The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 564

Chapter 564: Chapter 564 Little Minx
“Y-you’re talking to me?” Minerva stammered, her voice tinged with surprise as she looked up to find Hera’s eyes on her.

The unexpected attention caught her off guard, nearly causing her to choke on her food again.

Her flustered gaze instinctively darted to her brother, seeking reassurance.

Though she had begun to warm up to Hera, the guilt from her past actions lingered, making her feel unworthy of Hera’s kindness.

However, when her eyes met Rafael’s, she found him smiling at her with an encouraging, doting expression, as though he was content just watching his two favorite people interact.

Taking a deep breath to steady her racing heart, Minerva mustered the courage to respond.

“A-A-Anything Sister Hera brings would be best,” Minerva muttered softly, her voice shy but loud enough for everyone in the ward to hear.

Hera’s smile widened, and she nodded in acknowledgment without saying another word.

Turning her attention back to Rafael, she resumed feeding him, and he ate with enthusiasm, a satisfied grin never leaving his face.

Rafael, fully embracing the role of a spoiled young master, continued to point playfully at the dishes he wanted, his smile growing brighter each time Hera indulged his requests.

The warm atmosphere filled the room, leaving an unspoken sense of harmony among everyone present.

“Little minx, you’re so good to me and my little sister. Thank you,” Rafael said, breaking into a wide smile.

Minerva, witnessing this softer, almost playful side of her brother for the first time, was left utterly speechless.

She had never imagined that her usually domineering brother could behave so… shamelessly.

Amused, Minerva quietly observed the trio as they bantered.

Most of the exchanges involved Rafael attempting to pick fights with Zhane, who either feigned ignorance or treated Rafael’s comments as the ramblings of a fool.

This, of course, only served to further exasperate Rafael.

Hera, ever the peacemaker, would step in to calm Rafael, gently reminding him not to get too worked up while he was still recovering.

Amid the cheerful banter, no one noticed when Alice quietly slipped out of the room, her face flushed with anger.

Not long after, Minerva was wheeled out to her own room to rest and sleep.

Hera then turned her attention to Zhane, who looked visibly exhausted.

The dark circles under his eyes were impossible to ignore, and his pained expression only reinforced her concern.

“Zhane, go home and get some sleep, okay? You’ve been working nonstop,” Hera urged gently.

“I’ll stay with Rafael and look after him for a while.” Her tone was firm but caring as she tried to convince him to take a well-deserved break.

Zhane shook his head stubbornly.

“Let’s just sleep here together. Sleeping next to you will help me rest better,” he said, his voice hoarse and strained, hinting that he might be on the verge of catching a cold.

Seeing his condition, Hera stopped trying to persuade him. Instead, she gave him a small nod, her concern evident.

By this time, Minerva had already been wheeled out to rest in her own room.

Shortly after, the staff returned to the ward and began setting up the king-size bed again, carefully pushing other furniture aside to make space.

Unlike before, Rafael was no longer tethered to any medical machines, except for an IV drip.

Once the bed was ready, he gingerly climbed down from his current bed.

His movements were slow and deliberate, his expression pitiable as though he wanted to evoke sympathy from everyone in the room.

“I’ll sleep with you guys too,” Rafael announced. Though he attempted to look pitiful, his naturally intense expression—with a frown sharp enough to crush a fly—still gave off an air of intimidation.

Hera sighed helplessly, scooting to the middle of the bed before lifting the blanket invitingly.

“Come on, but be careful with the IV needle. If you pull it, you’ll regret it,” she reminded him.

Rafael, now grinning like a mischievous child, carefully maneuvered his IV drip and climbed onto the bed.

Meanwhile, Zhane had already removed his doctor’s coat, hanging it neatly on the back of the couch.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, he slipped off his shoes and placed them neatly beside it.

With deliberate movements, he loosened the buttons of his shirt and unfastened his belt, setting it on the couch alongside his coat.

He was clearly making himself comfortable, prioritizing a restful sleep.

Hera, without even realizing it, had grown completely accustomed to having these men orbit around her.

Their constant presence in her life had become so natural that sharing a bed with them no longer seemed out of the ordinary.

She settled comfortably between the two without a second thought.

As Rafael lay down beside Hera, he turned his gaze to Zhane and asked casually, “Zhane, can I take off the IV drip for now and put it back tomorrow?”

“This bag is almost empty,” Zhane replied calmly. “Just let it finish, and we’ll take out the needle afterward. I’ll set you up with a new one first thing in the morning. Your body’s already recovering well—this is just a precaution.”

Satisfied with his explanation, Zhane shifted closer to Hera, his arm naturally wrapping around her waist.

He rested his head near her shoulder, his nose brushing against the crook of her neck.

Within moments, his steady breathing signaled he had drifted off to sleep, his exhaustion finally catching up with him.

Hera chuckled softly as she glanced at Zhane’s tired but peaceful face.

Unable to resist, she reached out and gently brushed his bangs away from his forehead, watching as his steady breathing remained calm in his sleep.

Just then, another arm reached out to hug her, accompanied by a low grunt of pain.

Startled, Hera turned her attention to Rafael, concern flashing in her eyes.

“Don’t move too quickly,” she said, her tone gentle yet firm, as she carefully extended her hand toward him to offer support.

Before Hera could react, Rafael’s lips were already on hers, capturing her in a deep, passionate kiss while Zhane slept soundly against her other arm.

Rafael had shifted onto his side, his injured arm now wrapped around her neck, pulling her closer with surprising strength.

Hera’s first instinct was to recoil, worried about aggravating his wound.

But the thought of moving abruptly and causing him more harm held her still, her mind torn between concern and the intensity of the moment.

Hera tried to speak, but before she could, Rafael took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue claiming hers.

He shifted closer, sliding his leg between hers.

“Little Minx,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire, “I’ve been wanting to kiss you like this for so long.”

His grip on her neck tightened as he kissed her with an intensity that made her feel as though he was trying to pull her into him, to make her a part of him.

“Rafael, you’re injured,” Hera gasped, her hands pushing gently against his chest, trying to create some space between them.

“Do you know, I thought I’d never see you again when I was sure I was dying?” Rafael murmured, his forehead resting gently against Hera’s.

He was still breathing heavily, his lips parting slightly after their kiss, but the look in his eyes—intense, full of desire, passion, and love—burned into hers.