Love's Cunning Ruse novel Chapter 312

Before Ivan could finish his sentence, Kieran scooped him up in a bear hug and strode toward the supermarket. Nestled in Kieran's arms, Ivan didn't dare utter a single word.

Julie caught up, pushing a shopping cart and saying, "Put him down, Kieran. He's big enough to walk on his own."

Ivan always believed his mom was right, especially now, giving Kieran the puppy eyes and nodding vigorously, "Yeah, yeah, I'm a big boy, can walk by myself." The little guy whispered in Kieran's ear, "If I tattle, just make me do push-ups as punishment."

"Two hundred." Kieran said.

Ivan complained inside of him, “ he’s definitely not my biological dad!”

After setting Ivan on his feet, Julie was about to speak when he dashed to the snack aisle. His eyes glued to the chips and chocolate, he was the spitting image of Julie when it came to snacks.

Pointing to a brand of chocolate, Ivan tugged at Julie's hand with longing, "Mom, this one's yummy!"

"Is it?" Julie squatted down, studying the chocolate with Ivan, nodding thoughtfully, "It does look pretty tempting on the package!"

"Packages can be deceiving," Kieran's calm voice chimed in from the side.

Ivan hugged his dad's leg, "Dad, can we get some chocolates to take home?"

He'd been calling him Kerry all day, but now he called him 'Dad'? Kieran eyed the chocolate seriously, "Kids who eat too much chocolate can get hot-tempered, nosebleeds, and it's sticky and sugary, which can harm your teeth."

"Mom…" The little guy looked at Julie, eyes brimming with hope.

Julie could never say no to her son, especially when he clutched the chocolate like it was his lifeline.

So in the end, she grabbed the box of chocolate from Ivan's hands and tossed it into the cart, turning to Kieran with a smile, "You said it yourself, troubles come from eating too much. So... how about just sometimes?"

"Mom for the win!" Ivan put two bags of chips into the cart, nodding like he was reminding himself, "I won’t eat it all the time!"

Kieran shrugged, looking at his wife, clearly resigned.

Ivan added two bags of cranberry cookies and some jellies to the cart. Now Kieran was silent, considering this a lesson for Mrs. Hernandez.

When Ivan reached for the candies, Julie finally intervened, grabbing his chubby little hand, "Son, if you keep this up, your dad might just pick a fight with me..."

The cunning Ivan patted Julie's shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry, mom, Kerry will never pick a fight with you! Besides, it’s common for couples have small fights…"

"Who told you that?" Kieran, who'd been quietly pushing the cart, finally spoke up.

Ivan grinned sheepishly, not about to rat out Uncle QuadDylan!

Kieran removed the chips from the cart and put them back on the shelf, then asked, "Who told you that?"

Ivan thought, “My heart hurts...”

After taking out the cranberry cookies too, Kieran asked, "And now?"

Ivan was speechless.

Julie reached for the snacks in the cart, smiling at Kieran, "Honey, let's not be hard on our boy. Since he can't remember where he learned it, then let me put these snacks back."

"Sounds good," Kieran agreed.

Ivan felt despair. What happened to my loving mom? I’m your baby!

Ivan tried to rescue his snacks, confessing to Kieran, "Uncle QuadDylan! I overheard him talking to Karl. Karl said he had a fight with his wife, and Uncle QuadDylan said that's just how it is with couples, it’s nothing serious."

Kieran took out a box of chocolate and placed it in the cart, then told Julie, "Honey, please put the rest back."

Ivan pouted, "Kerry is stingy with money for snacks, my own mom won't help me, and grandma says I'm your baby, hmph!"

Julie was surprised by the little guy's temper but still felt a pang of sympathy when he spoke his mind. But she didn't expect his next words to be, "But I love you no matter what! Kerry quit smoking and drinking for you; I can give up snacks for you too!"

With a huff of pride, Ivan tossed the chocolate back on the shelf and stood tall, hands on hips, declaring to Julie, "Mom, I love you even more than your husband does!"

Julie's heart melted, and she bent down to kiss the little boy.