Love's Cunning Ruse novel Chapter 338

"Can you make it?" Kieran asked Camilla, concern lacing his voice.

Camilla attempted to rise, her one-footed stance awkward and clearly painful. Her furrowed brow betrayed her discomfort as she stoically endured the pain.

Amanda, unable to bear the sight, tapped Kieran on the shoulder, "What are you waiting for? Help Camilla to her room to rest. We've got enough hands on deck to handle a couple of kids, don't we?"

Watching Amanda's melodramatic concern, Daphne couldn't help but wonder if Camilla was Amanda's ideal granddaughter-in-law.

Meanwhile, Julie was oblivious to the drama, cradling Ivan in one arm while thoughtfully pushing a plate of tapioca pudding towards Phoebe with the other, her eyes encouraging him to dig in without reservation.

Ivan, now quiet, watched Phoebe intently as if trying to gauge from his manner what kind of person he was. After all, Ivan had never encountered anyone quite like him and found the novelty intriguing.

Amanda broke the silence, "Kieran, just carry Camilla inside. It's not good for her to be standing on that foot for so long. It'll swell up something fierce."

Julie snapped out of her reverie just in time to catch the tail end of the commotion and turned to see Kieran and Camilla. Kieran carrying Camilla to her room?

She racked her brain but couldn't recall ever being given such a treatment herself. Sure, Kieran had scooped her up and even piggybacked her on occasion, but she'd never felt the reassuring strength of his back.

Lost in thought, Julie missed Kieran's apologetic glance toward Camilla before he turned to Shannon and said, "Could you get Bolt to help Camilla to her room? I threw my back out last night and it's still killing me."

His look of mock resentment directed at Julie made it clear who he blamed for his injury.

Julie was taken aback. Did he throw out his back last night? That was news to her.

As she pondered when exactly Kieran might have injured himself, Amanda's voice broke through with concern, "How on earth did you manage to hurt your back? You need to learn some moderation. Is it serious? Should you get it checked out at the hospital?"

Then, with a reproachful glance at Julie, Amanda seemed to suggest she was somehow to blame.

Caught in the crossfire, Julie could only muster a bewildered expression.

In the end, Bolt strode in and effortlessly carried Camilla to her bedroom. Amanda, seizing the opportunity to get close to Phoebe, cheerfully led him to the kitchen in search of treats.

Kieran, too, was ushered away by Amanda.

Once the parlor was left to Julie and Daphne alone, Daphne clutched at Julie's shoulders with an excited twinkle in her eye, "I knew it, my instinct was right."

"About what?" Julie responded, thrown off by the sudden praise.

Daphne gestured toward Kieran and said, "Kieran. When he said he threw out his back, I'm so touched!"

"You mean when he was lying?" Julie replied with a wry smile, "I don't know when he supposedly hurt his back. By Grandma's reaction, you'd think I was the one who did it."

"Wasn't his backache caused by you?" Daphne teased, nudging Julie's shoulder, "No need to be shy with me."

Julie looked utterly confused, "What are you talking about?"

Daphne finally realized the misunderstanding, "All that was just a ruse?"

"What ruse?" Julie pressed, feeling increasingly lost in the conversation.

Daphne gave her a look of exasperation, "Come on, think about it. To avoid carrying Camilla upstairs, Kieran comes up with that excuse. He throws us off with this unexpected display of affection and makes his feelings clear. Most importantly, he managed to dodge Carmela."

Julie laughed helplessly, "Stop talking nonsense. Her name is Camilla."

"I don't care what her name is," Daphne retorted, grabbing Julie's arm, "She's that long-lost sister Bertha found, right?"

Julie nodded.