Chapter 265
Love’s Cunning Ruse ( Mr.Kieran And Julie )
Chapter 265
Not far off, on the verdant golf course, a man in a crisp white polo was taking his swings. His tall and lean silhouette made a striking figure as he held the golf club, with a caddy by his side. His pristine white golf shoes stood out against the green.
That familiar height and figure made Kieran, who usually maintained his composure, furrow his brow,
After sinking the putt, the man, Zenith, handed his club to the caddy. His gaze unintentionally swept across the few people standing in the distance. He frowned slightly and turned to Jesse, his assistant, âSeems like you donât understand the meaning of a private booking.â
Jesse followed Zenithâs gaze to Kieran and Julie. He made a quick, apologetic bow to Zenith before briskly walking toward them.
Zenithâs caddy handed him another club as Jesse moved toward Kieran and Julie. However, before Jesse could reach them, Kieran strode past him, heading straight for Zenith.
Jesse twisted around to chase after Kieran, and Julie quickened her pace to follow them.
The man on the green, it was Lucian Hernandez. The likeness to Kieran was uncanny, from the shape of his eyes to his height. It was Lucian, exactly as Julie remembered him.
Zenith was going to take another swing, but Kieran stopped him.
Zenith lowered his club and looked at Kieran, then at Jesse who was apologizing once again, âIâm sorry, Mr. Mooreâ¦â
The aura this man radiated was just too overwhelming. Jesse had to admit, he was completely overpowered.
Zenith waved off Jesse, handing him the club and coldly said, âLeave.â
Jesse quickly scurried away, taking the club and caddy with him.
As she took a closer look, Julie became even more convinced that this man was Lucian. But how was he standing? The last photo Julien had shown her, Lucian was wheelchair-bound.
In disbelief, Julieâs pupils dilated, âLucian?â
3
Tears swelled in her eyes.
Kieran and Zenith stood face to face on the green, neither of them uttering a word. They were gazing at each other, the air filled with intensity.
After Julie tentatively called out, Zenith finally broke into a smile. He looked at Julie nonchalantly and said, âAre you referring to me, miss?â
âIs that the opening line youâve thought of for nearly ten years?â Kieranâs brow furrowed, his gaze icy.
= 3 T
Zenith turned his gaze back to Kieran. After a few seconds, he turned to Cyrus, âSeems like Mr. Nelson doesnât understand the concept of a private booking either.â
âMr. Moore, thisâ¦â
Kieran reached out, grabbing Zenithâs arm.
Zenith looked down at his captured arm and said coldly, âDid Mr. Hernandez mistake me for someone else?â
Hearing this cold, unfamiliar tone, Julie couldnât bring herself to believe that this man wasnât Lucian. She shook her head, clutching Kieranâs hand, feeling lost.
Kieran tightened his grip on Zenithâs arm. Zenith winced slightly from the pain.
From his earlier words, it was clear he knew Kieran. Julie looked at Zenith with a complex expression, âKieran has been looking for you for nearly ten yearsâ¦â
âLucian?â Zenith tasted the name as it rolled off his tongue.
He pulled his arm out of Kieranâs grip, flexed his wrist, and said, âIâve seen your brotherâs photo. I canât deny, we do bear some resemblance. But Mr. Hernandez, mistaking me for your brother, thatâs something you need to rectify.â
Zenith patted Kieranâs shoulder, then glanced at Cyrus, âI expect Mr. Nelson to provide me with a satisfactory explanation.â
Kieranâs gaze was venomous. Julie held his hand nervously. She couldnât imagine the turmoil Kieran was feeling, but she knew it had to be intense.
But after his momentary lapse, he quickly regained his composure. Blocking Zenithâs path, Kieran said, âYou are Mr. Moore, right?â
âMr. Hernandez no longer considers me as the elder brother?â Zenith asked, standing his ground as Kieran had blocked his way.
Kieran cut to the chase, âIâm here to discuss a deal with you, Mr. Moore. Are you interested?â
âSorry, I have a lunch appointment today.â Zenith pretended to glance at his watch, âItâs about time.â
He pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Kieran, âIf Mr. Hernandez has something important to discuss, perhaps you could schedule a meeting with my secretary.â
Kieran took the card and Zenith strode off the golf course.
Kieran held the business card tightly, his knuckles turning white. Julie took the card from him and held his arm.
The card read âPresident of Zenith Group, Zenith Mooreâ, along with Zenithâs contact details and his secretary Jesseâs contact details.
Julie held the card, frowning. She looked at Kieran, âIs it him? Is it your brother?â
It had to be! How else could there be someone who looked so similar?
