Hera, Zen, and Xavier made their way back to the reserved stable for the competition horses. Each participant was allocated a cubicle for their horse, providing a space for them to rest and calm their nerves before the competition began.
Event officers were stationed at each entrance and exit, and CCTV caras surveilled the entire stable area. These asures were implented as precautions against any potential underhanded tactics by competitors, ensuring fairness and providing reassurance for all participants.
Bry’s father and uncle were thrilled with the heightened security asures, feeling reassured by the precautions in place. Unlike previous competitions where only event officers were assigned to maintain peace and order, the addition of CCTV caras and strict entrance/exit controls provided a sense of safety. They vividly recalled a past incident where a minor altercation led to heated tensions inside the stable, resulting in a minor injury. Unfortunately, when event officers intervened, the situation escalated, with no one willing to admit fault, leading to a frustrating "he said, she said" scenario.
In the past, Bry’s uncle participated in the competition, which is why he and his brother were particularly impressed by the current event sponsor’s generosity and attention to detail in ensuring everything was ticulously organized.
The race track was immaculate, boasting sturdy benches and an air of extravagance, with everything appearing freshly purchased and painted. However, their attention was quickly drawn away by the presence of nurous famous and affluent participants. The bustling stable was filled with competitors diligently caring for their horses.
"Hmph! You have the audacity to show your face here even in your crippled state?" an annoyingly arrogant voice cut through the stable as soon as Hera entered. Her gaze landed on a group gathered in the center, confirming that the voice originated from there.
The ntion of "cripple" instantly raised Hera’s concern for Bry’s uncle, leading her temper to simr. With a determined stride, she made her way toward the gathering, her mind racing with worry and determination.
Sure enough, at the center of the commotion, Bry’s uncle sat in his wheelchair, while an obnoxious man, exuding arrogance like a peacock, stood before him, brandishing his horsewhip threateningly.
Hera sensed Bry’s hand stiffen at the sight of the man, prompting her to glance down at him with concern. It was then she noticed Bry’s reddened eyes and nose, his lips pursed tightly. Being still young, Bry couldn’t conceal his emotions, his expression transparently reflecting his inner turmoil.
Upon witnessing Bry’s reaction, Hera’s gaze returned to the man. Coincidentally, he seed to sense their intense stare, causing him to montarily pause his actions and glance in their direction. As his eyes t Hera’s, they glead brightly, as though he had stumbled upon a treasure amidst a pile of cobblestones.
He imdiately disregarded Bry’s uncle and marched straight toward Hera, seemingly uninterested in acknowledging anyone else in the vicinity. Hera could imdiately sense his snobbish and selfishly arrogant deanor. He reminded her of the trust fund babies she had encountered while working as a waitress in a high-end restaurant—mostly arrogant and only concerned with their own desires, with little regard for others.
Hera maintained her composure, steadfast in her stance as the man approached. Sensing Bry’s apprehension, she gently squeezed his hand, offering silent reassurance that they were together, and there was no need to fear the big bald wolf.
Hera made a concerted effort to ignore the man’s balding and receding hairline, though it glead conspicuously like a polished mirror atop his forehead. Suppressing the urge to burst into laughter, she maintained a calm deanor and averted her gaze. In doing so, she happened to lock eyes with Zen, whose amusent was evident, his eyes narrowing into crescents without any attempt to conceal his amusent.
Zen’s shoulders quivered as he struggled to avert his gaze from the man, whose pompous deanor resembled that of a peacock. However, his efforts were in vain as he inadvertently locked eyes with Hera, whose mischievous glint only exacerbated his difficulty in containing his laughter.
Observing Hera’s expression and her attempt to avoid eye contact, the man misinterpreted her reaction as shyness in his presence. This misunderstanding only served to boost his confidence, akin to a peacock flaunting its vibrant fan-like tail feathers.
"It must be my luckiest day to encounter such a beautiful woman in a place like this," the man remarked, extending a hand as if to kiss Hera’s. His pretentious display of chivalry sent shivers down Hera’s spine, feeling as though bugs were crawling beneath her skin. However, she maintained her composure, though her discomfort was palpable.
Fortunately, after spending a week together, Hera, Xavier, and Zen had developed an unspoken understanding. Zen instinctively moved closer to Hera, draping his arm around her shoulders in a protective gesture, resembling an older brother. "My apologies, sir. My brother-in-law tends to get a bit jealous when soone gets too close to my little sister," Zen explained with a contrite smile, shooting a discreet glance in Xavier’s direction.
Taking his cue, Xavier approached Hera, his arms enveloping her slim waist with ease before drawing her into a warm embrace. With practiced nonchalance, he acted as though he had just arrived, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Sorry for making you wait."
Hera felt the gentle touch of Xavier’s lips against her skin, sending a wave of electricity through her entire body. Subconsciously, her eyes closed, her long lashes fluttering delicately, lending her a shy and demure air at that mont.
Observing Hera’s reaction, the man felt a tumultuous churn in his stomach, unable to tear his gaze away from her. However, when he shifted his attention to Xavier and noticed his striking appearance, a pang of irritation washed over him, feeling as though his ego had been slighted. Ignoring Xavier, he redirected his focus to Hera. "A pleasure to et you. May I have the honor of knowing your na?"
"Sister, it’s ti to go. Father said you need to get ready," Bry interjected at the opportune mont, noticing the man’s attempts to engage Hera.
Without sparing the man a second glance, Xavier guided Hera away, leading her to where Bry’s father and uncle awaited. The man felt a surge of irritation at Xavier’s apparent dismissal, his gaze following them until they reached Bry’s father and uncle.
Upon realizing Hera’s connection to the two, a mischievously sinister smile played on the man’s lips. Having conducted a background check on Bry’s uncle a year and a half ago, he was aware of their humble background as poor farrs. Now, hearing Bry refer to Hera as his sister, the man assud Hera was rely the daughter of a poor farr, making her an easy target for his predatory intentions, even despite her engagent.
He watched her for a bit before leaving in a good mood.
Hera shivered as a cold sensation ran down her spine. ’Who could be plotting against ?’ she wondered, feeling a twinge of unease. She looked around her surroundings but found no suspicious people roaming around them.
"Are you alright?" Xavier’s lazy voice whispered so close to her ear, the warmth of his breath tickling her skin.
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PS: Hello again, everyone! I want to start by apologizing for the error in Chapter 138. I attempted to remove a panel from the previous Chapter that was mistakenly included, but due to word count limitations for deletion, I couldn’t rectify it. Unfortunately, I realized this too late as I was in a rush.
To make up for this oversight, I plan to do a mass release in these two days instead. Please forgive , okay? (ó﹏ò｡)
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