He felt torn, caught between his growing concern and the trust he had in her ability to handle the situation.
But after a while, he managed to suppress the unsettling feeling, regaining his usual calm and composed deanor.
Leo, Luke, Dave, Zhane, and Rafael positioned themselves in one corner, their attention locked onto Hera, ensuring that no one would cause her trouble.
Many people wanted to approach them to discuss business matters, but the five of them exuded an unmistakable aura—one that silently warned, ’Do not approach. Do not disturb.’ This unspoken ssage made many hesitate, unwilling to risk getting too close.
Soon, a bold young woman approached them, unaware of the unspoken warning in the air. She was a returning heiress from abroad, unfamiliar with the current dynamics of their social circle.
The other won around her tried to dissuade her, whispering urgent warnings, but she ignored them, determined to make her move.
"Don’t stop ," she said confidently, flipping her hair. "With my beauty and sexy body, I’m sure I can catch at least one of them. Just watch ."
Her friends stood at the opposite corner, anxiously observing Leo and the others. They had been watching the group since their arrival, but only now had the woman gathered enough courage to make her move.
As she approached, she realized that Leo and the others were even more breathtaking up close. Their chiseled features, towering height, and toned bodies—barely concealed by the fabric of their shirts—made her heart race.
’I’ve t and played with countless handso n abroad, especially in Italy and Russia, but these guys...’ she thought, licking her lips. ’They’re exactly my type. I have to get at least one of them.’
"Hi, gentlen. Care for a drink?" she said smoothly, striding over with confidence, two glasses of red wine in hand. She offered them to whoever was willing to take them.
Rafael and Dave barely spared her a glance, their eyes flickering briefly to the glasses before turning back to Hera without even acknowledging the woman’s face.
A cold snort escaped both n—Rafael’s subtle, but Dave’s was more obvious, his disdain practically dripping from his expression.
The woman felt slighted and ignored, her face instantly heating up. She had expected to strike up a conversation with the n, maybe even captivate one of them, but being completely dismissed was not part of her plan.
However, instead of backing down, she felt a surge of excitent—her competitive nature flaring to life.
The more they ignored her, the more determined she beca. After all, what fun was there in n who fell at her feet too easily? The thrill was in the chase, in making them resist before they inevitably gave in.
That was why she never stayed with a single man for too long—once they started falling for her, she lost interest. The initial excitent always faded, pushing her to seek a new conquest, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind her.
In that sense, she was no different from Brother Lei. When their eyes t earlier in the evening, they both recognized the kindred nature within each other—two players in the sa ga. And precisely because of that, there was no real attraction between them.
For this woman, these aloof and arrogant n were exactly the kind of challenge she craved. They were difficult, unattainable, and to her, that made them all the more desirable.
She licked her lips again, already imagining the thrill of breaking their cold deanor—of making them bend to her will, obey her every request. Just the thought sent a rush of excitent through her.
Instead of retreating to her friends in defeat, she stepped outside for a mont to compose herself. When she returned, she didn’t go back to her group.
Instead, she lingered near Leo and the others, subtly watching them from the corner of her eye, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
Watching from the sidelines, Alice’s eyes glead with malice as a sinister idea took root in her mind. A slow, calculating smile curled on her lips before she quietly slipped away into the crowd.
anwhile, after spending an extended ti socializing with the Lowery couple, Hera was beginning to feel drained from the endless pleasantries. Even Athena, usually energetic, was starting to wear down.
After all, they had only recently returned to their true identities, and this was their first official banquet—one that required them to constantly engage with and accommodate an overwhelming number of guests.
The sheer effort was taking a toll on them, making their bodies ache with exhaustion.
In contrast, Mr. and Mrs. Lowery remained in their elent, seamlessly navigating the banquet hall with practiced ease, continuing to converse and network with the attendees as if they could go on all night.
Hera and Athena made their way toward Leo and the others, with Hera intent on formally introducing her best friend to her lovers. Without hesitation, she gently pulled Athena along.
"Babe, let’s sit down for a bit and grab sothing to eat and drink, okay? I need to recharge," Athena grumbled, letting herself be dragged along, her exhaustion evident in her voice.
"When you’re shopping, you have unlimited energy, but now you’re acting like you’re on your last breath?" Hera teased, still holding onto Athena. She knew her best friend was just being lazy and looking for an excuse to rest.
"That’s different! Co on, let’s grab sothing to eat for a bit, okay?" Athena insisted.
Just as Hera was about to respond, a familiar voice called out from behind her.
"Little sister Hera!"
Turning around, she spotted Zen in the crowd, looking fresh and sharp as ever.
"You’re here too?" Athena asked, raising an eyebrow. She didn’t recall sending an invitation to Zen.
"Oh! Yeah," Zen replied with a grin. "My grandfather couldn’t make it, so he sent in his place to show our sincerity. By the way, my grandfather is Victor Ainsley."
Athena’s eyes lit up in realization. "Oh, right! He was one of our special guests. The gentlen on the second floor were waiting for him after hearing that we invited him," she said thoughtfully, now recalling who Victor Ainsley was.
"That’s right," Zen nodded, "but unfortunately, I got caught up with so matters earlier, so I arrived a bit late. Sorry about that." He offered a polite smile before continuing, "To make up for it, I’ve prepared so gifts for you, your family, and Hera."
He gestured behind him, and Athena followed his motion, spotting several staff mbers carefully arranging the gifts he had brought. There were so many that her eyes instantly sparkled with excitent.
"No worries, no worries! Everyone’s busy, and it’s completely understandable," Athena said, her mood shifting instantly as if she had been recharged.
Seeing this, Hera let out a playful snort at her best friend before tugging Athena toward Leo and the rest. Zen followed along to greet them as well.
Since he had already spoken with Leo and the others a few tis before, it wasn’t awkward. More importantly, they didn’t see him as a rival because they all knew he only saw Hera as a little sister. Because of that, they didn’t mind him hovering around her.
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