The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 382

Chapter 382: Chapter 382 Dave, Apologize
Hera bit her lip, her gaze locking with Dave’s resentful pout as he pressed his face against the window, trying to peer inside the car. Zhane let out a hearty chuckle, slowly releasing Hera from his embrace. Despite his amused demeanor, a flicker of concern crossed his eyes as he realized they had been in that position for quite some time. He was anxious to check if Hera was comfortable and if her waist was okay.

As soon as Hera moved, a sharp pain shot through her waist, making her cry out in discomfort when she tried to settle back into her seat. “Ah!” Her hand instinctively reached to the spot on her lower back where she felt the strain, halting her movement midway as she tried to alleviate the pain.

Zhane glanced at Hera with a look of regret. “I’m sorry, Hera. It was my fault,” he said, reaching out to gently rub the spot on her back where she was holding. His other hand unbuckled his seatbelt, and he unlocked the door from the dashboard before stepping out of the car. Though his demeanor was calm, his expression was stern, betraying his concern.

As soon as Zhane stepped out of the car, Dave erupted with frustration. “You guys are too much!” he exclaimed, his face flushed with anger. His eyes were red, and though he wanted to hurl more accusations at Zhane, he hesitated. Realizing that there were more people around the entrance of the establishment, he knew that making a bigger scene would only draw more attention. Reluctantly, he swallowed his resentment and refrained from escalating the situation further.

After his initial burst of anger subsided, Dave noticed that Zhane looked genuinely concerned. He followed Zhane’s movements with his gaze as Zhane took a determined stride to the driver’s side. Opening the door, Zhane carefully reached in to lift Hera out of the car. He then turned to face the valet, who was trying to blend into the background and lessen his presence.

“Please take care of the car; the key is still inside,” Zhane instructed before striding over to Dave’s side. At the entrance, the manager, Bry, and his father stood, pretending they were unaware of the commotion. Hera hid her face against Zhane’s chest, earning a soft, teasing chuckle from him. Meanwhile, Bry tried to peer around his father’s hand, which was covering his face, eager to see what was happening but left in the dark by his father’s protective gesture.

Dave, trailing behind Zhane, tried to catch a glimpse of Hera from over Zhane’s shoulder. Hera, feeling embarrassed, softly protested, “Zhane, I can walk on my own. Please, put me down.” The celebration felt overshadowed by the awkwardness of the moment. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she had let her guard down, especially around the male leads, and even with Leo. It seemed like her brain always malfunctioned in their presence, giving them an opening for intimate gestures that left her flustered and self-conscious.

It wasn’t as if she could change the situation, given that this world was based on an R18 novel where such things were bound to happen. Now the focus wasn’t on Alice anymore, but now, she too was thrust into the spotlight and at the receiving end of all the intimate scenes and gestures from the male leads.

Seeing Hera’s flustered state in Zhane’s arms, Dave offered with a warm smile, “Sweetheart, would you like to be in my arms instead?” His genuine tone made Hera’s heart skip a beat and caused Zhane to pause. He glanced down, finding Hera still hiding her face against his chest, while Dave eagerly peered over his shoulder, clearly wanting to take his place. Dave’s gaze turned accusatory, as if Zhane were hoarding Hera all to himself. Zhane, however, remained silent, prepared to honor Hera’s choice if she preferred to be with Dave.

Dave and Zhane waited in anticipation for Hera’s response, and feeling once again under the spotlight, she managed to croak out, “I’m fine now. I can walk on my own. It was just a moment of stiff muscles.” Despite her attempt to downplay the situation, her bright red ears betrayed her embarrassment. Both Zhane and Dave found her flustered state endearing.

“Are you sure you don’t want to experience being held in my strong arms instead?” Dave teased Hera, unable to resist seeing her blush like a lovesick young girl. “Despite my appearance, I have toned muscles that can hold their own against any of my friends.” He flashed a playful, boyish grin, and sent Zhane a challenging smirk.

Zhane shook his head at Dave’s childish competitiveness flaring up once again. He turned his attention back to Hera, his expression softening with concern. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay to walk on your own?” he asked gently.

Hera didn’t respond verbally but gave a weak nod, too embarrassed to make eye contact as she struggled to regain her composure. The feeling of being the center of attention only added to her discomfort, and she could almost sense the crowd around them, as if they were eagerly watching a captivating performance unfold.

Dave’s childish behavior wasn’t helping the situation, so Hera peered over Zhane’s shoulder and shot daggers at him with a fierce glare. Dave visibly shuddered under her intense gaze, realizing only then how far he had pushed things due to his jealousy and sense of being left out. His shoulders slumped in defeat, and he muttered a weak apology. “I’m sorry,” he said, looking like a chastened fox with his ears drooping.

Zhane chose not to kick Dave while he was down, refraining from further reprimanding him. He knew Hera’s intense gaze had already delivered the necessary message. It was unusual to see Dave back down so quickly and even apologize, given his typically mischievous nature. Usually, Dave would persist until he got what he wanted, but Hera’s stern look had managed to subdue him. Silently, Dave fell into line behind them, his usual bravado replaced by a subdued demeanor.

Zhane carefully set Hera down, but he continued to hold her right hand, ready to offer support if she felt any discomfort. Despite his earlier apology, Dave was still eager to be close to Hera. As he reached out for her hand, he hesitated, his hand hovering in mid-air. Noticing Dave’s hesitation and feeling a bit sympathetic, Hera extended her left hand to grasp his, offering a reassuring touch.

hen Dave felt Hera’s small, soft hand in his, his slumped shoulders straightened, and a wide grin spread across his face. With newfound energy, he walked alongside Hera and Zhane, his steps light and springy. Zhane couldn’t help but shake his head, amused by Dave’s quick turnaround. He hadn’t realized how easily Dave could be placated with a simple gesture of reassurance.

On the other hand, Hera seemed to be growing accustomed to being flanked by two male leads at once. She instinctively reached out to Dave, her actions reflecting a growing empathy that made her want to soothe their down moments. She noticed that her feelings were starting to align with theirs, but she chose not to overthink it. Instead, she decided to go with the flow and let things unfold naturally.