Understanding the toll such a public confrontation must have taken, the other contestants instinctively gave her space, choosing to look away and allow her a mont to rest. After all, it was one thing to stand on stage under the scrutiny of judges and strangers, but to fight for your truth in that sa spotlight and win? That was nothing short of extraordinary.
As soon as Xavier sat down, he gently settled Hera on his lap, cradling her head against his shoulder. "Strawberry, are you tired? Want to give you a massage?" he asked softly, his voice laced with concern.
Then he leaned closer, lips brushing the shell of her ear, his tone dropping to sothing deeper, smoother—undeniably seductive. "Or... would you prefer a different kind of massage?" he murmured.
Hera didn’t need him to spell it out. Just hearing the way his voice changed made her blush furiously. He was shalessly teasing her in broad daylight—and in front of an audience, no less. Mortified, she lowered her head to hide her flushed cheeks.
Xavier chuckled, a low, warm sound, as he fondly ruffled her hair. "I’m kidding," he said, his tone softer now. "Rest for a bit. You must be ntally drained, hmm?"
He gently guided her to lean fully against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was like a lullaby, calming her frayed nerves. And he was right—she was exhausted. ntally and emotionally. It hadn’t been easy standing on that stage, defending her truth while the crowd looked at her with suspicion, ready to condemn her without hearing her side. All because soone else had presented her original design first.
Now, wrapped in the quiet safety of Xavier’s arms, she finally allowed herself to breathe.
Hera’s eyelids grew heavier by the second, and before long, she had fallen asleep, curled up against Xavier like the big cat she resembled. Her body relaxed completely, her breathing soft and steady. Xavier smiled tenderly, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face, and instinctively began to hum a soothing pop tune under his breath.
Monts later, Alexandre appeared from the direction Xavier had co from, though this ti, Antoine was nowhere to be seen. Without a word, Alexandre sat beside Xavier, careful not to disturb Hera’s sleep.
"You must be one of the boyfriends she ntioned?" Alexandre asked calmly. Though it sounded like a question, his tone was more of a quiet confirmation.
He studied Xavier’s face—clean-cut, strikingly handso, and strangely familiar. Of course he looked familiar. Xavier was an internationally recognized celebrity, a Hollywood action star known across the globe. And now that he was sitting there in plain view, it didn’t take long for others to recognize him too.
So of the other contestants discreetly took pictures and short videos: Hera asleep in Xavier’s arms, and Alexandre sitting beside them, the air between the two n charged with unspoken tension. It looked like the calm before a storm—or the middle of a love triangle—and that was more than enough to set the internet ablaze again.
The photo, candid and perfectly tid, quickly made its way back to Hera’s ho country, where it ignited yet another trending topic. For fans who had long speculated about Hera’s romantic life, it felt like confirmation—perhaps there really was a seventh suitor in the running.
And Alexandre? With his ruggedly handso features, his strong jawline, and those stormy eyes, he brought a different flavor to Hera’s already diverse group of admirers. Where the others were polished, refined, or flirtatiously charming, Alexandre radiated raw masculinity—his aura practically oozed testosterone. The fact that he spoke fluent French only amplified his appeal.
It didn’t take long before fans began digging up everything they could about him. Within just half an hour, a new fandom had ford: the "Alexa" shippers—those rooting for Hera and Alexandre to beco a couple. They moved fast, establishing their online presence with photos, edits, and speculations, officially adding Alexandre into the mix of potential love interests.
"And you are... Alexandre Arnault, huh?" Xavier said—not asking, but stating the na with certainty. He glanced briefly at Alexandre before returning his gaze to Hera’s sleeping face, his expression softening with unmistakable tenderness.
Alexandre raised an eyebrow, catching the implication. "Don’t tell ... you guys already know about ?" he asked with a dry chuckle. Despite the amusent in his voice, his gaze remained distant and stormy, fixed on Hera as though he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his own arms. The longing and jealousy in his eyes were impossible to miss.
Xavier noticed. He let out a quiet scoff, amused and unbothered—at least on the surface.
"If just seeing her in my arms already makes you this jealous, do you really think you can handle watching her with the others?" Xavier’s voice was calm, but there was a quiet warning in his tone. "And as for whether we knew about you—yes, we did. We’ve been watching over her closely. We can’t help it. Every ti we let her out of our sight, sothing happens. And we’re always afraid—afraid she’ll get hurt."
His gaze remained on Hera, his voice softening briefly. "She’s a celebrity. Every move she makes is scrutinized. And yes, she’s easy to fall for—with that vibrant spirit and kind heart. But if you’re only drawn to her because she’s refreshing, different from the won in your world... if you’re just chasing the novelty, then walk away now."
Xavier looked back at Alexandre, eyes sharp now. "We’ve been with her long enough to understand her, to know her. And more than anything, we want to protect her. Not just from the dangers outside, but from heartbreak, too. We know we won’t be the ones to break her heart."
He leaned back slightly, letting his words sink in.
"But you? You’re still a question mark. You co from the sa world we do—one filled with people who asure value in assets, connections, and ambition. Hera’s not like that. She’s sunlight in a world full of shadows. And while it’s easy to be drawn to her warmth, the question is—will you still want her when the novelty fades? Because if not... then don’t even start."
Xavier was already making their collective stance on Alexandre crystal clear. They knew they couldn’t outright stop Alexandre from pursuing Hera, but that didn’t an they wouldn’t do everything in their power to make it as difficult as possible.
Unlike their earlier rivalry with Leo, which started off a bit hostile but gradually softened, this felt different. Back then, they weren’t sure if Leo would ever be part of their circle. He seed like the outlier—the one who didn’t quite belong. But over ti, Leo proved himself. They grew close. Now, even with Leo being Hera’s clear favorite, none of them resented it anymore.
But Alexandre? He was a different story entirely. From the mont he appeared, it felt like an outsider was trying to invade their carefully built world. Maybe it was because he was a foreigner. Maybe it was his air of confidence, his wealth, or the way he looked at Hera like he already owned her. Whatever it was, all of them felt the sa discomfort. The sa resistance. And Xavier, being the one in the scene and closes to make the confrontation, was the first to voice it—even if that voice ca in the form of a calm but unmistakable threat.
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