Chapter 256
Love’s Cunning Ruse ( Mr.Kieran And Julie )
Chapter 256
Basil handed Julie a glass of orange juice, which she took in one gulp.
From outside the door came Julienâs voice, âAmanda, is Joyce here? I need to talk to her.â
Julie really wanted to respond with âIâm hereâ, but with Basil and Bolt on either side of her, she could only stay silent.
Perhaps Kieran was still not completely at ease with Julie and Amanda at home, so he sent Julien to check on things.
Amandaâs voice came from outside, âI sent Joyce out to get me some stuff. She might not be back for a while. Whatâs up?â
âIn that case, I wonât bother you.â Julien nodded to Amanda and exited gracefully.
How direct. That was so Julien.
Bolt looked at Julie and said, âMrs. Abraham, shall we continue?â
Julie handed the glass to Basil, not seeming to have any other choices.
She had a strong feeling that Amanda was not only trying to train her, but also seemed to have no intention of letting her go out, as if wanting her to focus on training here.
Julie got up with a frown, as her cooperation surprised Bolt and Basil.
Basil turned and went back to the door while Bolt stood in front of Julie, about to speak, when suddenly a figure flashed by the window. Bolt frowned, quickly stepped forward, pulled the curtain of the French window closed, and locked it.
Julie already suspected that the person outside was Julien, so she yelled at Bolt, âBolt! I canât do push-ups!â
Julieâs sudden shout startled Bolt.
Even though the glass window was soundproofed, Julieâs high decibel shout still got out. Even Basil at the door heard it. He opened the door and looked at Bolt, âYou okay?â
Julie shook her head, laughing, âI was asking Bolt how to do push-ups. I have no arm strength.â
Basil saw a confirming look on Boltâs face, so he left, closing the door behind him.
And at this moment, the locked French window was easily pushed open from the outside by Julien. Bolt had his back to Julien, and as he turned around, Julien kicked at him.
Bolt bent over, turned around and threw a punch at Julien. Julien grabbed Boltâs arm, pulled him in, and they passed each other.
âGo Julien!â Julie watched them, sitting on the ground, looking up at Bolt and Julien, not forgetting to declare her standing.
However, the expected fight didnât happen. They only exchanged a couple of punches before stopping.
âBolt?â
âTeacher?â
They looked at each other, stopping their attacks.
âYou know each other?â Julie clapped her hands, standing up and walking between them.
âThis is my teacher.â Bolt pointed to Julien.
âYour student?â Julie looked surprisedly at Julien.
Julien nodded, âItâs a long story.â
âHow did you get here?â Julien asked Bolt,
Bolt answered, âAmanda asked me to teach her some self-defence techniques.â
âSo youâve been with Bolt at home this morning?â Julien asked Julie.
Julie looked at a bunch of training equipment, replying, âYes, doing strength training. But why are you here?â
âMr. Hernandez was worried you might be having a hard time at home, so he sent me to check on you.â
Just as Julie expected.
âAmanda did this for what?â Julien seemed confused.
Julie shook her head, âNot sure, but at least her intentions are good. Open attacks are easy to defend against, who knows how many people are coveting in secret. But⦠Amanda took my phone and doesnât seem to want me to go out.â
âWhat did Amanda tell you?â Julien asked Bolt.
Bolt was very honest to Julien, âAmanda indeed wants Mrs. Abraham to train at home.â
âWhat do you want me to tell Kieran?â Julien asked Julie.
Julie was thinking for a moment, âIâll tell him myself tonight. Whatever Amanda said, just tell him that.â
Julien nodded. She was very confident in Bolt, so she patted Boltâs shoulder, âGo easy on her, donât train her like you trained my sister.â
Bolt nodded, âYes! Are you leaving through the front door?â
Julien pointed to the window, âI broke the door lock, fix it. Iâm leaving.â
Julien opened the French window, walking out.
Just then, a security guard walked by.
âShh!!â Julie stepped forward, waving her hand at him, âDid you see anything?â
âMs. Julienâ¦climbed out the windowâ¦â
âDo you want to lose your job?â Julie raised an eyebrow.
The security guard instantly got it, âI⦠I didnât see anythingâ¦â
âGood, go on with your work!â Julie waved at the guard with a smile.
She turned to Bolt, âJulien is your teacher?â
âIâm not going to tell you why.â Bolt patted the floor, âDo push-ups.â
Julie rolled her eyes.
