Love's Cunning Ruse novel Chapter 281

Payne, following the orders of Kieran, initiated a search on the deserted islands nearby.

"From the position of the cruise ship, there are two closest uninhabited islands. One is in front of the ship and the other one is behind," Payne reported.

"You and Julien take a team to the island behind the ship, the rest of us will check out the one in front," Kieran instructed, aiming to consolidate resources as quickly as possible.

Kieran led the airborne team directly to the island in front, while Payne suggested over the radio, "The probability of them being on the island behind the ship is higher since that's the direction the cruise was coming from."

"Check the cruise's route logs," Julien advised Payne.

Payne slapped his forehead, "Why didn't I think of that?"

Julien had a bad feeling, he suspected that the cruise might have made a round trip.

And indeed, Julien's intuition was spot on.

Over an hour ago, Kleist, concerned for his young master's safety, decided to use a diversion tactic. He first dropped off Julie and his young master on this uninhabited island, then drove the cruise ship back to mislead the enemies.

So, Julie and Kleist's young master were on the island in front.

Kieran, leading the airborne team, headed directly for the island.

Julie was crouched next to a large tree, a gun in her hand, vigilantly observing her surroundings. In front of her was a small beach, her location was very conspicuous.

While still on the helicopter, Kieran spotted the small figure huddled by the tree through his binoculars. He rushed down from the helicopter and ran towards Julie.

Julie, however, reflexively raised her gun at Kieran. Only when she looked up did she recognize the familiar figure.

"Kerry?" her eyes slightly reddened, a hint of joy in her gaze.

She was still wearing a snow-white nightgown, the hem of which was completely stained with mud, looking dirty.

Seeing him walking towards her, she looked down at the gun she was pointing at Kieran, quickly dropped it, and ran towards him.

Kieran hurriedly ran forward and embraced the muddy woman in his arms.

"I thought you wouldn't find me…" All the courage she had mustered drained away in the sight of this man. She buried herself in his embrace, tightly holding onto his waist, smearing her tears and runny nose all over his crisp white shirt.

Her voice was choked with emotion, "I thought…I thought I was going to die here…"

When the gun was pointed at her by that man, she truly believed she would die on this island, die under his gun. In that moment, many images flashed through Julie's mind, as if she was reviewing her entire life in a span of a few seconds.

In that moment, she hugged her head, feeling despair.

The gunshot rang beside her ear, even though it was a silenced gun, the noise was still quite loud up close. The expected pain didn't come. She quickly turned around and saw a cobra lying behind her, its head and body separated by the bullet, but its tail was still wriggling.

"Ah!" she screamed, crawling towards him, completely forgetting that he was the one who almost strangled her to death just a moment ago.

Compared to the cobra, the man behind her seemed more reliable. She'd rather be shot in the head by a person than be bitten by a snake.

"Where's your phone? Give me your phone, I need to call someone!" Julie was so scared she nearly lost her mind. She didn't care that the man still had a gun in his hand, her only thought was to call Kieran.

So, she directly reached into his pockets, looking for his phone! Her will to survive was unprecedentedly strong at this moment. She thought of Ivan, and of the man who was surely looking for her right now, she had to survive!

She couldn't die on this deserted island, whether by gunshot or snakebite!

The woman, who had the courage to poke at his wound, was surprisingly still alive. What's more surprising was her audacity to touch him!

"Do you want to die?" his cold voice echoed in the ominous forest.

Tears in her eyes, Julie retorted, "I don't want to die, I have a son and a husband, I have people I love, people who love me. Why should I die? Because I don't want to die, I need to call my husband to rescue me! I came out for a vacation, why should I be threatened by your gun, I…"

As she spoke, Julie felt tears welling up in her eyes, and she could no longer hold them back.

"If you cry and it annoys me, I might really kill you." His words were as natural as saying lines in a play.

From his tone, it didn't sound like a threat, but Julie still felt a chill.

She sniffed, holding back her tears.

She wasn't a crybaby, but being left on a deserted island with uncertain fate, thinking of her husband and child, she couldn't help but get emotional.

She pulled her hand back and sat quietly, not moving anymore.