Love's Cunning Ruse novel Chapter 340

Julie was about to carry a tray of food into the bedroom when Camilla emerged, leaning on her cane and steadying herself against the door frame.

"Why are you up and about? Didn't the doc just tell you to stay off your feet? What are you doing out here?" Amanda inquired with concern.

Camilla gave a small, understanding smile. "I can't be of much help, but I don't want to be a burden either. It's okay, it's just a sprain, nothing broken. A couple of days of rest and I'll be as good as new."

Amanda chuckled. "With all of us here, who are you bothering? You can leave things to us."

Camilla bashfully lowered her head, attempting to shuffle over with her cane, but suddenly it snagged on the rug. Kieran was the closest to Camilla. Julie, with a tray in her hands, instinctively thought to put it down and rush to Kieran's aid.

But Kieran was already one step ahead, he reached out and caught Camilla just in time.

As she fell, Camilla clung to Kieran like a lifeline, her body instinctively lunging toward him.

Kieran's reflexive support inadvertently resulted in his hand landing on Camilla's chest.

It wasn't until Kieran had helped Camilla to her feet that he realized where his hand had been and quickly withdrew it.

Camilla's face flushed a deep crimson, as red as a ripe apple, utterly endearing.

Even Julie, standing nearby, couldn't help but think how Camilla resembled a delicate rose in full bloom, eliciting an instinctive desire to protect her.

Kieran stepped back and casually asked, "You alright?"

With her face still red, Camilla nodded silently.

In the midst of the commotion, Julie's hastily placed tray teetered and crashed to the floor from the table's edge, shattering with a sharp and unsettling noise. The room fell silent, save for the sound of the broken dish.

Everyone's attention had been on Kieran and Camilla, no one expecting the tray to fall. Nor did they anticipate Phoebe standing silently amidst the shards.

"How did you break the tray!" Amanda began, just as Phoebe started moving forward. Julie reached out to grab him, but her arm wasn't long enough. Ivan, standing right in front of Phoebe, acted quickly to prevent him from stepping on the broken pieces and pushed him aside.

He hadn't expected Phoebe to be so heavy, and in pushing him away, he fell back, landing on his rear with a thud. As a child's instinct is to brace a fall with their hands, he ended up pressing his palm onto the shards.

The poor boy winced, his brow furrowing with pain.

Phoebe, pushed to the ground by Ivan, sat silently, still processing what had happened.

Julie rushed over, lifting Ivan from the ground, "Let mommy see your hand."

She reached for Ivan's hand, her heart aching with regret for not having placed the tray more carefully.

"Go lie down," Kieran said, then motioned to Shannon, "Help Camilla to her room."

Shannon hurried to assist Camilla.

Kieran turned to fetch the first aid kit as Amanda pulled Phoebe to his feet, casting a reproachful glance at Julie, "Look what you've done. Is it such a hardship to deliver a meal? You are the lady of the Hernandez house, and she is our guest. After all these years, if it wasn't for her..."

"Great-grandma, if you talk about my mom like that, it'll make me unhappy," Ivan interjected, his hand wounded by the tray and containing shards of glass, his eyes welling up but stubbornly holding back tears. He looked up at Amanda with bright, determined eyes, "Great-grandma, I'm a big boy now. From now on, Ivan will carry the tray for Lady Camilla, okay?"

Amanda was speechless, caught between her intentions and the protective stance of the child.

The injured child didn't cry, but Julie's eyes reddened with tears.

"So I can't even scold you a little?" Amanda's tone softened significantly, and her attitude was no longer as stern.

Kieran returned with the first aid kit, only to see Julie holding Ivan on the ground, with the boy staring defiantly up at Amanda, and Julie's eyes brimming with remorse.

Amanda was in the midst of voicing her complaints.

Kieran frowned in displeasure, "Grandma, I married my wife to cherish her, not to have her serve others."

Amanda frowned. Why couldn't they understand her concerns? It seemed to her that they were treating her like she was deliberately making life difficult for her granddaughter-in-law.

"I can't deal with you all!" Amanda huffed, taking Phoebe and heading towards Camilla's room.

Kieran promptly helped Julie to her feet, then carried Ivan, along with the first aid kit, to the couch. He began to disinfect the boy's wound with alcohol, and the red cotton ball instantly turned crimson.