The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 222

Chapter 222: Chapter 222 Hera Waking Up
Being part of the Everett family came with its own set of advantages. They received a generous monthly stipend and fully-funded education, courtesy of the Everetts. They also enjoyed complete freedom over their lives and choices. Essentially, they had everything they desired.

Even when the Everett Patriarch became aware of the deceit within the branch families, he chose to turn a blind eye out of respect for his ancestors and refrained from punishing them. However, if he discovered that they were bold enough to scheme against his family despite all the benefits they received from the Everetts, he would undoubtedly sever all ties with them. By then, though, the damage would have already been done, and trouble would have been stirred.

Back in the hospital, after some time, Hera slowly opened her eyes, feeling somewhat refreshed and with a clearer mind. She stared blankly at the familiar white ceiling, her thoughts drifting to the events of the day. As vivid recollections flooded her mind, her face instantly turned beet red. She couldn’t fathom how she would face Leo again without recalling what had transpired between them, including all the bold thoughts that had crossed her mind at the time or her bold actions.

She couldn’t help but cringe at the bold thoughts she had entertained. She could never have imagined herself being so open-minded and proactive. Just over a week ago, she had been preoccupied with how to manage all the main leads while scrutinizing the female lead for starting a reverse harem. She had even convinced herself that she could never be like the female lead.

Little did Hera know that those thoughts had been forcibly implanted by the storyline, coupled with the effects of the drug compromising her thinking process. She didn’t even notice whether the thoughts were her own or the storyline’s manipulation pushing her to complete a scene. Only later would she realize what had happened, as those thoughts were quite unlike her usual way of thinking. It was possible that her own thoughts had intertwined with the ones imposed by the storyline, resulting in her actions at that time without her fully realizing it.

What’s important now is to address the situation and find out who did this and for what purpose. She felt determined to uncover the reason behind her unfortunate ordeal. ‘Well, not that I really sacrificed anything… Wait! I did! My innocence!’ she screamed internally, her attempt to downplay what had happened crumbling as she confronted the reality of her weakness and surrender to temptation and the aphrodisiac. Hera took a deep breath, trying to regulate her breathing and clear her mind so she could think straight.

“Are you done internalizing your thoughts?” Dave’s teasing voice broke through her reverie, making Hera jump in surprise. Her head snapped toward the source of the voice, right beside her. Dave was still seated on her bed, lazily leaning against the headboard, watching her with amusement. He had noticed when Hera suddenly opened her eyes and had expected her to start crying upon realizing she had become a victim like many other women. Instead, he found her lost in thought, her expression a mix of confusion and determination.

He had forgotten that Hera was different and never followed the usual patterns of the women he had encountered so far. Initially, he saw her staring blankly at the ceiling and assumed she was too traumatized to process what had happened, or perhaps in denial. However, within seconds, her expression shifted repeatedly—confusion, realization, embarrassment, determination, and many more—all playing out on her face and there were too many expressions her face went under in a fast phase that he failed to grasp everything. This rapid succession of emotions was quite amusing to him, as he tried to grasp what was going on in her mind.

Dave silently watched Hera process the events, noticing how she gradually calmed down but remained oblivious to his presence in the room, too focused on her thoughts. Deciding to make his presence known, he spoke up, startling Hera and causing her to jump from her bed. She nearly fell off the side, but Zhane managed to catch her just in time, preventing a tumble.

Dave and Zhane silently watched Hera, studying her expression to see if her surprise was rooted in fear. To their delight, they saw that while Hera was indeed startled, her gaze quickly turned calm and resolute, like the little warrior she was. Both men unconsciously let out relieved smiles upon realizing that her mentality remained unaffected. Aside from feeling embarrassed and shy about what had happened, she seemed to be doing fine.

Zhane turned to Dave, while he was still holding Hera in his embrace, and reprimanded Dave for startling Hera. “What were you thinking, Dave? What if she had fallen off the bed?” Zhane’s tone was stern, chastising Dave for his playful behavior at an inappropriate time. He then helped Hera settle back onto the bed, casting another stern glance at Dave before doing so.

Dave acknowledged his mistake in startling Hera, his expression falling into a pout as he attempted to avoid Zhane’s intimidating gaze, which seemed more imposing than that of his own father. He moved closer to Hera in an attempt to offer comfort, but Zhane quickly intervened, recognizing that Dave was encroaching on Hera’s personal space and could potentially make her uncomfortable. Understanding his error and lack of sensitivity, Dave took a step back and silently offered Hera a reassuring smile.

“Feeling better?” Dave asked cheerfully as he poured Hera a cup of warm water to soothe her throat. Hera appreciated his gesture and accepted the water, taking a sip. Sensing her discomfort, she felt her throat dry and burning, prompting her to quickly finish the cup in a few gulps, eliciting a light chuckle from Dave.

“Have you uncovered what happened? And Leo, is he okay? How long have I been sleeping?” Just as she began to feel the comfort returning to her throat, Hera’s mind raced with questions, prompting her to inquire about the crucial details.

“Whoa there, easy now, dear. Take a moment to rest. We’ll fill you in shortly, alright?” Dave’s soothing tone accompanied his gesture, urging Hera to relax. His hands were raised in a placating manner, attempting to calm her down. However, Zhane’s stern glare caught him off guard, leaving him puzzled as to what he might have done to warrant such a chilling stare. Feeling the weight of Zhane’s gaze, Dave fell silent, waiting for the topic to be opened further.

After a moment of quiet reflection, Dave realized why Zhane had glared at him. His eyebrow twitched unconsciously as he thought, ‘He must have assumed I was flirting with Hera because of that “We’ll fill you in shortly” comment. Tsk.’ However, Zhane’s thoughts were far from what Dave imagined. Zhane was also focused on sharing information with Hera, but what bothered him was Dave acting so familiar with her and even calling her “Dear” when he was the last one to get to know her.

No one could really rival Dave’s thick skin, but Zhane decided not to dwell on it. He was about to update Hera with the information they had gathered so far when a knock at the door drew their attention.

“Come in,” Zhane said sternly, his expression remaining indifferent though his brows furrowed slightly.