CHAPTER 912: CHAPTER 912 DISLIKE ALEXANDRE?

Then again... being drugged and accidentally having a one-night stand, it could have happened. The possibility was remote, but not impossible. As Xavier considered this, his lips pressed into a tight line, caught in a swirl of half-formed conclusions and speculative logic.

If Hera knew just how far his imagination had wandered trying to untangle her identity, she’d probably laugh and tell him he had quite the wild imagination.

But she couldn’t really blame Xavier for thinking that way. After all, no one knew that the student attending Princeton Academy was merely a stand-in for the real Avery heiress, a decoy placed to protect her. Her grandfather had been fiercely protective of her since childhood. He never believed the story that his son and daughter-in-law’s deaths were just a tragic accident.

Haunted by suspicion and driven by love, he did everything he could to shield Hera from the world, especially from those wolves in sheep’s clothing. He vowed to keep her hidden until the day she was strong enough to stand on her own, ready to face the predators circling in the shadows.

While Xavier quietly played detective on the sidelines, piecing together the clues in his mind, Cindy and Dr. Zigheart were focused on checking Hera’s condition. Only after confirming that she was truly unharmed and hadn’t sustained any injuries did their tension finally ease.

"Should I begin arranging the discharge process so we can return to our home country?" Dr. Zigheart asked gently. "You’d be safer there. Let’s leave things here to Gerald; he’s already arrived in Paris to assist and ensure the police investigation proceeds without interference. And with Sasha tracking the financial trail and the hired assassins, the case will likely be resolved in a few days. There’s no reason for you to stay here any longer."

His voice carried the weight of concern, but also the quiet hope that Hera would agree. However, they all knew how stubborn she could be, and sure enough, she shook her head.

"We can’t go home yet, not until the case is closed and I see with my own eyes that the wicked have paid for what they’ve done," Hera said firmly. "Besides, like you said, it’ll only take a few more days at most. Let’s wait until then."

But the real reason she wanted to stay wasn’t just justice. Deep down, Hera knew she couldn’t walk away without properly untangling things with Alexandre. The Arnaults were helping her because of him, and she couldn’t just leave him hanging, especially after everything he’d done.

He had stood by her side, protected her alongside Xavier, even knowing it could cost him his life. Hera could feel his sincerity. Alexandre wasn’t just trying to help; he was showing her how serious he was, going so far as to use his family’s influence to pressure the authorities, guard the evidence, and even put himself in harm’s way.

That kind of loyalty couldn’t be ignored. Hera knew she had to face it, acknowledge it. It wouldn’t be right to pretend she felt nothing. She owed it to him, and to her own conscience, not to leave things unresolved in a way that might affect his future relationships or his peace of mind.

Xavier, understanding the unspoken reason behind Hera’s decision, didn’t try to stop her. He, too, wanted to see just how far the man trying to enter their circle, Alexandre, would go. It wasn’t out of pride or rivalry; Xavier was genuinely grateful for all that Alexandre had done. Still, once they returned home, there was a good chance Alexandre would disappear from their lives entirely, and they’d move forward, living freely.

But what about Alexandre?

Xavier worried that if things were left unresolved, Alexandre might project his feelings for Hera onto another woman, using her as a stand-in, knowingly or not. That kind of entanglement would only end up hurting both people. It wouldn’t be fair.

Though it might not happen, Xavier preferred to think several steps ahead rather than deal with the consequences of what-ifs. He understood Alexandre in a way only someone like him could, because they were cut from the same cloth. Men who didn’t fall easily, but when they did, they fell hard. Body, mind, and soul.

And when that kind of love went unanswered, it could be devastating. The pain didn’t just stay with them; it rippled outward, hurting others too. It could become destructive. That was why he silently supported Hera’s decision. She needed to give Alexandre clarity, one way or another. Only then could they all move forward, without regret.

And surely, Alexandre would change, perhaps drastically. He might become a complete womanizer, never settling down, chasing distraction after distraction. Or worse, he might choose a substitute, someone he could never truly love, someone he’d end up hurting while hurting himself in the process.

Xavier knew that if Hera ever found out how Alexandre turned out, she’d be deeply affected. She would blame herself for not being firm enough, for not giving him the closure he deserved. That guilt would eat away at her, even if none of it was truly her fault.

"Let her stay a little longer. This way, her body can get more rest before the trip, it’ll make the journey less uncomfortable," Xavier said, calmly backing Hera up. He took a seat beside her bed, gently running his fingers through her soft hair.

Hearing his words, Alexandre, who had been tense and anxious just moments ago, felt a quiet sense of relief. A flicker of happiness settled in his chest as he remained standing at the side, his eyes fixed on Hera. He didn’t blink, as if he were trying to imprint the image of her into his soul, desperate not to forget, not to let go.

Hera, though fully aware of Alexandre’s searing gaze, pretended not to notice. She kept her focus on her conversation with Cindy, occasionally checking in with Sasha to monitor the progress of his investigation. Every so often, he would send her a ping of the assassin’s current location through the tracker he had planted on their devices.

"Alright then, I’ll get back to work and leave you to rest. I know you’ve been rattled and under a lot of stress, so sit back and relax," Cindy said gently, giving Hera a reassuring smile. She then pulled Dr. Zigheart with her; he had just finished his check-up on Hera anyway, so they could give her a bit of space with Xavier and Alexandre.

But instead of talking, the room fell into a quiet, contemplative silence.

Hera had already made sure no one mentioned what happened to Athena, Liz, or Minerva. She didn’t want to alarm anyone unnecessarily, especially while emotions were still running high.

Behind the scenes, she had quietly assigned people to protect them, just in case. She also increased security around herself, going as far as booking the entire hospital floor to minimize foot traffic. Only essential medical staff were allowed in, and even they had to undergo thorough screening before clearance. Every air vent and possible entry point was monitored with precision.

Only then did Cindy feel a little more at ease.

Still, Cindy had another looming task, reporting everything to the Old Master Avery. She knew the news would stir him deeply, and she was already feeling the pressure of how to frame the situation without causing alarm.

Meanwhile, Dr. Zigheart needed to reach out to Zhane to check in on Leo’s condition and discuss how things were progressing on his end.

After some time, Xavier leaned in and gently pressed a kiss to Hera’s forehead.

"How are you feeling? Were you frightened?" he asked softly.

He already knew the answer. The woman before him was a fighter, resilient, fierce, and unyielding. Fear wasn’t something she easily succumbed to. The only moment of weakness he had seen was when she’d cried earlier, overwhelmed by the helplessness of being strapped to a wheelchair. But even then, it wasn’t fear that broke her, it was frustration.

She was still the same woman who kicked ass when the situation called for it. And he admired her all the more for it.

"Hmm... I feel hungry after all that crying," Hera said with a sheepish smile. It was true, her emotions had burned through so much energy that she now felt an unmistakable pang of hunger.

With a resigned sigh, Xavier stood up and left to grab some snacks that wouldn’t disrupt her carefully maintained diet plan. As he stepped out, two bodyguards silently followed, and he didn’t bother saying a word.

Now, only Hera and Alexandre remained in the room.

She immediately sensed the opportunity to talk to him, but almost as if he had read her mind, Alexandre stood up abruptly, clearly intending to leave.

Hera didn’t let him. "Alexandre, can we talk?"

Her voice was steady, not too loud, not pleading, not commanding. Just calm and sincere.

But her words hit Alexandre like a blow. His entire body tensed, and his face fell. He turned to look at her, pain etched across his features.

"Do you dislike me that much?" he asked, his voice low and wounded.

Hera froze, caught off guard. She hadn’t expected that response, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.