The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 217

Chapter 217: Chapter 217 Tell me What Happened
“Zhane, Leo is the one who urgently needs medical attention,” Hera reiterated urgently. She sensed Zhane’s reluctance to act, prompting her to provide further context. “He’s been drugged with a potent aphrodisiac,” she explained, her concern evident. Despite Leo’s outward display of toughness, Hera knew he had already overexerted himself earlier in resisting the effects of the drug. It was imperative that Zhane and his team intervene promptly to provide the necessary medical care.

Zhane’s intense gaze shifted from Leo to Hera, who remained nestled in his arms. “I heard from Dave that it was you who was drugged,” he stated, his eyes probing, almost as if he could discern Hera’s thoughts.

“A little, but he was the one who ingested a huge amount of it. Please, help him?” Hera explained urgently, her voice laced with concern as she appealed to Zhane for help. Aware of the tension between the male leads and Leo, Hera hesitated to directly ask Zhane for assistance, fearing he might disregard Leo’s situation. Instead, she resorted to displaying her vulnerability, adopting a softer demeanor and pleading with Zhane. “Please, Zhane?” she added, hoping her plea would resonate with him.

Without a word, Zhane glanced at the doctors and nurses standing beside him. They immediately sprang into action, rushing to Leo’s aid and carefully helping him onto a stretcher. With swift precision, they wheeled him into the hospital, heading towards the designated room. Meanwhile, Zhane cradled Hera in his arms, refusing to relinquish her even as Dave eagerly attempted to intervene. He remained steadfast, determined to personally escort Hera inside.

“Hey, Zhane, weren’t you exhausted from your surgery earlier today? Let me take Hera. You look like you might drop her,” Dave suggested, stepping forward eagerly in an attempt to relieve Zhane of Hera.

Zhane deftly sidestepped Dave’s attempt, swiftly striding towards the hospital with Hera still nestled in his embrace. Behind them, Dave trailed along his expression a mix of frustration and envy as he stole glances at Hera’s face. While he longed to share the intimate moment of carrying Hera, Zhane’s pace was too quick for him to catch up. Despite his envy, Dave harbored no regrets about informing Zhane of the situation. He knew Zhane’s intervention would expedite the process and make it easier for everyone involved.

“Have you uncovered the culprit behind this?” Zhane’s inquiry hung in the air, its target ambiguous, yet his tone carried a stern edge tinged with anger. Having been friends with Zhane for years, Dave sensed the simmering fury beneath Zhane’s composed exterior. Aware of Zhane’s extensive network in both legitimate pharmaceutical circles and the underground black market, Dave felt compelled to provide him with a comprehensive account of the situation.

“We can discuss it while you examine Hera,” Dave suggested, walking alongside Zhane. His gaze lingered on Hera’s face, which had turned as red as a tomato, feigning unconsciousness. Zhane’s actions had already attracted the attention of numerous onlookers as he carried Hera into the hospital. Desperate to avoid further embarrassment, Hera buried her face in Zhane’s chest, though her flushed neck and ears remained visible. Dave relished the opportunity to tease Hera further, but Zhane quickened his pace, denying Dave the chance to indulge in his mischief.

Shortly after, Zhane entered a private room and carefully placed Hera on the bed. A nurse was already waiting for them, the IV drip and necessary equipment set up and ready. As the nurse approached Hera with the needle for the IV drip, Zhane raised his hand to halt her, silently gesturing toward the door. Understanding his signal, the nurse quietly exited the room, ensuring to close the door behind her. However, she remained nearby, positioned by the door, ready to assist Zhane with his call.

Taking control, Zhane retrieved the needle, his touch delicate as he rubbed Hera’s arm with alcohol to sterilize the area. With practiced precision and gentle finesse, he inserted the needle, causing Hera minimal discomfort. Swiftly, Zhane adjusted the IV drip beside her. But he didn’t stop there; meticulously, he prepared another site on Hera’s arm. Securing her arm with a band, he carefully located a vein before selecting an empty syringe from the stainless-steel table wheeled in by the nurse. With steady hands, Zhane collected a sample of Hera’s blood before setting aside the syringe.

Zhane meticulously checked Hera’s vital signs, including her temperature, eyes, and heartbeat, ensuring her well-being matched her claims. Meanwhile, Leo likely underwent a more intensive examination, beyond a simple IV drip, given the circumstances. However, Zhane’s attention remained focused on Hera. As a doctor, he possessed a keen eye for detail, which led him to notice hickeys on Hera’s neck and collarbone, along with her swollen lips. His brows furrowed in concern and displeasure, his thoughts a mystery even to Dave.

Clearly displeased by Hera’s condition, Zhane’s expression tightened with concern. He recognized the telltale signs and suspected the culprit responsible for her current state. “What happened? You can tell me. I might be able to help,” he offered, his voice firm yet imbued with a reassuring confidence that exuded a sense of trust and comfort.

Hera nodded timidly, acutely aware that both Zhane and Dave had likely noticed the marks on her body, evidence of her intimate encounter with Leo. Feeling a flush of embarrassment akin to being caught red-handed and in a compromising situation, she suppressed these thoughts and began recounting the events that had led to her current state to Zhane.

“As we were having lunch at the Dragon Palace Hotel, everything seemed fine initially,” Hera recounted. “But then Leo began acting strangely midway through the meal, prompting Dave to suspect he had been drugged, again. Since I always carry an anaphrodisiac with me, I asked Dave to investigate while I prepared to administer the antidote to Leo, similar to what we’ve done before. However, we were taken aback by the intensity of the aphrodisiac’s effects this time, far stronger than what Leo had experienced at the auction,” she explained.

“And then?” Zhane inquired, his eyebrows raised in anticipation. Though he had an inkling of what might have transpired next, he grappled with mixed emotions. As a doctor, he understood the inevitability of such situations, yet beneath his professional facade simmered a profound anger towards whoever orchestrated the events leading up to Hera’s distress.

As Zhane pressed for further details, Hera felt her cheeks flush with heat. “We discovered that the aphrodisiac was liquid-based and had been smeared on the rim of Leo’s glass. Its potency was such that the moment Leo took a sip of wine, he experienced almost immediate discomfort,” she explained.

Seeing that Zhane was still waiting for her to continue and Dave was also paying close attention to what Hera was saying because what transpired next was when he was absent, he was eager to know but at the same time, afraid to hear what Hera would say.

Feeling the weight of the moment, Hera gathered her resolve. “And then… Leo kissed me,” she admitted, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. Hera knew it was crucial to convey her thoughts and the truth clearly, ensuring that not all blame fell solely on Leo. After all, their actions were at least partially consensual under the influence of the aphrodisiac. “Initially, I was stunned,” she continued, “but as time passed, I found myself reciprocating the kiss. The heat gradually consumed me.”