Love's Cunning Ruse novel Chapter 121

"Show me your ID," Kieran extended his hand to Julie.

Julie clutched her bag tightly, eyeing him warily, "Aren't you the CEO of Simpo Co.? You have facial recognition technology. Why do you need my ID? Are you planning to get me a separate room?"

"Alright, show me your bank card too," Kieran stood at the door, his hand outstretched towards Julie.

Pressing her baseball cap lower, Julie hugged her bag tighter, "In that case, I might as well stay at a hostel."

She would talk about what she wanted to say another day.

Kieran eyed Julie's small figure, "How long do you think it would take me to tear down a hostel?"

Julie finally stopped, not because his words scared her, but because Kieran grabbed her arm. She turned to look at him, a hint of surrender in her eyes, "Can't you use your privilege to avoid registration?"

"Do you think sharing a room with me is humiliating?" The man's deep gaze met Julie's. Once, she longed for him to look at her this way, but now she feared his direct gaze. Finally, she met Kieran's eyes with a defiant pride, "Yes, it's humiliating. Very humiliating. Extremely humiliating..."

He suddenly pressed a finger to her lips, "Say it again and I'll get angry, Julie. Don't provoke me."

Who's provoking who? Julie pushed his hand away, her beautiful eyes glared at Kieran from under the brim of her cap.

Kieran still held out his hand, "Privilege? Do you know the law? Everyone needs to show ID when checking into a hotel, it's the law. As a lawyer, you know the law but don't comply, what's the logic in that? Show me your ID or I'm going to check in with our divorce certificate."

In the end, Julie pulled out her ID and handed it to Kieran.

With the ID in hand, Kieran handed it to the front desk. Julie kept her head down the entire time, but she could still feel the gazes of the staff. After checking in, Kieran led Julie to the elevator and pressed the button for the seventh floor. Suddenly, Julie felt a sense of unease. Sure enough, Kieran brought her to room 7401, the room where they first had sex...

Julie turned to leave in silence, but Kieran grabbed the back of her shirt. While holding onto Julie, he opened the door and pulled her straight in. He closed the door behind them with a kick, then turned to pin her against it. Taking advantage of his height, he bent down and looked at her with teasing eyes, "Why are you running away?"

His husky voice echoed in Julie's mind. She looked up at him, her throat dry, "Do you really have to do this? Do you have to choose this room?"

"Didn't you say you forgot? Have you remembered now?" His last word was spoken in a sultry, low voice, like aged wine, making Julie tipsy.

He really held a grudge. Just because his phone password was the room number and she casually said she forgot, he had to remind her this way?

Julie put her hands on his chest, trying to push him away. But he stood firm, like an unmovable mountain.

After a few futile attempts, Julie finally gave up. She looked up at Kieran and responded in disappointment, "Yes, I remember this room. I remember clearly. I remember it was December 25th, Christmas, your birthday. Yes, I remember it was me who initiated it. I brought it upon myself. Are you satisfied now? I, Julie, can't let go. I have a good memory, so I remember these special dates and places. I also remember what October 8th is, a date I will never forget in my life!!"

"You should remember," Kieran replied, looking at the emotional Julie. His emotions were stable, as always.

Julie figured there were two reasons why a person could be so calm about this. Either he had extraordinary emotional intelligence, able to control his emotions flawlessly, or... he simply didn't care.

Because he didn't care, he could stay so calm.

And Julie was inclined to believe the latter. She looked at Kieran and took a deep breath. She finally managed to control her emotions and asked Kieran, "Bertha, did she really commit suicide?"

Kieran didn't answer her, but he let go of her and sat down on the sofa. This time, Julie bravely approached him and stood by his side, "I asked Dylan this question, but he didn't give me a direct answer. Although the official statement is that she committed suicide, I don't believe it. Kieran, she died in front of me. Before she died, I saw fear in her eyes, deep fear. Why would a person who is committing suicide have such a fearful expression?"

"Why are you bringing this up now?" Kieran suddenly looked up at Julie, "Why didn't you mention it when Bertha just died? If you didn't say it then, why do you bring it up now?"

Marriage was her choice, divorce was also her choice. And like now, this messy entanglement was still her choice.

In the past, it was her unrequited love that forcefully tied her and Kieran together. Later, it was because of the child in her belly that they went through that marriage. Now, it was because of a contract, a debt, a legal constraint, that she had to be entangled with Kieran.

She might have never really thought about what she wanted. She seemed indifferent about everything else, but when it came Kieran, she became a confused sage. Many times, she couldn't even make the right decisions.

Julie stayed silent for a long time, then reached out and gently pushed the man's shoulder, asking, "Can you get off me now? I'm done asking questions."

The man lying on her looked down at her quietly, "Aren't you still waiting for your answer?"

"What answer I want, I don't even know myself. Didn't you say that not all questions in this world have answers? Why am I still obsessing over this?"

"Is that really what you’re thinking?"

"No," Julie looked straight into Kieran's eyes, "I'm thinking, forcing someone who hates you to stay, how is that any different from a tyrant? Or do you just like being mistreated, and you feel uncomfortable if no one hates you? I believe Nexus's appeal has something to do with you. I just don't understand why you brought our relationship to this stage with a contract, what's the point of keeping me by your side? We've been fine for the past five years, why show up in each other's lives to bring each other pain again?"

"Keep you by my side?" Kieran's fingers gently touched her chin, his tone filled with nobility.

He said, "Julie, remember, if one day you really decide to leave, I will not stop you. Now you should ask yourself, are you really determined to leave?"

Julie's gaze became lost in an instant. Just then, her stomach made a noise.

Finally, Kieran let go of her, sat up, and then turned to walk towards the kitchen in the suite.