Before Hera closed her eyes, she caught a glimpse of Dave’s face. A knowing smile spread across his lips as he lay on the bed, his gaze still fixed on her.
It was as if his expression was saying, ’I did great, didn’t I? Saved you from having to explain yourself...’ Hera couldn’t help but smile faintly in return, silently acknowledging his unexpected help.
It was only then that Hera realized Dave’s actions had been a calculated move, designed to help her avoid the awkwardness of an explanation or the guilt of offering a half-believable excuse.
It dawned on her that everyone had already picked up on the fact that she was hiding sothing, yet they all chose to turn a blind eye.
Instead, they played along with Dave’s antics, shifting the focus and easing the tension in the air.
In a way, they were all complicit, working together to give Hera a way out without having to confront the truth.
For so reason, Hera felt like she was choking on her own words.
She could only reach out and pat Dave’s hair a few tis, unsure of what else to do. Dave closed his eyes, a satisfied gleam in his gaze, his eyes turning into crescent moons as he basked in the silent praise from his favorite person.
Hera took a deep breath and closed her eyes, pushing all the thoughts swirling in her mind aside.
The group took a nap and woke up just before lunch.
Since Hera hadn’t returned to the penthouse, Hannah and Amy assud she had stayed at the hospital with Rafael.
Given the buzz online and her need to stay low, it made sense that Hera would keep her movents discreet.
When she didn’t co back to pick up the lunch they had prepared for Rafael, as requested, Hannah and Amy decided to pack up the food for everyone and head to the hospital to deliver it.
Hera and the others stirred awake at the soft knock on the door. "Co in," Luke said hoarsely, propping himself up slightly in bed.
The others, still half-asleep, remained languidly stretched out, unwilling to leave the warmth of their covers.
Reluctantly, Luke stood up and made his way to the door, where he could tell the visitors were a bit hesitant to enter.
As soon as he slid the door open, Amy and Hannah stepped in, their eyes carefully avoiding the room as they headed straight for the built-in kitchen.
Without a word, they began transferring the lunch to plates and setting the table.
anwhile, Hera and the others slowly began to stir from the bed, and Leo, roused from his deep sleep, began to wake up as well.
"Good morning, wifey..." His voice, husky and laced with seduction, greeted Hera as she stirred in the bed. Her space was limited, with Leo clinging to her and refusing to let go, leaving her with little choice but to turn from side to side.
"Good morning," she murmured, rubbing her eyes. "We should get up and eat lunch. Did you have breakfast earlier?"
"No..." Leo replied, his voice soft as he snuggled closer to Hera’s shoulder, unwilling to trade her warmth for food.
"I don’t want to let go." His words carried a childlike tone, as if he were seeking comfort and affection.
Hera couldn’t help but giggle, gently patting Leo’s chest a few tis. The motion made Leo chuckle in response, the deep sound sending a ripple of warmth through his chest where Hera’s face was resting. His baritone laughter reverberated above her head, filling the air with a soothing, playful energy.
’Oh god, I could listen to that laugh all day,’ Hera thought, content to remain still in Leo’s warm embrace.
Without another word, Leo gently propped himself up, lifting Hera effortlessly in his arms like a princess. He carried her straight to the dining table, his movents steady and purposeful.
"Hey, that’s unfair," Dave chid in, his voice languid yet playful, with a hint of teasing as he pouted. He too propped himself up, stretching his limbs slowly, clearly enjoying the lazy noon.
"What, you want to be carried like a princess too?" Xavier asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Dave, clearly amused by his antics.
Dave paused for a mont, his mind still foggy, the sleep lingering just a bit longer than usual.
His brain took a mont to catch up, but when he finally understood what Xavier ant, he sprang out of bed, intent on kicking Xavier in the rear.
But Xavier was quicker. With a lazy grin, he dodged Dave’s attempt and made his way to the dining table, leaving Dave standing there, montarily stunned and alone.
Earlier, it had been Zhane who fed Rafael, but now, Luke had taken on the role.
No one wanted Hera to be the one to feed him, not because they didn’t want to help Rafael, but because they didn’t want him to receive special treatnt from Hera.
They all knew that if she did, they’d feel a surge of envy and would probably want to be hospitalized just to get the sa kind of care. It was childish, but then again, n would always be n.
Rafael, aware of their unspoken thoughts, could only glare at Luke.
However, he didn’t protest—he didn’t want to make Hera feel uncomfortable or distract her from eating.
So, he rely shot Luke a nacing look while Luke continued to maintain his gentlemanly composure, unbothered by the glare.
Amy and Hannah, standing quietly at the side, exchanged a glance as they observed the interactions unfolding around them.
It was clear to them that there was an unspoken understanding among the group.
Although they knew all six n were courting Hera and vying for her attention, they still managed to work things out without creating a hostile atmosphere.
Instead, they maintained a united front, calmly behaving like friends.
What struck Amy and Hannah as the strangest part was how natural everything felt—despite the underlying tension, it all seed to flow effortlessly.
Ring...
Ring...
Hera’s phone rang again.
Determined not to make the sa mistake as before, she rushed to grab it from her bag.
No one tried to stop her or even reacted outwardly, but her hasty movents only served to confirm what everyone had already suspected—Hera was hiding sothing.
The five n exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. Though they kept their composure, all of them couldn’t help but lean in slightly, ears straining as Hera answered the phone.
"Hello?" Hera’s soft voice broke the silence, making the entire room feel as if it had frozen in ti.
"Hera, I have both good news and bad news for you." Betty’s voice ca through, straight to the point without any small talk.
The fact that it was Betty calling, and not Gerald or anyone from the Avery Consortium, imdiately eased the tension in Hera’s shoulders.
She let out a quiet sigh of relief, her body relaxing slightly as a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"What’s the good news, then?" Hera asked, her tone curious but calm. It was as if she hadn’t even heard Betty ntion the bad news.
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