The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Did You Not See Me?
Hera followed the voice and spotted Zhane standing near the entrance of the Chinese restaurant. “Oh! Zhane, are you dining with your mother here as well?” she asked politely, more out of etiquette than genuine interest. She wasn’t even expecting a response.

Despite his cold expression, Zhane still responded to Hera’s question. “No, my mother went home earlier. I’m meeting some friends for a meal,” he explained patiently.

“I see,” Hera responded, her tone a bit dry. However, she wasn’t sure how to continue the conversation, given their lack of closeness.

“Ha!” An exasperated voice echoed from the side, drawing Hera’s attention. “I was the one who called you, yet I’m the one being ignored?” Rafael interjected his head tilting to the side, his deep frown etching lines between his brows, capable of crushing a fly to death. He called Hera out of courtesy to say hello, but to notice a difference in treatment between him and Zhane, even in this context, left him perplexed. Rafael wasn’t aware of the nature of Zhane and Hera’s relationship, adding to his confusion about why she only greeted him.

“I apologize, Mr. Briley. I genuinely didn’t see you,” Hera offered her sincere apology. While she had initially suspected the voice didn’t belong to Zhane, she hadn’t anticipated encountering both of them together in the mall.

“This is the first time I’ve heard someone claim they didn’t see me. With my body mass, I usually tower over almost everyone, except my friends,” Rafael remarked, glancing at Zhane before continuing. “Or perhaps I appear small to you?” Rafael’s tone betrayed a sense of wounded pride; accustomed to being the center of attention in any gathering, he found being ignored or overlooked unfamiliar and unsettling.

It might be viewed as pride, as individuals like them often possess a greater sense of pride than ordinary people. This pride, combined with their arrogance and authority, was cultivated over years of conducting business and exerting influence over others of similar standing. There were certain expectations and behaviors they had grown accustomed to, almost ingrained in their very being.

This is why people hold different perspectives; their views are shaped by their environment and family beliefs. That’s why Rafael took being ignored personally.

Instead of responding to Rafael, Hera glanced at Zhane, then back to Rafael, and then back to Zhane again. She repeated this back-and-forth movement, a flash of realization flickering in her mind. However, amidst her physical exhaustion, her mental faculties seemed to falter, leaving her unable to grasp the significance of her thoughts.

Hera wasn’t intentionally ignoring Rafael or trying to be disrespectful; she was genuinely exhausted, causing her brain’s processing to slow down and her reactions to become delayed. Feeling drained and not wanting to exert her brain further, she decided to inquire about their connection instead.

“So, you two are friends?”

Sensing Rafael’s rising temper, Zhane stepped in and took control of the conversation. “Yes, we are friends,” he confirmed. “Rafael is the one I mentioned I’m meeting for a meal, along with the others who are already inside.”

A sudden spark of recognition ignited within her mind, accompanied by the belated realization she had missed. ‘Ah, that’s it! Zhane Everett’s name rings a bell—he’s the third male lead in the novel. The signs were all there: his position as a senior doctor at Providence Everett Medical Center and his inclusion in Rafael’s inner circle. It’s clear now; the entire squad comprises the main male leads.’

It’s not that she’s being complacent; rather, she didn’t anticipate encountering the male leads one after the other. They aren’t as common as everyday items you’d find on the roadside. She didn’t expect to encounter them because they typically operate covertly, and they weren’t even the ones targeting her. While she was aware of their physical descriptions, Athena also mentioned that they were seldom seen and elusive unless they deliberately chose to reveal themselves. So she never thought of meeting them.

She considered Rafael to be the exception due to her actions against his sister, prompting him to step forward. However, she couldn’t understand how she also encountered Zhane without realizing it earlier, especially since the chances of meeting him were incredibly slim – akin to a 1% chance amidst a hundred. If it were a lottery, she might have been thrilled, but in this case, she was far from delighted.

Now, she couldn’t help but wonder why she kept running into them even in the most mundane of places! It didn’t seem to fit the pattern of a butterfly effect, especially since she had encountered Zhane even before the interview, long before she had taken any significant action.

“Argh! I can’t think anymore. My head feels like it’s floating, and I’m too exhausted to process anything,” Hera muttered inwardly, maintaining a smile on her face despite the storm of questions raging inside her mind. The struggle was palpable; she even questioned why she hadn’t seen or heard from Athena since earlier. Desperate to escape the situation in front of her, she longed for reprieve.

She could only attempt to maneuver her way out, drawing on her years of experience in customer service. “I apologize, Mr. Briley if it seemed like I was ignoring you. That wasn’t my intention at all,” she began. “You see, my friend and I have been in this mall since before lunch, and we’ve been wondering nonstop. I’m just physically exhausted, and my brain’s a bit slow on the uptake. If I may say, you are quite… big. Really BIG!”

Then Hera abruptly halted in her words. ‘Why does that sound suggestive?’ She glanced at the two men standing before her and blinked a few times.

Despite her innocent expression, the two men interpreted her last words in a suggestive manner, albeit unintentionally. Hera’s sudden pause caused their thoughts to align with hers.

Rafael’s earlier rising temper dissipated, replaced by a suggestive smirk. ‘Is this her way of flirting with me?’ he pondered, finding Hera’s shocked expression endearing. A blush tinted her face as her plump lips opened and closed, attempting to salvage the situation with words. However, her brain seemed to malfunction, instantly ceasing to function altogether.

Even the typically cold Doctor Zhane couldn’t help but smile, his eyes forming into crescents as he silently observed Hera’s adorable array of expressions.

“Gosh! I want to bury myself in a hole!” Hera internally lamented.

“Babe! Sorry for keeping you waiting!” Athena’s voice broke through the tension, and suddenly, Hera felt the stifling air in her throat begin to move once more. Now, Athena’s voice sounded like sweet salvation to her ears. Hera gazed at Athena with a pleading expression, her blush extending all the way to her ears.

Hera appeared on the verge of tears from embarrassment, but from Athena’s perspective, it seemed as though Hera was being bullied by the two men. With determined steps, Athena hurried towards Hera, pulling her protectively behind her as she glared at the two men. It was only then that she recognized them as Rafael and Zhane from earlier. Confused by the situation, Athena glanced back at Hera, who was now blushing furiously from ear to ear.

‘She couldn’t just ask Hera directly what’s the matter, could she?’ So instead, she inquired, “Are you hungry? Sorry, I took a call just now and forgot to mention it to you,” Athena explained.

Hera managed only a nod and tugged at Athena’s sleeve, silently urging her to enter. Athena understood her friend’s intentions and guided Hera towards the entrance, only to be intercepted by Rafael.

“Are there only the two of you?” Rafael inquired.

“Why, are you treating us again to a meal, Mr. Briley?” Athena retorted sarcastically.

“Of course, it’s only right for a gentleman to invite the ladies to a meal, shouldn’t we?” Rafael replied, glancing at Zhane for support, who offered a subtle nod.

Hera tugged at Athena’s sleeve once more, prompting Athena to respond, “I was just kidding, Mr. Briley. You see, my friend and I are having a girls’ date, so we came to enjoy each other’s company.” She explained with a strained smile.

“Ohhh?” Rafael’s brows raised as he grinned playfully, casting a glance between the two. “But I insist.”