Kieranâs gaze, which had been fixed in the distance, finally returned. He turned and pulled Julie into his arms.
The only thing Julie couldnât comprehend was, if Zenith was truly Lucian, then how could he move around so effortlessly? After Lucian had rushed into the raging flames to save him, his legs were so badly injured that he couldnât stand anymore.
Yet, the Zenith who just stood before them clearly moved about freely.
Kieran whipped out his phone and sent a picture to Hayde. Julie looked at the photograph of Zenith that Kieran had just sneakily taken, she didnât even know when he had managed to take it.
Soon, Hayden called back, uttering only one word, âLucian?â
âIâm not sure.â Kieran was sincere with his words. The man who stood in front of him was clearly his elder brother who had disappeared for nearly a decade. But the functioning legs, the unfamiliar tone, and the entirely different aura made it hard for Kieran to accept.
But he knew that nothing was impossible over the past decade. So, he added to Hayden, âEighty percent sure.â
âThose legsâ¦â Even Hayden on the other end of the phone fell silent for a few seconds before asking, âWhere did you get this picture?â
âWe just met, Zenith, the President of Zenith Group,â Kieran said.
âI see, Iâll have Lien investigate,â Hayden ended the call.
As Kieran held Julieâs hand and entered the lobby, Zenith had already driven away. Kieran directly drove to the local hospital.
Mr. Nestor, the orthopedic surgeon at the hospital, was already in his sixties. Julie didnât know why Kieran sought Mr. Nestor, so she simply followed him quietly.
Upon seeing Kieran, Mr. Nestor warmly greeted him, standing up and shaking his hand, âYoung master, what brings you here?â
Hearing Mr. Nestor address Kieran as young masterâ, Julie recalled some forgotten memories. When Lucian was still living at Noblewood Retreat, Julie had visited the Hernandez family and seemed to have met Mr. Nestor.
She had assumed Mr. Nestor was the family doctor of the Hernandez family, not realizing he was also the head of the Orthopedic Department at the local hospital.
âMr. Nestor,â Kieran greeted politely, then without further ado, went straight to the point, âDo you still remember my brotherâs condition?â
âOhâ¦â Mr. Nestor sighed at the mention of Lucian, âHe has been gone for so long, why do you suddenly bring this up?â
Kieran replied, âLucianâs memorial day is coming up soon. I just thought of it and wanted to ask if you still have his medical records?â
âTheyâre stored in the computer. Although itâs been a long time, I think we should be able to find them if we look,â Mr. Nestor said.
âThank you, Mr. Nestor.â
After Hayden received the picture from Kieran, he forwarded it to Julien, leaving two words under the photo, âCome here.â
Julien, who was living next door and was currently sorting out the Fitzgerald familyâs related documents, didnât expect Haydenâs summons and had to stop what she was doing..
She knocked on Haydenâs door, phone in hand.
âCome in,â Haydenâs voice came from inside the room.
As soon as Julien entered, she pointed at the photo in her hand and asked, âWhere did you get this?â
âKerry sent it over,â Hayden put down his pen and asked Julien, âWhat do you think?â
Julien glanced at the photo again and finally concluded in a questioning tone, âLucian standing up?â
âA man paralyzed for many years, survived a plane crash, and then miraculously stood up?â Hayden clapped his hands.
Even though the applause carried a jeering tone, now was not the time to argue with Hayden.
âCan you send the photo to me?â she asked.
Hayden, leaning back in his chair, said softly, âSend it yourself.â
Julien opened Haydenâs iMessage, then looked for her own contact. Finally, she found that Hayden had saved a remark for her, a simple word â âherâ.
Julienâs eyes flickered slightly, but she pretended to be calm, as if nothing had happened, and silently skimmed through his contact list before sending the photo to herself.
She asked him, âWho took it?â
âKerry. It was Zenith, the President of Zenith Group,â Hayden said.
Julien raised an eyebrow, asking, âThe never-publicly-seen Zenith? And he looks exactly like Lucian?â
âWhether itâs Lucian or not is yet to be confirmed.â
âSo, you want me to investigate?â She asked, âWhat about the heir to the Fitzgeralds? Should I still look into that?â
âCan you find anything?â He asked.,
The Fitzgeralds were people that even Miles Simson couldnât handle, let alone the fact that the Fitzgerald family had a strong backing. Julien wasnât sure.
So she replied with two words, âMaybe not.â
âThen investigate what you can.â
Julien nodded and turned to leave, but was suddenly stopped by Hayden, âLien.â
Julien paused but did not turn around.
Hayden stood up, walked closer to Julien, and finally stopped behind her. Leaning towards her ear, he said, âLetâs talk about what happened the night you got
drunk.â