always nagging!”

Julie didn’t know whether to continue talking or not. The kid sure had a temper.

Ivan extended his little chubby hand, and touched Julie’s hand. A cute little smile emerged showing his tiny canine teeth. “Hey, beauty, I bet you don’t have a boyfriend. Wanna come home with me and be my girl?”

This was the first time Julie was hit on by a kid. Totally forgetting that she was at the entrance of Kieran’s villa, she smiled at the child and said, “You think we are a good match?”

“Sure we are! I can do anything! If not, you can be with my dad, and I can be with you!” The child winked at Julie, so cute that she couldn’t help but want to pinch him.

The nanny behind didn’t dare to step forward, not because she was scared by Ivan’s words, but because this was the first time the whimsical little master was being so friendly to a woman.

All the previous nannies, regardless of their appearance or body shape, were all scared away by Ivan without exception.

Julie couldn’t help but touch the little boy’s face and said, “If I was with your dad, your mom might not agree.

“My dad’s not good–looking and not skilled. He couldn’t find me a mom.” Ivan liked the smell of Julie, light and faint. Although he was too young to describe it, in his heart, he had already decided that his encounter with Julie was love at first sight, just like on TV!

He looked at Julie carefully and asked, “Are you married?”

Julie met such a lively and cute child for the first time. She felt a bit sad, but managed to squeeze out a smile and said, “I am married.”

“Did you marry the man who lives here?” Ivan pointed to the villa behind Julie, where Kieran was.

Julie figured, since Ivan lives next door, it made sense that he knew Kieran. She shook her head, then looked at Ivan with meaning and said, “The man here doesn’t like children, you better not come here too often.”

In Julie’s memory, Kieran didn’t like children.

Hearing this, Ivan felt a chill in his heart. He held Julie’s hand, acting mature. “Babe, let me tell you, I come here often. The guy here is great, handsome, rich, and super smart! He’s raising a kid, but that kid and I get along really well. He’s as tall as me, as handsome as me, and even more sensible than me! He won’t drag you down! If you get divorced, you should marry this guy!”

Ivan praised Kieran and himself to the skies, fearing that he might’ve left a bad impression on Julie.

Through Ivan’s description, Julie remembered that Kieran was still inside. She couldn’t imagine how awkward she would feel when she saw Kieran later. so it would be better to run away. Julie touched Ivan’s face and quickly stood up. “See you, kiddo!”

She just left. Did he say something wrong? Ivan looked sad and ran after Julie, shouting as he ran. “Beautiful lady, you haven’t told me your name yet!”

*Julie “Somehow, Julie stopped and told the little boy her name.

Ivan was satisfied, held Julie’s hand, puckered his tender little mouth, and kissed the back of Julie’s hand, then said. “Then I’ll call you Mama Julie!”

Julie smiled helplessly and denied, “No, it’s…”

Ivan quickly took out a small business card from his pocket and handed it to Julie, his tender voice saying, “Mama Julie, you must call me, you must!” Julie looked down at the card. On it was written ‘Ivan in a flamboyant font, along with a phone number. He was so bossy at such a young age, yet Julie couldn’t dislike him

The little boy looked at her seriously and said, ‘Marna Julie, you’re the first person I’ve given my card to!”

“Ivan, your father is looking for you!” The forty–something woman behind him, holding a phone in her hand, apparently had received instructions. Julie didn’t waste any more time, she nodded at Ivan and vanished at the entrance of Noblewood Retreat.

Ivan was humming a tune, twirling his hat in his hand, and looking at the maid with excitement, “Where’s Kerry?”

“Kerry… Mr. Hernandez is expecting you” The maid spoke too quickly and nearly called her boss by his name like Ivan did.

Ivan jauntily walked into the mansion. Kieran was standing by the floor–to–ceiling windows, holding a cup of coffee, his gaze intense. If it wasn’t for this

little guy showing up, Julie wouldn’t have left so easily.

Excited, Ivan ran over and hugged Kieran’s leg so suddenly that Kieran almost spilled his coffee.

“Kerry, can you gel me a nanny?” Ivan looked up at Kieran excitedly

What the hell?

“Who was it that said if I got you a nanny, I’d be out of line?” Kieran handed his coffee to the butler next to him, then bent down to pick up the little guy. He plopped him on the couch, looked down at him, and

asked, “What’s your game now?”

The little guy took out his phone like it was a treasure, showing off a picture he had just taken of Julie’s back. He handed the phone to Kieran and said. “Kerry, get her to be my nanny! I promise I won’t make trouble! I swear!”

He understood that the previous nannies had been scared off by him. Ivan had earned his reputation.

Kieran looked at the picture that Ivan treated like a treasure, and suddenly smiled, a dark smile.

After leaving Noblewood Retreat, Julie dialed Daphne’s number on the side of the road. Luckily, she was smart and had taken a few tens of dollars from Kieran’s wallet before leaving.

Daphne picked up the phone quickly. “Hello?”

“Daphne, where are you?”

“Oh my god, you’re still alive?‘ Daphne’s surprised voice came from the other end of the phone.

Julie frowned and then heard Daphne say, “Hurry up and rescue me, I’m at the restaurant we ate at last night, room 23 on the 23rd floor. Kieran’s people locked me up all night. You’re out there enjoying your freedom, but I almost died, you know?”

Julie braced herself, took a taxi to the hotel and got Daphne out.

Only then did she ask, “What happened after I got drunk last night…

“Don’t ask me. You’ll cry if you knew the truth, really.” Daphne looked at Julie. “After Kieran took you away last night, I went out to find you, but Kieran’s men took me straight to the hotel. They didn’t let me out all night. I called you but you didn’t pick up. Seeing how forward you were with him last night, I was really afraid Kieran would call me to identify your body today”

She almost got it on with Kieran last night? Julie couldn’t remember anything. She rubbed her head, frustrated, and started banging her head against the

wall

To distract Julie, Daphne put her hand on Julie’s forehead and said, “Don’t worry, I have some good news for you. Porter has opened a law firm and is hiring. I’ve already inquired about their situation. You may not have much practical experience, but you’ve kept your lawyer’s license all these years. Porter said if you don’t mind, you can start as an intern. The salary is a bit low, but the benefits are great. Do you want to give it a shot…”

“Daphne…” Julie looked at Daphne a little uncomfortably.

Even if Julie didn’t say anything, Daphne could guess what she wanted to say. Daphne looked at her with some disappointment. “You can’t give up on your career in law because of Kieran, right? Some grudges, a few years is enough. Why make yourself miserable? Lawyers make good money, and you can help Sansa too, you…

“Daphne, thank you. I just wanted to say thank you.” Julie suddenly interrupted Daphne.

Daphne’s gaze froze, then after a few seconds, she finally smiled. “Then I’ll contact Porter now!”