Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 266

Julien was always on guard, especially against Hayden bringing up the past, but she never expected him to do it so blatantly and directly.

Thanks to her good memory, even though her actions when drunk were unpredictable, she could always recall every detail the next day.

So, she remembered that night very clearly.

“First, I don’t remember. Second, I won’t believe a word you say. So, there’s no need for discussion.” She tried to walk away, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

Julien was not short, but Hayden towered over her. Being pulled back like this, his chest was pressed against her ear.

His cool lips brushed against her ear, “I didn’t plan on discussing with you.”

“Then let go!” She tried to pull away from his grasp, but her efforts were in vain.

“How come you haven’t learned after all these years?” His magnetic voice seemed to bewitch her.

If he didn’t let go, she knew she wouldn’t be able to escape. She’d learned that lesson long ago.

“So when do you plan on letting go?” She maintained her position, not resisting, trying her best not to get used to such close contact.

Instead of answering her question, he bluntly asked, “What does it feel like now?”

“No feeling.” She replied coldly.

“And now?” His hand moved from her waist to her buttocks.

She was wearing tight jeans today, which accentuated her curves. When his hand covered her backside, Julien froze.

“What do you plan on doing next?” She asked, her voice strained.

“Still no feeling?” His seductive voice whispered into her ear, “That’s how you teased me that night.”

“Have I gone mad?” She said uncomfortably. She was a skilled liar, but only she knew how hollow her words were.

Julien’s hair had grown to shoulder-length. His large hand brushed her hair off her shoulder, revealing her smooth neck. Suddenly, he bent down and pressed his lips against her neck. Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Her cool neck, his warm lips.

Julien involuntarily stiffened, trying to push him away, but knowing that if she moved, she would fall into his trap. So she remained motionless, asking him coldly, “Do you want me to sleep with you?”

Finally, he let go of her neck and asked, “Still no feeling?”

Julien breathed a sigh of relief, her breathing becoming much smoother. So, she responded defiantly, “None!”

“Then it seems I have a problem with self-control.”

Julien was speechless.

“That night, I felt very passionate,” He continued, “but you’ve forgotten.”

Julien was still silent.

“Go check on Zenith. When I remember how to punish you, I’ll settle the score with you.” He let her go, a smile on his lips.

As Julien walked out, she felt a sting on her recently kissed neck, as if bees were stinging her. She irritably rubbed her neck.

Raines happened to pass by and saw Julien’s action. In his eyes, this femme fatale was usually as mechanical as a robot. But now, with her irritated movements, she seemed like a young girl, which he found somewhat cute.

He must be going mad!

As Raines was lost in thought, Hayden’s voice came from the study, “Looking for trouble?”

Raines quickly averted his gaze, staring at Hayden. From his perspective, he couldn’t see Julien’s expression or movements. Could he have x-ray vision?

He saw Hayden sitting in the chair, meaningfully touching his lips. He seemed to understand why Julien was rubbing her neck….

“Where’s the information I asked you to look up?” Hayden asked coldly.

Raines quickly handed a file to Hayden, saying, “Here are all the details about Ms. Sanches’s life, from her birth to her adoption by the Sanches family.”

Hayden gestured for Raines to leave.

After reading through the information, he dialed Adeline’s number, “Do you have time, Ms. Sanches?”

“Who’s this?” Adeline’s voice came from the other end of the phone.

Hayden could vaguely hear Elliot’s voice on the other end: “Adeline, are you cooking or burning down the kitchen? What’s this black mess?”

“Black pepper fried potatoes. It may not look good, but it might taste alright. Wanna try?” Adeline sounded uncertain.

Elliot skeptically looked at the unidentified object. Finally, under Adeline’s sincere gaze, he reached out.

Adeline quickly grabbed Elliot’s wrist, asking, “You have good insurance, right?”

Hearing it, Elliot put down his fork and seriously asked Adeline, “What good would it do you to kill me?”

Adeline laughed carelessly, replying, “The benefit is that it would give me the confidence to find a better crush in the future.”