She got down on the floor to get ready, âDid you ever train Julienâs sister?â
âYes.â
âHer name is Flavia, right?â
âYes.â
âSo, is she really excellent now?â Julie looked at Bolt expectantly.
Bolt went silent.
After leaving the mansion, Julien called Kieran, telling him what Julie asked him to say. Kieran was silent for a while before saying âThank you.â
Julie didnât expect the training load on the first day to be this heavy. She couldnât even imagine how she was going to get through the following days.
It was not until half an hour before Kieran got off work that Amanda let Julie go back to rest. Julie, who was taking a shower and lying in bed, was exhausted.
Before she knew it, she fell asleep. Not sure for how long, she was woken up by a muffled voice.
âKerry, why did Julie catch a cold? Did you hog the blanket last night?â
âYou know I always sleep like a baby. I take after you. Do you think Iâd be the type to steal blankets?â
âTonight, let me sleep with mom.â
âNo.â
âYouâre selfish, heartless, and bossy!!â
Ivan felt wronged-
âYouâre right. I am selfish, heartless, and bossy. Those are all my faults. Donât you dare take after me.â Kieran lovingly patted Ivanâs head.
Ivan felt like heâd swallowed a bitter pill, too bitter for words. He blurted out, âKerry, if youâre so tough, go bully someone elseâs kid! Whatâs so great about picking on me?â
Julie, who was asleep, couldnât help but burst out laughing and opened her eyes.
âYou awake?â Kieran was about to touch Julieâs forehead to check if she had a fever.
But before his hand could reach Julie, Ivan leaned his face toward Julie and pressed his forehead against hers, proudly announcing to Kieran, âMomâs not running a fever,â
Kieran bent down to kiss Julieâs forehead, âDo you want to eat downstairs or should I have someone bring food up?â
âIâll go downstairs,â Julie sat up.
Ivan quickly fetched Julieâs slippers and looked at his dad Kieran expectantly, waiting for praise.
Just as Julie was about to thank Ivan, Kieran pulled back the blanket and scooped her up.
âBring your momâs slippers.â Kieran carried Julie downstairs.
To avoid falling, Julie quickly wrapped her arm around Kieranâs neck, âI can walk by myself. Put me down before Amanda seesâ¦â
Before she could finish her sentence, Amanda was standing at the foot of the stairs, staring at Julie and Kieran.
Feeling a bit awkward, Julie scratched the back of Kieranâs neck and whispered in his ear, âQuick, put me downâ¦â
âGrandma Kieran smiled at Amanda, âIsnât Julie too skinny?â
Surprisingly, Amanda didnât express any dissatisfaction with Kieran holding Julie. Instead, she scrutinized Julie from head to toe, then said, âA bit skinny. Young people need to keep in shape. Picky eaters like her are bound to be skinny. A gust of wind could knock her over.â
âWhat Amanda is saying is that you should eat more,â Kieran whispered gently to Julie in his arms.
Amanda had already turned and left. Ivan ran downstairs, placed Julieâs slippers on the floor, and looked up at Julie, âMom, when I grow up, Kieran wonât be able to carry you anymore.â
âOnly a non-biological son could say something like that, Kieran put Julie down and gently tapped Ivanâs head, âGo say hello to Amanda.â
Kieran had picked Ivan up today. As soon as Ivan heard Julie had a cold, he dashed straight to the master bedroom after coming home, not having a chance to greet Amanda.
Ivan warmly greeted Amanda, who was very fond of him.
At mealtime, Amanda personally ladled a bowl of soup for Julie.
Julie, feeling honored, quickly accepted it.
Kieran handed Julie a fork and asked, âDid you two get along like this today?â
Julie nodded, âMore or less.â
To be precise, she spent less time with the old lady today than with Bolt.
Kieran looked deeply at Amanda, then at Julie, âWhy donât I believe it?â
Julie didnât tell Kieran it was because he was too smart.
She chuckled and put some food on Kieranâs plate, then leaned in to whisper, âIâll explain everything tonight.â
Kieran accepted her words.
After dinner, Kieran, holding Julieâs hand, told Amanda, âIâm taking Joyce out for a walk.â
âNo way!â Amanda said without hesitation, âWhatâs the point of a walk late at night? What if something happens⦠Absolutely not!â