The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 533

Chapter 533: Chapter 533 Alice Meeting Rafael
Without warning, Xavier kicked a nearby chair toward Dave, causing it to slam into the back of his legs with a muffled ‘thud.’

Dave jumped in surprise, glaring back at Xavier, who wore a taunting grin.

Xavier walked up to Rafael’s bedside, standing just beside Hera.

He then placed a hand on top of her head and began gently petting her hair, his demeanor calm and possessive as he subtly asserted his presence.

They began to explain everything to Rafael, recounting the events that had unfolded and how Hera had managed to track him down.

Rafael listened silently, his expression unreadable. Only he knew what was going on in his mind.

When they finished recounting the story—mostly Dave, who animatedly gestured to add more impact—Hera felt as though she were hearing about someone else’s experience rather than her own.

She had already come to terms with the fact that her little adventure had been broadcast live, so she no longer felt embarrassed or cringed at her actions.

After all, it was almost social suicide, especially when she had used her cleavage as a pocket.

The memory alone made her want to die of embarrassment, especially since Athena had teased her about it for quite a little.

“You did all that for me?” Rafael asked, his voice trembling slightly, revealing the depth of his emotion.

He was moved by the extent to which Hera had gone for him and felt a pang of guilt for nearly putting her life at risk.

Hera could sense Rafael’s emotional turmoil, and Zhane felt it too.

He placed a reassuring hand on Rafael’s shoulder. “It’s alright, everything’s behind you now,” he said softly.

Zhane didn’t want Rafael to get too worked up or overwhelmed with emotion, especially since he was still recovering from his injury.

Intense feelings could spike his blood flow, possibly causing him to cough and strain the injury, which could worsen his condition and bring on another fever.

As a doctor, Zhane didn’t want his patient to reach that point, and as a love rival, he certainly didn’t want Rafael to sabotage his recovery.

After all, Hera had risked her life to save him, so the least Zhane could do was ensure he healed properly.

Rafael quickly realized this and took a moment to steady his emotions, offering Hera a grateful smile.

“Thank you so much, my angel,” he said, his voice catching with emotion, as he struggled to keep it in check. Despite his effort, the glint of happiness, guilt, and love shone in his eyes.

When the atmosphere turned obviously charged.

Creak…

The sound of a door opening snapped everyone’s attention toward it.

Hera and the others turned to look, and even Rafael, though his view was obstructed, strained to see where the noise had come from.

“U-Um… Hello, I was just coming to check on Minerva’s brother… I didn’t realize he had a visitor…” Alice’s soft, hesitant voice came from the doorway.

She seemed surprised to see others with Rafael, her expression a mix of shyness and apology.

However, she didn’t seem eager to leave either, so the group stayed there in an awkward silence, staring at each other for a few moments.

“I-I just wanted to check on Minerva’s brother to make sure he’s doing okay, so I can reassure her not to worry anymore,” Alice added, her voice still uncertain.

Slowly, she stepped into the room and made her way toward the foot of the bed.

“And who are you to Rafael?” Dave asked, his expression incredulous, his right eyebrow arched in surprise.

“If you need anything, you can always call the nurse,” Xavier added, his gaze sharp, as though he could read her thoughts.

He snorted dismissively as he finished speaking. Zhane gave Alice a brief glance before turning his attention back to his work, ignoring her presence entirely.

Upon hearing who the new arrival was, Rafael settled back into his bed, deliberately ignoring Alice.

Instead, he reached for Hera’s hand, holding it tightly as if afraid of being misunderstood.

“Hera, my angel, I didn’t know who that woman was. Please don’t misunderstand, okay?” His expression was one of innocent defensiveness, looking almost pitiful as he tried to clear his name.

Hera glanced at him, amusement tugging at her lips, resisting the urge to laugh at the group’s over-the-top reaction to Alice simply trying to check on Rafael.

Perhaps they had all sensed something off about Alice’s presence, automatically falling into defense mode.

Or maybe it was just instinct, a reflex to protect their time together.

Either way, Hera couldn’t help but feel a wave of relief wash over her, along with a touch of humor at the situation.

Whether she admitted it or not, Hera had always feared that once they met Alice in person, they might feel drawn to her and forget about her, making all her efforts seem wasted.

But seeing their reactions now eased the anxiety in her heart.

Still, she remained cautious, knowing she couldn’t afford to be complacent—she wasn’t sure if the storyline would throw a wrench in her plans at any moment.

When Rafael’s voice, though quiet, broke the silence, Alice heard it clearly, as everyone else had fallen quiet. She felt a surge of frustration, nearly choking on her own anger.

‘It was Hera! She must have said something to turn them against me!’ Alice fumed inwardly, but she quickly masked her emotions, making sure her thoughts didn’t show on her face.

“I… I-I’m sorry. I just wanted to help Minerva get some rest and stop worrying about her brother. After all, I’m her best friend, and I can’t stand seeing her struggle,” Alice said, her voice trembling.

She looked up, her eyes and nose reddened, as if she were on the verge of tears.

She locked her gaze on Rafael, managing to conceal the longing in her eyes, though her gaze briefly flickered to the others, lingering momentarily on Xavier before returning to Rafael.

‘God, I’ve missed these two…’ she thought, regret gnawing at her for not confessing her feelings before she died.

‘But now, I’m going to make sure we go back to the way things were.’ The thought felt more like a vow, a conviction she made to herself.

Rafael and Xavier both felt uneasy under her gaze, even though it appeared innocent.

They couldn’t quite pinpoint why, but something about it unsettled them, especially with Hera present.

Rafael’s frown deepened, a sense of displeasure rising in him almost immediately as his temper flared.

“Miss, we’re not close enough for you to be in my private room, even if you’re a friend of my sister’s. Please, have some decency and don’t disturb a man who needs his rest,” Rafael said, his tone firm but polite, as he still tried to maintain his manners speaking to a woman who was a friend of his sister’s.

However, knowing she was close to Minerva didn’t sit well with him.

He couldn’t forget that it was Alice who had constantly targeted Hera during the Variety Show and had been encouraging Minerva to do outrageous things.

Seeing Alice enter his private room as if they were close, especially in front of Hera, immediately irritated Rafael, and his frustration was clearly written on his face.

Hera, on the other hand, didn’t make any effort to intervene. After all, it was Alice who had come to Rafael’s room uninvited.