Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 119

It took Julie about thirty seconds to process Julien’s words before she stammered out, “How did you know about Bertha…?”

“I also know about your ex-husband, Kieran. I found out after I came back to the country,” Julien added.

At first, Julie was surprised, even a bit incredulous. But knowing Julien’s capabilities, it wasn’t too far- fetched for him to know these things, so she didn’t press further.

Looking at Julie, Julien asked, “Do you think Bertha could’ve committed suicide?”

Julie frowned and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Describe what happened the day Bertha jumped off the building,” Julien commanded, not sounding like he was asking or requesting.

Julie had always been honest with Julien. She didn’t tell him about Kieran, not because she wanted to hide it, but because she figured Julien was busy with other things and wouldn’t have time for her trivial matters.

So, when Julien asked, she answered truthfully. “I got a call to deliver coffee to Noblewood Retreat. As I was about to leave, Bertha fell from the building. I was sitting on my motorcycle and fainted. When I woke up, Kieran told me Bertha had passed away.”

“So, you didn’t see Bertha jump?” Julien inquired.

Julie shook her head. Then, as if remembering something, she looked up at Julien and said, “After Bertha jumped, I saw a shadow on the rooftop. I think it was a person, but my mind was all over the place, so I can’t be sure.”

Julien nodded, “Anything else suspicious?”

Julie shook her head, “No.”

Julie paused before asking Julien, “Why are you suddenly investigating Bertha’s death? Didn’t the police rule it as suicide?”

“Do you trust me?” Julien asked suddenly, looking at Julie sternly.

Julie didn’t hesitate; she trusted Julien.

After all, she had saved her life before. But her sudden question left her puzzled.

“So, should I trust you?” she asked back.

“Whether you trust me or not, the answer is in your heart. You choose who and what to believe; follow your heart,” Julien replied.

This was the first time Julien had said so much to Julie, which took her off guard.

After saying that, Julien stood up and said, “I have other matters to handle. I’ll be leaving now.”

Julie had long been accustomed to Julien’s enigmatic and unpredictable nature, so she simply smiled and nodded.

As she watched Julien leave, Julie began to ponder his words. Julien was saying to listen to her heart and trust her, right? But why did she feel like Julien was reminding her of something?

Julie thought for a while but couldn’t find an answer. So, she decided to get up and head towards the exit of the café.

When it came time to pay, she was told that Julien had already taken care of the bill. Julle smiled and left the café.

But she never would’ve thought that she’d walk into a swarm of reporters waiting for her outside. Microphones were shoved in her face, all asking about her relationship with Kieran.

Julie was caught off guard and didn’t know how to react as more and more media arrived.

Just as she was figuring out how to escape, Julien, wearing a baseball cap, suddenly reappeared. She didn’t know how Julien managed to break through the crowd, but she had thrown his jacket over her head and was pulling her towards his

car.

She practically shoved her into the car, then hopped onto the hood and in one smooth motion, jumped over to the driver’s side.

Starting the car, Julien left the stunned reporters in the dust.

Julie removed the jacket from her head, buckling her seat belt as she asked, “I saw a lot of reporters on the road,” so Julien had returned, unsure if the media were there for Julie, but she’d come back anyway.

Julie laughed.

Ignoring her laughter, Julien asked, “Where are you heading next?”

After hesitating for a moment, she replied, “If it’s on your way, drop me at Creative Nexus Media. Otherwise, just drop me off at the next bus stop.”

Julie knew Julien had a dangerous job and didn’t want to delay her, so she was very understanding.

However, Julien didn’t stop at the bus stop, instead, she asked, “Did you sort out that issue with your landlord?”

She planned to help after taking Julie to the hospital, but the landlord was discharged without any fuss and didn’t bother Julie again. Julien had been busy recently and hadn’t had the chance to check in on Julie, and only then remembered the issue.

If Julien hadn’t mentioned it, Julie might have forgotten about it.

She replied nonchalantly, “Kieran handled it. I didn’t ask him how.”

“Why didn’t you thank him?” Julien asked, “Isn’t it customary to repay kindness with kindness? Kieran did you a big favor this time, right?”

Perhaps Julie was becoming less impulsive, as she casually replied, “It’s not like I was the one who put that guy in the hospital.”

Julien, usually poker-faced, actually laughed at that.

Julie felt a bit embarrassed; her previous comment made her sound ungrateful.

Julien parked the car in front of Creative Nexus Media, and no sooner had Julie gotten out, her phone started to ring.

Seeing it was Daphne, Julie quickly picked it up. From the other end of the line came Daphne’s whiny voice, “Julie, I’m dead tired, you know?”

“If you’re dead, how are you calling me?” Julie shot back.

There was a momentary silence from Daphne. “I wouldn’t want to scare you with a call from beyond the grave. Let’s cut to the chase.”

Daphne had obviously rehearsed her spiel. “I didn’t finish what I was saying this morning! What I wanted to tell you is that whether it’s the past or now, the one who survives is you, and only survivors win. So let bygones be bygones! Do you still love him? Why not take the plunge and follow your heart? That’s the right choice.”

“Follow your heart… “The phrase struck a chord with Julie, as she’d just heard it from Julien.

Suddenly, Julie furrowed her brows and asked Daphne, “Have you met Julien?”

“How did…?” Daphne was surprised. “How did you come up with that?”

Daphne nearly blurted out ‘how did you know?’ But she managed to catch herself.

“Are you talking about the Julien you’ve been wanting to introduce me to? The busy friend of yours? Is she free now? Let’s meet up then! You’ve always said she’s super cool, and I’ve been curious!”

Hearing Daphne’s usual bubbly voice, Julie brushed off her suspicions. This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Sure, I’ll introduce you when there’s a chance,” Julie replied.

“Great, I have got to go, Daphne hung up, letting out a sigh of relief.

Julie then headed towards Creative Nexus Media.

Julie hadn’t booked an appointment, but using her status as Kieran’s attorney, she successfully met with Nexus, the CEO of Creative Nexus Media

Upon seeing Julie, Nexus immediately had someone escort her to the VIP room.

Julie was there for one thing, so she got straight to it. “Mr. Nexus, why are you appealing? It’s clear how the trial went. Even If you appeal a thousand times, you’re not changing the verdict.”

“Attorney Abraham, if you’re here about that, you can leave. My decision to appeal is made!” Nexus replied firmly.

Julie softened her tone a bit, “Mr. Nexus, can you tell me why you’re so adamant about the appeal?”

What Julie really wanted to ask was, “Is it that scumbag Kieran who’s pushing you to appeal?”

Although Creative Nexus Media wasn’t a top-tier company, Nexus clawed his way to where he is today after many years. He wouldn’t spill the beans because of Julie’s question. Especially since Karl was told by Mr. Hernandez the night before not to leak anything.

The lawsuit was supposed to be a done deal, and Creative Nexus Media going bankrupt was a foregone conclusion. However, out of the blue, Mr. Hernandez told Karl that as long as Nexus appealed, he’d fund a new company for Nexus even if Creative Nexus Media went under, with Simpo Co. backing him. This was an opportunity many small companies would kill for and a new beginning for Nexus, so naturally, he wouldn’t spill the beans.

So, Nexus directly told his secretary, “Please show Attorney Abraham out. Attorney Abraham, don’t bother trying to pick a fight with me. I won’t back down from the appeal! See you in court!”