CHAPTER 900: CHAPTER 900 THE DOBERMAN AND THE CAT

Of course, that meant Hera would need to be closely monitored. Everything, from her diet and rest schedule to any other medication she took, could affect the drug’s performance. Her entire recovery process would need to be carefully controlled to ensure optimal results.

More than that, Hera also needed to undergo a round of acupuncture and soak in a medicinal bath to speed up her recovery. This was exactly why she felt confident that the movie’s shooting schedule wouldn’t be delayed, because she had this man on her team.

Though he ranked just below Zhane in terms of medical talent, Dr. Zigheart was a relentless workaholic with no life outside his lab. Naturally, he had countless methods for healing tucked away in his arsenal.

While Zhane was a globally renowned genius, the top surgeon and doctor recognized around the world, Dr. Zigheart had always been obsessed with surpassing him. He constantly pushed himself, studying everything from pharmaceutical development to acupuncture and alternative medicine.

Unfortunately for him, Zhane had recently begun learning ancient healing techniques and herbal medicine too, sending Dr. Zigheart into another frantic spiral of competition.

In truth, Dr. Zigheart was supposed to return to the country weeks ago to begin a collaborative case study at Dr. Everett’s hospital as part of his research. But a breakthrough with two experimental drugs had kept him from leaving.

The delay turned out to be a hidden blessing; it not only helped Leo but would now benefit Hera as well. Everything had worked out in the end... though Dr. Zigheart looked every bit like a man who had been burning the candle at both ends.

"Do you want to head to the hotel and get some rest first? I can deliver the medicine to Young Miss myself," Cindy offered gently, eyeing the redness in Dr. Zigheart’s eyes and the heavy dark circles beneath them. Honestly, he looked terrible; if she didn’t know better, she might have mistaken him for some kind of addict. There was just something off and almost alarming about his appearance.

Of course, she knew the reason behind it: he had pulled yet another all-nighter, running on nothing but caffeine while buried under a mountain of case files and research papers. He was clearly pushing himself to the limit.

Meanwhile, Zhane, despite looking a bit stressed, still managed to appear effortlessly composed and strikingly handsome in comparison, as always. In contrast, Zigheart’s unkempt hair, growing stubble, and haunted expression made him look like a shadow of the refined, handsome gentleman he used to be.

’No, this won’t do! I’m also an admired, handsome doctor, but why am I letting myself burn out like this? What if I never find a wife because I look so sloppy?’ Dr. Zigheart groaned inwardly, suddenly struck by the state of his appearance.

After a brief moment of silent crisis, he finally nodded at Cindy. There wasn’t any special method required to take the medicine; Hera simply needed to take one tablet a day, eat well, and stay hydrated. That was manageable enough.

He handed Cindy his tablet, which contained everything she needed: a neatly organized database of dietary guidelines, custom meal plans developed alongside a nutritionist, and specific dos and don’ts for a recovering patient based on different physical and mental conditions.

Everything was sorted for ease of access, so Cindy wouldn’t have to fumble through files. He had also included detailed notes on what to monitor in Hera’s recovery, plus a section where Cindy could record daily updates and progress reports. Since it was still the first day of recovery, there likely wouldn’t be much to report yet, which gave Cindy the confidence to handle things in his place.

And that’s also why Dr. Zigheart didn’t argue; he knew it was safe to leave Hera in good hands... and honestly, he really needed that shower and a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.

After all, he had already spent some time on the plane organizing his notes, so even in his current state of brain fog from sheer exhaustion, he could still manage to keep up. Thank goodness for Cindy, she was truly a blessing sent from the heavens. Not only did she volunteer to handle things for him, but she also gave him the rare chance to finally get some sleep.

As soon as Dr. Zigheart was dropped off at the Imperial Hotel and escorted to his room, he barely managed to drag himself into the shower before collapsing, stark naked, onto the bed. At that point, clothes were the last thing on his mind; he was out cold within minutes.

Meanwhile, Cindy headed straight to the hospital. At the moment, Xavier, Alexandre, Minerva, Athena, and Liz were all still there. Xavier and Alexandre hadn’t left Hera’s room at all, and their unwavering presence had started to make the bodyguards feel guilty.

Early that morning, he slipped out and waited for the nearest clothing store to open. Once it did, he went on a quiet shopping spree, picking up high-end items from Armani and other luxury brands, both casual and formal wear, since he didn’t know their preferences. After all, men of their status didn’t need a reason to wear a suit; they simply wore one when they wanted to.

He also picked up essentials like men’s boxers, socks, shoes, and a full set of toiletries. On the other hand, Minerva and the other girls handled Hera’s clothing and personal items. Since they were familiar with Hera’s preferences, they knew exactly what to bring.

By morning, the floor near the hospital room was lined with dozens of shopping bags, courtesy of the bodyguard, who had returned from his early errand and now stood quietly on guard outside the door.

Thankfully, the private room they had secured for Hera was spacious and well-equipped. It had a full bathroom setup, including a bathtub, allowing caretakers or family members to assist with bathing if needed.

Taking advantage of the facilities, Xavier and Alexandre took turns freshening up. Xavier opted for a simple yet refined look: a soft, grey knitted sweater paired with black dress pants and polished leather shoes. He looked like he had just stepped out of a prestigious private estate, clean, poised, and quietly elegant.

Alexandre, on the other hand, seemed to have an entirely different plan. He changed into sleek black trousers and a crisp white shirt, leaving the top two buttons casually undone to show a hint of his toned chest.

He added a stylish armband to hold his sleeves up, accentuating his well-defined forearms. After combing his hair back in a suave style, the end result was hard to miss; he looked like walking old money, aristocratic down to the smallest detail.

Xavier side-eyed him, unimpressed. No matter which angle he looked from, it was obvious Alexandre was dressing to impress, specifically, to impress Hera. Xavier rolled his eyes, barely holding back a scoff. ’What a show-off... and a try-hard.’

Trying to ignore him, Xavier settled beside Hera, peeling an apple with quiet focus. Hera was already awake by now, her eyes glinting with amusement as if she could read his thoughts just by looking at him. Xavier caught the sparkle in her gaze and gave her a gentle hair ruffle, feeling his irritation melt slightly before he continued serving her.

But Alexandre wasn’t about to give up so easily. He knew that with so many love rivals hovering around Hera, his chances were slim, so every stolen glance, every chance counted. It was a skill in itself if he could steal Hera’s attention.

To Xavier, though, Alexandre looked like a strutting peacock, pacing around the room, subtly trying to grab Hera’s attention. Naturally, it didn’t take long before the two started bickering again, trading jabs and side-eyes like it was second nature.

Hera, watching them, couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Even though she was still in the hospital, it didn’t feel lonely or heavy at all with these two around and their constant antics lighting up the room.

And in those moments, she felt like she was beginning to understand Alexandre more. Though he often appeared cold, domineering, and utterly clueless when it came to women, there was something else beneath that exterior. She couldn’t help but compare him to a Doberman, sharp and intimidating at first glance, but deeply loyal and unexpectedly affectionate to those who mattered. It was a surprising contrast, but one that made her smile.

Xavier actually bickered with Alexandre even more than he did with Dave, and that alone was a surprise. Normally, Xavier kept to himself: always looking half-asleep, acting like a self-contained cat person who only showed his softer, snugglier side when they were alone. But with Alexandre in the room, it was like he transformed.

The two of them were like a cat and a dog, constantly trading jabs, meowing and barking at each other over the smallest things. Yet, underneath all that chaos, there was a strange sense of camaraderie. Because when a real threat appeared, they didn’t hesitate to stand back to back, defending each other without question.

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