CHAPTER 977: CHAPTER 977 WHAT’S BOTHERING LEO

"Hmm, it’s fine. Don’t worry, my consort, I won’t forget to reward you with gold bars too..." Hera teased Rafael, her lips curling into a playful smile.

Zhane and Rafael couldn’t help but laugh, not because they cared about her promise of gold bars, but because seeing Hera so relaxed lifted a weight off their hearts. The truth was, they had been deeply shaken by her accident.

They still remembered the helplessness of watching it unfold live on the TV screen, unable to reach her, unable to protect her or even support her broken body. So now, every little smile, every hint of her ease, was a comfort they cherished.

They felt even more helpless than Xavier had back then. At least he had been at the scene, but they were far away, forced to watch on a screen as their beloved’s life hung in the balance.

The distance made them feel useless; their hearts squeezed so tight it was hard to breathe. Xavier, meanwhile, had nearly collapsed from the sheer weight of pain, worry, and despair as he saw her car explode.

For a split second, the world blurred around him, and he almost blacked out. The only thought in his mind was to throw himself into the burning wreckage, desperate to find Hera.

And perhaps they would have all felt and acted the same if they had been in Xavier’s place back then. That was why, no matter how busy they were now, they always made sure at least one of them was by Hera’s side, to protect her if anything happened.

After all, even after surviving the car accident, she had nearly been assassinated, leaving none of them able to rest easy.

Alexandre’s family had already put the culprit behind bars and even struck back at the girl’s family as punishment, but who could guarantee that no one else would try to target Hera the same way?

No one could.

Because of that, they not only tightened their vigilance but also increased her security detail. Hera understood this as well, so she never moved around on her own and always kept her guards close, especially now, when her broken arm and leg made her even more vulnerable.

But more than that, now that she carried the female lead’s halo, it meant danger would never stop coming. In fact, there was an even greater chance that threats would intensify and strike more often than before.

When she had only been a cannon fodder, her fate was clear and singular: to die at the hands of certain people. Back then, at least she knew who to be wary of and who to watch out for.

But now that she had taken Alice’s female lead halo, she was forced to walk through a trial by fire, to endure hardship and grow stronger. The promise at the end of it all was tempting: a happy ending filled with peace and success, just as the original novel promised.

Yet that very change was also her curse. The story’s path had already begun to twist away from the book she knew. New enemies could appear from anywhere, and she could no longer predict who they might be.

Alexandre, for instance, wasn’t even a character in the novel, and yet he had become one of her suitors. His former fiancée had even tried to kill her, a subplot that had never existed in the original story.

And with Leo, once the greatest villain, no longer the villain but a part of her harem, it meant an entirely new villain could rise to take his place. Hera had no choice but to stay vigilant, for danger lurked everywhere now.

Without realizing it, Hera, Zhane, and Rafael were all caught up in the same thoughts. On the surface, the scene looked serene, Zhane gently massaging her scalp as he shampooed her hair, Rafael carefully washing her body, and Hera closing her eyes as if simply savoring the treatment.

To an outsider, they appeared perfectly at peace. Yet beneath that calm, each of their minds was racing a mile a minute.

Soon after, once Zhane and Rafael had finished bathing Hera, careful not to wet her cast, they drained the tub. Rafael stood to fetch a towel while Zhane rinsed away the last traces of soap.

When he was done, Zhane lifted Hera into his arms, and Rafael quickly wrapped her in the towel before hurrying ahead to prepare the blower and her pajamas. By the time Zhane carried her out of the bathroom, everything was already set, making the transition effortless.

As Rafael blow-dried Hera’s hair, Zhane gently dressed her in pajamas. Hera hardly had to move a finger; the two of them managed everything for her with quiet efficiency.

Once finished, they laid her onto the bed, carefully propping her injured arm and leg with pillows. Then both men went to prepare for the night, each heading to their own bath.

Not long after, Zhane, who had showered in Hera’s bathroom, emerged in his pajamas, his hair still damp, a towel slung over his shoulders. Two buttons were left undone, giving a glimpse of his firm chest and toned upper abs.

Hera, who had been absorbed in her drama script, slowly lifted her gaze, drinking in the sight with a grin stretching from ear to ear. She greedily admired him, though she knew she could only look, not touch, because if she dared provoke them any further, she might not be able to handle the consequences.

Seeing her grin like that, Zhane could only chuckle as he made his way to her side. He set the towel down on the armchair he passed before carefully slipping under the blanket beside her, mindful not to brush against her cast.

"Does the skin under your cast feel itchy?" he asked softly. He knew it was common for people with casts to feel that discomfort, and if Hera was struggling with it, she might not rest well. If she admitted it, he was more than ready to help her find relief.

Hera shook her head. "Not really. Maybe because my cast hasn’t gotten wet and I haven’t been sweating much. My arm and leg don’t feel itchy inside the cast..." she explained simply.

"Possible." Zhane nodded, scooting closer until Hera’s head rested gently against his shoulder. Hera slowly closed her script when she noticed Rafael stepping in through the door, his hair already dry.

Zhane carefully took the script from her hands and set it on the bedside table, while Rafael turned off the lights. Once he settled into bed, Zhane picked up the remote and closed the curtains. Before long, the three of them drifted off to sleep, huddled together, though they were still careful not to press against Hera’s cast.

The next morning, as soon as dawn broke, Zhane and Rafael moved to help Hera freshen up. Rafael prepared her toothbrush, squeezing the toothpaste before handing it to her, while Zhane stood behind her, brushing through her long, wavy hair with deliberate gentleness, making sure not to tug too hard on her tangles.

After Rafael squeezed toothpaste onto Hera’s toothbrush, he grabbed his own toothbrush that he had left in her bathroom and began brushing his teeth alongside her. Meanwhile, Zhane finished brushing Hera’s hair, and when he noticed she was done brushing as well, he handed her the water cup so she could rinse.

Hera leaned forward to spit into the sink, made easier by Rafael having seated her comfortably on the countertop.

When she finished, Rafael had just wrapped up his own brushing and gently moved on to washing Hera’s face, while Zhane started brushing his teeth. The scene was so seamless, so harmonious, that even in her groggy state, Hera found no fault with how they moved around each other.

Their teamwork felt natural, as though this routine had been theirs forever.

Once finished, they pushed Hera’s wheelchair into her spacious walk-in closet, overflowing with luxury. No matter how many times Rafael, Zhane, and the others had seen it before, the sheer opulence still struck them; after all, just one of her watches was worth more than a hypercar.

Hera pointed to the outfit she wanted, and they carefully fetched it, dressing her with patient attention. In moments like this, Hera truly felt like a queen, pampered and cared for at every step.

After finishing their morning routine, they prepared to leave for the hospital, both to visit Leo and for Zhane to give instructions before joining Hera at Logan’s debut concert the following night.

He wanted to ensure that even in his absence, the hospital would continue running smoothly and that the hidden moles wouldn’t have the freedom to move around unchecked in his territory. Rafael, on the other hand, planned to stay by Hera’s side more leisurely.

But before they discussed business, they all sat down to have breakfast with Leo. That was when Hera noticed something unusual.

Leo seemed even more unusual than before, his brows drawn tightly together, his expression clouded with thoughts. The air around him felt heavier, as though he was deeply preoccupied with something he couldn’t yet put into words.