The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Chapter 144 Being Fed Dog Food
Xavier’s heart skipped a beat, his eyes darkening at Hera’s words. The sight of her sweet smile ignited a longing within him, a desire to taste the softness of those lips that seemed to radiate warmth and affection. Locking eyes with her, he leaned in closer, his gaze intense and filled with unspoken passion.

He then planted a gentle kiss on Hera’s cheek, his bangs lightly brushing against her eyelashes. Hera’s left eye instinctively closed at the touch, lending the impression to onlookers that she was savoring the affectionate gesture from her fiancé.

With a soft, melodious chuckle, Xavier spoke, “Please be patient with me, my wife.” His words were accompanied by an alluring smile that pierced straight into Hera’s heart. She felt her stomach flutter, a ticklish sensation spreading throughout her body until it settled in her chest.

A tingling sensation lingered on Hera’s lips, prompting her to bite the bottom one in an attempt to regain control of her thoughts. However, Xavier seemed too engrossed in the moment. When he noticed Hera biting her lip, his passionate gaze intensified. He pulled her closer until Hera could feel Xavier’s warm breath on her face. With a gentle touch, Xavier placed his thumb over Hera’s lips, coaxing them away from her teeth. “Don’t bite your lips,” he whispered softly. “I would rather do it.”

Hera’s breath hitched, and she refrained from exhaling audibly. A blush crept across her face, painting her cheeks with a rosy hue that extended to her ears. Her long eyelashes fluttered delicately, resembling the wings of a butterfly. Xavier couldn’t help but feel pleased; seeing Hera blush and shy away from him indicated her attraction, which was gratifying for him.

Xavier’s smile widened, his eyes lighting up with evident happiness. Bry and Zen couldn’t help but feel like props in the unfolding drama before them. If given the chance, they would have gladly settled in with popcorn in hand, thoroughly entertained by the scene playing out in front of them. Even they felt a flutter in their stomachs as they observed the two, effortlessly portraying the roles of a loving couple.

Infuriated by being ignored and even forcefully fed dog food by the two, the man gritted his teeth as he turned on his heel and marched straight to his horse. With a determined stride, he directed his team to inspect his horse thoroughly, knowing that the competition would start shortly.

Before departing, the man’s gaze, brimming with malice, lingered on Xavier’s face, a storm of malicious thoughts swirling in his mind. Sensing the hostility, Xavier met his gaze squarely. Rather than backing down, Xavier responded with a taunting smirk, then placed his lips atop Hera’s head, drawing her into a possessive hug.

The man’s face flushed beet red with anger as he averted his gaze, unable to bear witnessing Xavier’s flaunting display. His curses echoed amidst the air as he pointed his ire at his subordinate who was diligently inspecting his horse.

Observing the man’s furious reaction, Xavier’s triumphant smile widened. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, sending a comforting vibration through his chest that Hera, almost pressed against him in the embrace, could feel. Her face nestled close to his chest, enveloped in his comforting vanilla scent, momentarily distracting her from her thoughts and actions.

Zen’s pointed throat clearing brought Hera back to the present moment, disrupting her reverie in Xavier’s embrace. She realized she had become a little too comfortable nestled against him, enjoying his warmth perhaps a bit too much. “Ehem!” Zen interjected teasingly, his side-eye suggesting he’d caught on to their momentary lapse. “The man vanished ages ago,” he quipped before sauntering off to tend to his own horse, leaving Hera slightly flustered.

Feeling a bit awkward after Zen’s departure, Bry sought an excuse to slip away from the intimate atmosphere between Hera and Xavier. “I think I’ll go check on my father and uncle,” he announced, looking for an escape route from the situation.

After Xavier and Hera separated, Hera awkwardly touched the tip of her nose, feeling a bit bemused. She wondered if Athena’s fondness for good looks had subconsciously influenced her. She couldn’t help but ponder who was taking advantage of whom in their little charade. ‘No wonder the female lead couldn’t choose between the five male leads. They all have their own merits and allure,’ she mused, finding a humorous parallel between her situation and Alice’s situation in the novel that Athena mentioned.

Xavier’s gaze retained its honeyed intensity as he locked eyes with Hera. “I’ll go back and check on my horse too. Don’t let that guy get too close to you,” he advised Hera in a tone that was both protective and alluring, reminiscent of an overly protective fiancé. His voice carried a warmth that seemed to draw Hera in, like a sailor lured by the call of a siren. Feeling the temptation mounting, Hera quickly agreed, realizing that if they continued to play at being lovers any longer, she might lose herself in the charade entirely.

Xavier cast a final glance at Hera before striding back to his station to check all his equipment, meticulously inspecting the horse and its hooves. Hera mirrored his actions, methodically examining the hooves, saddle, horsewhips, and every item that would come into contact with Diamond’s body. She also made sure to inspect the food set aside for the horses and ensure that the water was clean and fresh.

Hera’s mantra was “Better safe than sorry.” She refused to be complacent, opting instead for an abundance of caution rather than risking overlooking any potential danger, especially with a suspect for causing intentional injury among the contestants. She resolved not to leave Diamond unattended with her equipment until the last minute, ensuring that nothing would escape her notice.

Since she hadn’t returned the cellphone borrowed from Bry’s father, Hera received the message about the investigation findings after only a few minutes. She was shocked by the speed of the action, which took just over half an hour. Opening the message, she found an attached file containing a deluge of documents. As she sifted through them, she was inundated with information gathered from the investigation.

“Such efficiency could put the FBI’s intelligence department to shame,” Hera mused, momentarily taken aback by the swift response. However, she wasted no time and delved into the documents. With each file she perused, her brow furrowed deeper, a testament to the gravity of the information she was uncovering.

Each file she opened revealed a new layer of depravity. The man had leveraged his family connections and wealth to commit a myriad of crimes. From rape to arson to trafficking, it seemed he had dipped his toes into every conceivable form of wrongdoing. In comparison, intentional injury appeared to be just one minor offense among a sea of atrocities. The weight of his actions could potentially earn him a death sentence. ‘No, not just potentially, he would be put on the death sentence row after this file was sent to the authorities.’

However, the final page revealed the reason behind his audacity: he had an uncle working as a judge in the court, wielding considerable influence. This familial connection enabled him to evade consequences for his actions time and time again while cleaning his trace.