Ignoring Elliot’s reaction, Adeline remembered her phone call, asking again, “Who’s this?”

“It’s me, Hayden.”

Adeline pulled the phone from her ear, checked the caller, then put it back to her ear, her tone much more respectful, “Did I do something wrong?”

This man left a deep impression on her at the last gathering as an aloof man. The last time Ivan had a birthday party, she and Hayden talked twice. Once in the hall where she mistook Julien as his girlfriend, and another time at the barbecue, where she found he had a lot of insight about grilling.

How long had it been since she’d heard from him? This sudden contact startled Adeline.

After a moment of silence, Hayden said to her, “I can teach you to make fries, are you interested?”

Adeline glanced at the burnt potatoes in front of her and said awkwardly to Hayden on the phone, “I think I might lack a knack for cooking, so maybe I shouldn’t force it.”

“Meet me at Starlit Skies Manor tomorrow morning. I’ll send someone to pick you up.” With that, Hayden hung up.

Adeline was still trying to process this when she heard Elliot’s voice, “Dr. Brice?”

Adeline looked at Elliot, not really thinking about his question, and replied offhandedly, “I have many suitors, didn’t you know?”

“So who was that on the phone? Do you know his background? What does he look like? The most important thing is his character, if he has a bad one, you should avoid him. You already have a poor character. If you find someone with the same bad character, your genes can’t mix. It would ruin the next generation.” Elliot looked at Adeline with a face that said ‘I’m your brother, I’m looking out for you.’

Adeline picked up the plate of burnt fries and tossed them into the dishwasher. Turning to Elliot she asked, “Are you homeless or something? Eating my food, living in my house, sleeping in my bed, and not paying a dime?”

Elliot stood up, took out a debit card from his wallet, and stuffed it into Adeline’s hand, “For rent, utilities, and bed space. Use the rest however you want.”

After stretching, he added, “Whenever you decide to go home and outsmart Victoria, I’ll take you back. You’re trying to leave before we’ve reclaimed the company in Britain. Wishful thinking.”

Adeline aimed a kick at Elliot but he dodged it easily due to their years of familiarity. Then he retreated to his room, closing the door behind him.

Holding the debit card, Adeline felt a rise of independence. Was Elliot indirectly supporting her? She was a self-reliant woman, did she need his charity?

She stormed into his room with the debit card and yelled, “Take your card and get o…What are you doing?!”

Elliot had been changing his pants to prepare for a shower. Adeline quickly turned her back to him, her face burning with embarrassment.

Elliot calmly pulled on his grey sweatpants and chuckled, “We used to share a bath as kids, now you’re embarrassed? I’m your brother, let’s say I’m the one at a disadvantage here.”

Adeline retorted without turning around, “The only reason I turned around was to spare your feelings. Since childhood, you’ve never grown anywhere but height. You should be the embarrassed one.”

“Adeline, repeat what you just said,” Elliot commanded, now in his sweatpants and standing in front of her.

Once again, Adeline turned her back to him, “I said you’ve never grown anywhere but height. You should be ashamed of yourself! Do you think I’m afraid of you?”

“Say it a hundred more times.

Adeline pushed past him, “Get out, I have to call Juliebelle back!”

She pulled out her phone and dialed Julie’s number as she returned to her room, “Juliebelle, have you been in contact with Dr. Brice recently?”

Julie seemed surprised that Adeline would bring up Dr. Brice, “What’s up?”

“I had a disagreement with Dr. Brice’s mother last time. I’m afraid it might be difficult for him to explain when he goes home. I also feel it’s inappropriate to ask him directly, so I’m asking you.”

“I’ll ask him for you and call you back.”

“Don’t tell him it was me who asked.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up with Adeline, Julie was about to dial Dr. Brice’s number when he was calling her instead. As she answered the phone, she heard Dr. Brice ask, “Julie, have you heard of someone named Zenith?”

“Zenith?” As soon as she heard the name, Lucian’s face came to mind.

Dr. Brice looked at the man in the hospital room talking with Professor Fred and frowned, “Zenith is in Sansa’s hospital room with Professor Fred.”