The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 573

Chapter 573: Chapter 573 They Knew
“Sweetheart,” Dave called out softly, his voice trembling with an unspoken sadness as if he had been deeply wronged.

There was a faint, pitiful catch in his tone, almost like a silent sob.

Hera, still groggy from sleep, looked up at him in confusion.

As she shifted slightly, her bathrobe slipped, revealing a bite mark on her shoulder and a trail of kiss marks scattered along her fair, white neck.

The stark contrast between the dark marks and her pale skin made them impossible to ignore.

Dave’s eyes reddened almost instantly.

He didn’t feel betrayed—no, it wasn’t that—but an overwhelming sense of being left out filled his chest, leaving him silently aching for her attention.

“Are you feeling okay?” Luke asked immediately, concern evident in his tone.

Meanwhile, Xavier quietly stepped out to fetch some warm water, hoping to ease the strain on Hera’s hoarse throat.

Returning quickly, he handed the cup to her, but her hands trembled slightly, still too weak to hold it steadily.

Fortunately, Leo had woken up as well, stirred by Hera’s movements.

Seeing her struggle, he gently took the cup from Xavier and helped Hera drink, holding it carefully to her lips.

The intimacy of the moment was undeniable, and under the weight of their watchful gazes, Hera’s cheeks turned crimson.

‘They know, don’t they? Can they really tell?’ Hera’s thoughts spiraled in embarrassment, realizing that Luke, Dave, and Xavier likely knew what had transpired.

Coupled with the lingering morning haze, her mind wandered, and she struggled to focus as she sipped the water Leo offered her.

Hera glanced up guiltily, stealing a quick peek before quickly averting her eyes when she realized all attention was on her.

Even Rafael had propped himself up on his uninjured arm, his elbow resting on the bed as he cradled his cheek in his palm, a satisfied grin playing on his lips.

His playful, adoring gaze made her cheeks burn even hotter.

Zhane, now standing and slipping into his doctor’s coat, was no less attentive, his eyes lingering on her with a mix of amusement and warmth.

Despite their different postures, every pair of eyes in the room was fixed on her, making Hera’s blush deepen. A wave of guilt swept over her, though she wasn’t entirely sure why.

‘There’s no way I can handle all of them…’ she thought helplessly. ‘My body would break. Just these three were already too much, and I know they held back.’

As memories of the previous night resurfaced, unbidden and vivid, her thoughts spiraled into a flood of unholy recollections.

Each one brought more heat to her face, and her blush crept steadily down her neck as she struggled to shake the images from her mind.

Leo let out a low chuckle, his hand reaching out to flick Hera gently on the forehead.

“Focus on drinking first,” he said, his tone warm and teasing.

A doting smile curved his lips, but the flicker of desire in his deep ocean-blue eyes betrayed his lingering thoughts.

He knew exactly what was running through her mind, and her blush only confirmed it.

Hera wasn’t wrong.

If they hadn’t been concerned about her body’s limits, they might have dragged things on until dawn, their thirst far from quenched.

But seeing her pitiful state—so exhausted she’d passed out—they had reluctantly restrained themselves.

They’d each had their turn, and while that had left them content, the tension in the room from those who hadn’t been part of the night’s events was palpable.

Of the group, only Dave seemed unable to fully mask his emotions, his jealousy simmering just beneath the surface.

Hera obediently sipped the warm water, her toes curling under the blanket as if to anchor herself.

She kept her head down, avoiding eye contact, her gaze fixed on the cup.

She didn’t know what to say—didn’t even trust herself to speak.

Yet the charged atmosphere was impossible to ignore, the unspoken tension crackling in the air like static.

Perhaps seeing her in this state made them reconsider. Luke and Xavier, though still feeling the weight of their jealousy, chose to let it go.

Even Dave, though reluctantly, followed suit.

They all knew this day would come—their jealousy stemmed not from Hera’s choice, but from the longing of not having been part of her night with the others.

However, that didn’t mean their time wouldn’t come in the future.

With that thought in mind, each of them sighed and decided to give Hera the space she needed.

After all, she looked exhausted and embarrassed, and pushing her further would only make her feel worse.

They realized that respecting her now was the best way to show their care for her.

“We made it just in time,” Luke broke the silence, his voice calm. “Aunt Amy gave us Hera’s change of clothes, and Hannah packed us breakfast.”

Meanwhile, Xavier quietly moved the bags they had placed near the door, bringing them to the dining table.

It was a small but comforting action, bringing some normalcy to the tense atmosphere.

Dave, noticing the moment of quiet, leaned over to kiss Hera gently on the forehead.

“Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?” he asked, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized they didn’t quite sound right.

Sheepishly, he rubbed the tip of his nose when he saw Hera’s ears turning red.

Rafael, noticing the exchange, chuckled softly before moving closer to Hera and gently rubbing her legs.

“Are you still feeling uncomfortable?” Rafael asked with a concerned tone, his hands working slowly to massage her sore muscles.

Hera shook her head slightly, unsure of what she was feeling.

Her body felt heavy, weak, and still trembled from the strain.

The ache that pulsed through her limbs made it difficult to focus on anything, and all she could do was try to relax as they tended to her.

“Then how about I take care of you, hmm?” Leo said, his voice teasing but gentle.

His eyes, filled with nothing but her reflection, made Hera feel as though she might melt under his gaze.

She subconsciously nodded in agreement, and without hesitation, Leo lifted her carefully and carried her to the dinner table.

But instead of placing her in one of the chairs, he settled her comfortably on his lap.

Xavier, with quiet efficiency, placed a plate of food in front of Leo, while Luke, always attentive, scooped some warm soup for Hera.

The rest of the group gathered around the table, each settling in to join the quiet moment to eat together.

Even Rafael, with his IV drip still attached, made his way over to sit with them, his presence unbothered by the equipment.

Suddenly, a voice piped up from the door, pulling their attention away.

“Ah! What about me?” Minerva called out, her voice playful yet dramatic.

She was being helped by a nurse, her arms crossed in front of her chest, and a pouting expression on her face.

“I was waiting for my food too! I knew it—you’ve all forgotten about me.” She glanced over at Hera with exaggerated pitiful eyes, making Hera chuckle.

For a moment, all the embarrassment she had felt earlier melted away, and the tension in her body eased.