Love's Cunning Ruse novel Chapter 73

Ivan was leading Julie to his room, not giving her any chance to refuse. This was the first time Julie realized how assertive this kid could be.

As the thunder outside roared, Ivan clung tightly to her in bed. Julie was usually terrified of storms but felt strangely comforted with the kid in her arms.

"Mama Julie, do you hate me?" Little Ivan asked, gripping her hand tightly with fear in his eyes.

Julie was taken aback by the question. She looked down at the kid in her arms and shook her head firmly, "Of course not."

"Then you like me?" Ivan said, looking satisfied with her answer.

Julie ruffled his hair, feeling a strange attachment to the kid. It was a kind of fondness that she could not let go.

Out of the blue, Ivan said, "Then be my mom! My dad is super handsome, rich, kind, and charming. You'll definitely like him."

Ivan almost blurted out his real name. His dad, Kerry, had warned him earlier that he mustn't tell Julie his name. It's a good thing he caught himself just in time!

Julie looked at the earnest little boy in front of her. She had seen kids looking for stepmoms for their dads but never one who was this proactive about it.

Ivan was looking up at Julie, eager for her response. But from Julie's expression, he knew she would disagree.

Suddenly, a clap of thunder sounded outside. Ivan pinched himself and started crying. His phone vibrated, and a ringtone echoed in the empty room: "And if that mockingbird doesn't sing, Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring." The sound was heart-wrenching.

Seeing Julie touched, Ivan cried even harder.

He picked up the phone and started complaining to the person on the other end, "Dad, my mom doesn't want me, and you don't either. Why doesn't anyone want me? Is it because I'm not well-behaved, not smart enough? Dad, I'm so sad."

For the first time, Julie was at a loss. She ignored the thunderstorm outside and just hugged the crying child, "Sweetie, stop crying. You're so good and smart. How could I not like you?"

"But you don't, and you won't even be my mom. My mom doesn't want me, my dad doesn't want me, dad won't even stay with me!" Ivan threw the phone aside after saying this.

Julie knew the call had ended. She had never dealt with kids before and thought they could be easily appeased. She never imagined how serious a child could be. So when Ivan cried uncontrollably, all Julie could do was try to comfort him, "I will, of course I will. You're so smart and cute. How could I not want to?"

"Really? Will you marry my dad? Will you be my stepmom?" Ivan's crying suddenly stopped, and he looked at her expectantly.

Just as Julie wondered how quickly his mood had changed, Ivan's pouty face showed he was upset. He looked like he was about to cry any second.

Julie didn't want to hear him cry again. So, she said without thinking, "Yes, Ivan, stop crying. It breaks my heart to see you cry."

As expected, Ivan stopped crying. His face lit up with joy. He picked up the phone and said to Kieran on the other end, "Dad, did you hear that? Mama Julie agreed to marry you. You're going to have a wife soon!!"

Turned out the call was still on! Julie was mortified. She tried to snatch the phone from Ivan while shouting to Kieran on the other end, "Mr. Kennedy, it's not what you think. I was just,"

"Mama Julie, are you lying to me?" Ivan handed her the phone, his eyes welling up with tears. It looked like he was about to burst into tears again.

Julie couldn't bear to hurt him.

Ivan looked at her with a wronged expression, waiting for her to explain to Kieran. It seemed like if she said "no," he would cry his heart out.

After about thirty seconds of silence, Kieran, on the other end of the phone, still hadn't said anything. In the end, Julie was defeated by the kid's pitiful look and hung up the phone.

Now Ivan was satisfied. He snuggled into Julie's arms, a smile of contentment on his face, and fell asleep. Only then did Julie take out her phone and texted Kieran, "Mr. Kennedy, there was a misunderstanding just now."