From the mont he first t Hera, he sensed an innate ability in her to bring out the best in people. She had helped him overco his trauma, and gradually, he found himself becoming more comfortable getting close to Diamond again, just as he had in the past. It wasn’t just him—everyone in the village seed to adore Hera. Her charm effortlessly drew people towards her, and she possessed all the qualities of a natural leader.
Bry was convinced that Hera could tackle any challenge that ca her way with ease. His eyes sparkled as he continued to watch her give instructions over the phone, carrying herself with the authority of a seasoned leader managing hundreds of subordinates.
When Hera ended the call, she noticed Bry acting like an enthusiastic fan beside her. Unable to resist, she reverted to her playful deanor, chuckling as she ruffled his hair. "Alright, you can relax now," she said, "because I’ve sent soone very reliable to handle the investigation. All we have to do is sit back and relax."
Bry’s worry was evident as he questioned, "How long will the investigation take? How many months will it take?" He recounted how his father had relentlessly pursued answers for six months following his uncle’s accident, convinced it was more than just chance. Despite his father’s efforts, no one else shared his suspicions. Even when Bry confided in his uncle, the response was dismissive, a gentle pat on the head accompanied by advice not to dwell on it. Disheartened, Bry watched as his father returned empty-handed, resigned to the belief that their concerns were futile, re shadows against the backdrop of wealth and power.
Bry noticed a shift in his father’s deanor—from tirelessly investigating to seemingly disregarding the matter entirely. Now, his father buried himself in work, striving to earn enough to sustain his uncle’s ongoing treatnt.
Hera abruptly halted, her gaze shifting to Bry, who nervously clutched at his clothes. She felt a pang of empathy as she witnessed his usually bubbly deanor replaced by apprehension. "It will not take months," she reassured him, her tone firm yet comforting.
Bry’s head snapped towards Hera with lightning speed, surprise evident on his face. "Not months? Then weeks?" His eyes glead with newfound hope, brimming with eagerness.
"Hmm," Hera pretended she was thinking, wanting to tease Bry, but his nervousness lted her heart, prompting her to stop teasing him imdiately. "My friend said that it would only take two hours to complete their investigation." While Hera believed in the tifra given to her, she also knew it was a modest estimation; it could be completed even sooner.
So, she shared the modest estimation with Bry and planned to surprise him with the results once she had them in hand. But instead of surprising him, she was the one taken aback to see Bry crying and laughing simultaneously. He even jumped up to give her a big bear hug.
"Huhuhu! Sister! You’re really the best!!!!" Bry cried like a child as he clung to Hera, drawing attention to them. Even Xavier, who had been keeping a close eye on the two, was drawn to the commotion. When he saw Bry clinging to Hera like an octopus, he strode over faster than Zen, who was also drawn by Bry’s voice.
They were stationed next to each other’s cubicles, so it didn’t take long for the two to reach Hera. But the first thing Xavier did when he got closer was to pry Bry away from her. "Why are you clinging to her like an octopus?" Xavier murmured as he pulled Bry away by the collar.
"Of course, it’s because I’m happy and I wanted to thank Sister," Bry explained, trying to get away from Xavier’s grasp on the back of his neck.
"Use your words, not your body, to thank soone," Xavier said sternly, his voice carrying a reprimanding tone.
Hera thought that Xavier only thinks of her best interest by saying that and wouldn’t want Bry to give her a hard ti. "It’s okay Brother Xavier. It does not bother ." Hera said as she smiled sweetly at Xavier.
Xavier was montarily speechless, his lips pressed into a thin line as he pondered. anwhile, Bry slipped out of his grip and darted behind Hera, mischievously sticking his tongue out while clutching onto Hera’s arm like a playful child.
Hera felt gratified to see Bry returning to his playful, bubbly self, confirming to her that she had made the right decision.
Amidst their playful banter, the balding man returned, this ti accompanied by an entourage of professionals—a veterinarian, his own stable boy, and several others. Surrounded by five n, he strode purposefully toward his horse, which happened to be stationed right beside Hera’s.
As he passed by, he cast Hera a flirtatious glance, complete with what he likely thought was the most dashing wink and a pouty expression.
"Is he trying to pull off the Prince Charming act?" Zen muttered to Hera, his face twisted in disgust as if the sight was making him queasy. "Ugh! My eyes!"
"Right... Prince Charming of Shrek," Hera said with a deadpanned expression. The ntal image struck Zen’s funny bone, and he burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. Hera’s delivery of the insult only made him laugh harder. Bry, still clinging to Hera, overheard her remark and joined Zen in laughing like there was no tomorrow.
"Sister, you’re savage!" Bry gasped between breaths, struggling to contain his laughter. The ntal image of the balding Prince Charming from Shrek was hilarious, and both Bry and Zen found it uproariously funny. If Zen was not forced by his sister to watch Shrek before, he wouldn’t have known what the character looked like.
Hera wasn’t intending to mock the man’s appearance; she rely ntioned what he reminded her of. It wasn’t ant to be a snarky comnt, but now she refrained from correcting the two because she didn’t want to draw more attention to the situation and she didn’t want to look too guilty.
As if he felt that they were laughing at him, the man shot them a sidelong glance with narrowed brows. However, when his gaze t Hera’s, he flashed her another suggestive smile, which triggered Xavier’s irritation. Xavier pulled Hera closer to his chest, adopting an intimate stance as if to assert his role as her fiancé.
Hera comprehended Xavier’s intentions, so she didn’t resist. Instead, she played along, embodying the role of a loving fiancée relishing her partner’s affectionate gestures. She’s trying to show a mixture of shyness and a desire for more, although in truth, she was repulsed whenever the balding man cast his suggestive gaze her way, as if ntally undressing her. The sensation was nauseating to the extre.
She drew closer to Xavier, wrapping her arms around his slender waist, her voice dripping with sweetness and affection as she whispered in his ear, "Vier, I miss you!" Ending with the sweetest smile she could muster, she conveyed a sense of genuine longing and tenderness.
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