Love's Cunning Ruse novel Chapter 104

"Engagement party?" Julie looked at Adeline with confusion.

Adeline looked back at Julie with disappointment. "That's a shame. I thought you were here to stir up the engagement party! Turns out it's just a coincidence."

"Elliot's getting engaged today?" Julie was taken aback by the news.

Adeline just shrugged it off. "Elliot doesn't know yet, but that's what our grandfather's planning. Bianca, the daughter of Luminary Solutions, has been chasing Elliot for years. I don't know how she won Grandpa's heart, but he plans to use this occasion to force Elliot into an engagement with her."

"Force him..." Julie repeated softly.

While checking her makeup in the mirror, Adeline said, "The plan is to trick Elliot here, then announce the engagement right in front of the media! I heard that's how Elliot proposed to you."

So today at the Starlight Haven Hotel, Elliot's grandfather Raymon and his parents were planning to trick Elliot?

Julie looked at Adeline. If Adeline knew, then only Elliot would be in the dark. "You're just going to watch Elliot get tricked?" Julie asked Adeline. Despite their outward disagreements, Julie knew that as twins, they cared for each other.

Adeline smiled at Julie, "Do I even need to answer that? If he's not getting married, I am. I certainly can't help with this."

True siblings indeed.

Adeline could tell what Julie was thinking. She patted Julie's shoulder. "I know you're not here to cause trouble, but given Elliot's deep feelings for you, I'll leave the task of rescuing him to you."

With that, Adeline straightened her skirt and walked out with her head held high. Then Julie heard a gasp, "Kieran? You came with Julie?"

Although Adeline had a delicate face, her voice was forceful.

Julie quickly pushed open the bathroom door and stepped out. Kieran was standing quietly in his suit by the bathroom door, seemingly waiting for her.

Ever since Adeline found out that Julie was Kieran's ex-wife, she had cut off all contact with Julie. In her anger, Adeline told Julie not to worry about paying for the car she had damaged, because she didn't want anything to do with Julie anymore.

But clearly, Adeline wasn't one to hold grudges.

Adeline at the door glanced at Kieran and then at Julie. Finally, her eyes landed on Julie's face. "Are you two back together?"

"I..."

"Never mind, I don't want to know. Anyway, I won't be blessing you." Adeline glared at Kieran. "You're blind for not choosing me."

"Uh-huh."

Kieran's response was brief, seeming not to care about Adeline's words. He gently pulled Julie towards him, then lowered his head to gaze at Julie's lips. "The color looks good."

Julie awkwardly glanced at Kieran.

Adeline interjected, "That good-looking lipstick is sponsored by me. If you're blind, you can get treated. Once you're cured, remember to find me."

"I'll pass on the treatment," Kieran said.

The conversation was kind of funny. Julie tried to hold back her laughter.

Annoyed, Adeline told Julie, "Anyway, whether Elliot can be happy or not is up to you. You figure it out!"

After giving Kieran another glare, she turned and left.

Bianca's hand was still in the air, waiting for Julie's response. Julie instantly reached out her hand. She was about to shake Bianca's hand when Bianca suddenly withdrew, leaving Julie's hand awkwardly hanging in the air. Looked like Bianca was deliberately trying to embarrass her. Julie paused for a moment, then pulled back her hand.

"I know Elliot likes you," Bianca stated bluntly. "But after tonight, I'll be Elliot's fiancée. I'd appreciate it if you could avoid showing up in front of Elliot. I might get a little touchy."

Julie was taken aback for a moment, then responded, "Oh."

Clearly, Bianca was pissed off by Julie's simple reply. She glared at Julie. "I think I made myself clear. I want you and Elliot to keep your distance. What does your 'oh' mean?"

"Oh, it's a common exclamation, a kind of response. Maybe you don't know what 'oh' means because you grew up abroad," Julie explained with a smile.

"You…" Bianca, indeed, grew up abroad. If not, she wouldn't have known Elliot, who also studied abroad, and she wouldn't have been so obsessed with him. Julie's words left her speechless.

Bianca couldn't think of a response to Julie’s remark, so she just stared at her angrily. "You're just a divorcee! Elliot came back to check on you after your divorce. It was just a whim. Do you really think he would like a woman like you for the rest of his life?"

Bianca must have been spoiled at home, so she had no qualms about insulting people. Julie was easygoing, but that didn't mean she would let Bianca walk all over her.

Though Bianca spoke quietly, Kieran, who had been watching Julie all along, noticed her approaching Julie. His cold gaze made those fawning people around him back off. As Kieran was about to step in, he heard Julie casually respond to Bianca, "Maybe Elliot is blind, that's why he's into me, an old shoe someone else has worn, instead of you, a pair of brand-new, luxurious high heels."

Though Julie seemed to be saying that Elliot had bad taste, anyone with half a brain could tell that Julie was actually mocking Bianca for being all flash and no substance.

Bianca stared at Julie sharply. With a smile on her face, Julie added, "Old shoes are good because they're comfortable. High heels may look glamorous, but they might not be that practical. Don't you agree, Ms. Riley?"

Perhaps realizing she couldn't argue with Julie, Bianca's gaze turned icy. Suddenly, she spilled a glass of red wine on herself and forcefully pushed the glass into Julie's hand.

Before Julie could react, she already had the glass in her hand.