CHAPTER 916: CHAPTER 916 MISCONCEPTION

Fortunately, aside from the rowdy paparazzi and reporters, Hera’s fans remained organized and respectful.

"Alright, everyone, keep in line! We can’t crowd little sister Hera or her people, she’s still injured!" Massie Morgan shouted through a small mic connected to the speaker she was holding. "Form a proper line and raise your banners!" she added. When she saw Hera’s entourage approaching, she quickly signaled her team to maintain order among the fans.

Aside from the reporters who still needed to be held back, the guards genuinely appreciated Hera’s fans for being respectful and not causing trouble. Despite their excitement upon seeing Hera, the fans kept their composure. Hera, in return, generously waved with her uninjured arm while Xavier gently pushed her wheelchair forward.

Seeing how well-behaved her fans were, Hera gestured for Xavier to bring her closer so she could give out a few autographs. Since they all knew she was still recovering, her fan club had already arranged a raffle to determine who would get the chance to approach her for a signature if the opportunity arose. If not, they were content just to see her in person.

Fortunately, Hera really did hand out a few autographs and even posed for photos with fans. Some shippers requested pictures of her with Xavier, and even with Alexandre.

At first, Alexandre was surprised that people already knew who he was and were shipping him with Hera. Flattered and quick to seize the opportunity, he crouched beside Hera so their faces were level, leaning in close with a subtle smirk on his usually cold expression.

Xavier, not one to be left behind, leaned in from behind Hera’s wheelchair and smiled for the camera as well. In one memorable moment, he even kissed Hera on the cheek, an image that made her and Xavier’s shippers squeal in delight. The photo quickly went viral, dominating social media just as Hera and her entourage headed toward the Golden Dragon Pavilion.

Luke, Zhane, Rafael, and Dave were already waiting for them at Pavilion #1, all visibly excited to see Hera again. Unfortunately, Leo couldn’t join them; he was still under medical observation.

Upon landing, Dr. Zigheart immediately returned to the hospital to check on Leo, concerned that there might be issues with the drug he had developed, or that it wasn’t working as intended. Leo hadn’t spoken a word and remained unresponsive, which raised serious concerns.

Meanwhile, Cindy had gone back to work, and Gerald was left in Paris to tie up loose ends with Dave’s investigator in order to properly close the case.

As for the assassins who had accepted Hera’s money, they were all rounded up. And since they had taken her payment, that meant one thing: they now had to answer to her.

After Hera’s car pulled up at the entrance of the Golden Dragon Pavilion, several people were already waiting for her arrival. As soon as Xavier and Luke stepped out, someone quickly brought over a wheelchair and positioned it beside the car. Zhane gently lifted Hera out and carefully settled her into the chair.

Watching it all unfold, Alexandre realized just how difficult it would be to get any one-on-one time with Hera, not with all these men around her. He had known it wouldn’t be easy, but seeing them in action, he truly understood just how deep their bond was.

The five men had an unspoken understanding. Despite their constant bickering, they didn’t compete or undercut each other. Instead, they had developed a silent system of fairness and harmony, giving one another space and time to be with Hera.

If one had already spent a lot of time by her side, the others would patiently step back. Just like Xavier, he had been with Hera nonstop, caring for her from Paris all the way home. And now, as the others arrived, he quietly stepped aside to give them their time with her, showing no signs of jealousy or resentment.

Alexandre realized that these men possessed a different kind of magnanimity. Just earlier in the car, they were bickering and trading playful insults, especially Dave, who seemed to be everyone’s favorite target. He played the part of the clown effortlessly, always quick with a joke or a ridiculous comeback to lighten the mood. But Alexandre could see beneath the surface.

No one truly looked down on Dave, not even for a second. In fact, even Alexandre, an outsider and a foreigner, had heard whispers of Dave’s true nature, how cunning and sharp he could be when the situation called for it. And yet, here he was, acting like a goofy, immature kid just to keep the atmosphere cheerful.

What struck Alexandre the most was the way Dave’s expression would soften every time he looked at Hera, his teasing replaced by something gentle, even reverent. It was in those moments that Alexandre felt like he was witnessing a different world altogether. A world where love, respect, and unspoken bonds ran deep.

And as he watched them, so effortlessly secure in themselves and generous with each other, Alexandre began to question himself. Could he ever be just as magnanimous? Just as selfless?

These men were doing everything for Hera, and now, Alexandre finally understood why she respected them so deeply, and why she hesitated to accept him. They weren’t just protecting her physically; they were guarding her heart, putting her needs before their own without expecting anything in return. That kind of selflessness, that quiet sacrifice, had clearly left a deep mark on Hera.

Watching them, Alexandre realized he still had a long way to go. He needed to reflect on what he could truly offer, how far he was willing to go, and whether the love he claimed to have for Hera could even begin to measure up to what these men had already given.

Because if it couldn’t, if his feelings were only surface-level or self-serving, then maybe the best thing he could do was step back before he hurt himself or her. And maybe, just maybe, that was what Hera had been trying to tell him all along.

As Zhane pushed Hera’s wheelchair toward the entrance, Alexandre found himself falling behind, until Dave casually drifted over and slung an arm around his shoulders. Alexandre didn’t shrug it off. Instead, he waited quietly, sensing that Dave had something on his mind. Gone was the usual goofy grin; his expression had turned sharp, his eyes gleaming with something more calculating.

"So... you’re that Alexandre Arnault Xavier told us about?" Dave said, his voice light but laced with certainty. "Heard your family’s helped us quite a bit." Though it was phrased as a question, Alexandre could tell Dave already knew the answer.

Dave studied him a moment longer, then added with a faint smirk, "Hmph. I wonder how far you think you can go with a setup like this?"

He tilted his chin forward.

Up ahead, Xavier and Luke walked on either side of Hera’s wheelchair, while Rafael trailed just behind, flanking Zhane, who was quietly pushing her. None of them spoke, but there was an unmistakable sense of unity surrounding them, like an unbreakable front formed over time, trials, and shared purpose.

Alexandre could tell Dave was testing him, gauging whether he’d react with anger or possessive jealousy at the sight of the woman he liked surrounded by his rivals. It wasn’t subtle. After all, every man in Hera’s orbit had wrestled with those same feelings from the moment they realized they were falling for her.

Back then, none of them had recognized it as love. They’d chalked it up to mere interest or curiosity. But slowly, self-doubt crept in, uncertainties, sleepless nights, and questions they never voiced aloud. They knew this setup wasn’t ideal. It wasn’t what any man dreamed of. But even with all the complications, they couldn’t walk away... or maybe they just didn’t want to.

So they pushed each other, challenged one another silently, waiting to see who would let go first. But no one did.

In the end, they chose to share her. Not because it was easy, but because losing her entirely was the only outcome none of them could accept. It wasn’t about winning anymore; it was about not losing. And so, instead of one victor, they all became something else: men willing to compromise just to keep the woman they loved in their lives.

So while it might have looked like they were making a sacrifice, in truth, it was a little self-serving, too. They had all agreed to the arrangement, no one was forced, no one complaining, and soon enough, they found a rhythm that worked for them. Surprisingly, they preferred it this way.

After all, as they often said, they were ambitious men with big dreams and responsibilities. Their paths were bound to pull them away from Hera from time to time. Rather than leaving her lonely during those stretches, they chose to share her, to make sure she was surrounded by people who cherished her, even when one of them couldn’t be there.