The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 574

Chapter 574: Chapter 574 Giving A Hand
Minerva, oblivious to the fact that something was off with Hera, was gently pushed into the room by the nurse.

Once she reached the table, the nurse left, and without waiting for anyone to serve her, Minerva grabbed a plate and utensils from the nearby stack.

She promptly set the plate in front of herself and began helping herself to the food.

For the first time, everyone watched her with something like quiet surprise.

This side of Minerva, unguarded and unpretentious, was a rare sight.

She wasn’t the bratty, overbearing figure they were used to; instead, she looked almost… childlike in her simplicity.

In that moment, they saw a glimpse of the sister she could be—someone who shared their space, who didn’t demand attention, and who simply wanted to be part of the group.

It was a surprising and unspoken realization for them all: Minerva, in her own way, wasn’t as despicable as they had once thought.

There was something warm and familiar about her actions now, something that made her seem more human—more like family.

Unlike their usual cold treatment toward Minerva, the men around Hera didn’t try to shoo her away this time.

Instead, they made room for her at the table. Minerva, unaware of what had changed, sat down, but her attention quickly shifted when she noticed Hera sitting on Leo’s lap.

She froze mid-bite, her eyes fixed on the sight of Leo feeding Hera with an almost tender care, as if afraid she might break under his touch.

Minerva’s gaze then flicked over to her brother. Rafael sat there, grinning, seemingly unfazed as he ate, though his expression held a quiet affection as his eyes occasionally glanced over at Hera.

Minerva noted that Rafael was still struggling to eat on his own—likely due to the strain he’d put on his wound the previous night, which had probably reopened.

It was clear to Minerva that, despite their usual tensions, the bonds between them all were shifting, becoming something softer and more intricate than she’d ever realized.

‘My useless brother, just sitting there, watching his love rival feed my future sister-in-law,’ Minerva fumed, the urge to slap her forehead strong, though she resisted the impulse.

Instead, she sighed in defeat. What could she possibly do? She knew her brother had feelings for Hera, but if he wasn’t going to act on them, just passively watching from the sidelines, then he really had no chance.

It was frustrating, but there was little she could do to change it.

If only Minerva knew what Rafael had done the night before, perhaps she’d view her brother in a different light. She might even admire his cunning—especially since, in many ways, everything had started with him.

So, why wouldn’t Rafael grin while eating? Of course, he was happier than anyone else—after all, it was his accomplishment.

Even the ever-curious Dave was itching to ask what had happened the night before. If only Minerva hadn’t been there, and if he wasn’t worried that Hera might die of embarrassment, he would’ve asked for the details long ago.

With their own thoughts preoccupying them, everyone quietly finished their breakfast.

As Minerva prepared to leave for the garden, she extended an invitation to Hera and Rafael, hoping to give them some time alone—and perhaps give her brother a little nudge.

However, Hera regretfully declined, explaining that she needed to prepare and head out with her manager to meet Director Nick and finalize her contract.

Disappointed but understanding, Minerva left with a sigh of regret.

Once Minerva was gone, Hera shifted uncomfortably in Leo’s lap, the memory of last night making her blush furiously.

Determined to stand, she tried to rise, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, her legs wobbled beneath her. Before she could fall, Leo’s arms were already around her, steadying her by the waist.

“Careful, wifey. You’re still weak,” Leo whispered in her ear, his tone laced with a suggestive edge.

Without even looking, Hera could picture the sly smirk tugging at his lips, and her cheeks burned even hotter.

“I-I need to change and head to the studio,” Hera stammered, her face flushed.

No matter how much she tried to compose herself, her thoughts betrayed her, replaying fragments of last night that made her heart race.

It felt as if all her acting skills deserted her in the presence of these men.

“Then let me help you,” Leo offered, his voice soft and serious this time, devoid of teasing.

“W-what? N-no!” Hera nearly yelped, her wide eyes meeting his, both startled and flustered.

Leo leaned in close, his lips brushing lightly against Hera’s ear as he whispered, “Why not? I was the one who bathed you last night and put you in your bathrobe.” His low, seductive voice sent a shiver down her spine, and his words hit her like a thunderbolt.

Hera’s face turned a deeper shade of red as the realization dawned—she really was wearing a bathrobe, and her skin felt clean and refreshed, with no trace of the sweat and exhaustion from before.

It could only mean Leo was telling the truth.

Meanwhile, the three men nearby subtly perked up, their ears straining to catch snippets of the conversation.

However, Zhane quickly shot them a warning look, silently urging them to behave.

Reluctantly, the trio stayed seated, pretending to focus on their own meals rather than risk embarrassing Hera further.

After Zhane finished silently warning the trio with a sharp glare, he strode out of the room with purposeful steps.

No one asked where he was headed; they all knew better than to pry when Zhane was in that kind of mood.

Meanwhile, Hera found herself in a stalemate with Leo. She remained uncertain, her gaze flitting between his earnest expression and the floor.

Leo, however, showed no signs of impatience. His gentle persistence and calm coaxing made it clear that he wasn’t going to leave her struggling on her own.

Finally, Hera took a deep breath, summoning all her courage. “Alright,” she murmured, her voice so faint it barely escaped her lips, more like the soft buzz of a mosquito than actual words.

Leo’s eyes softened, a tender smile gracing his face as he waited for her to accept his help.

Leo chuckled softly, carrying Hera to the bathroom with care.

Xavier followed just a step behind, carrying Hera’s change of clothes.

As they reached the doorway, he glanced at her with a calm expression, masking the emotions simmering beneath the surface.

“Do you need my help?” he asked, his tone steady, though there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes.

Hera quickly shook her head, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Taking her response as his cue, Xavier handed over the clothes and stepped back, leaving the bathroom.

His outward demeanor remained composed, but inside, a storm of jealousy and possessiveness swirled. He clenched his jaw, reigning in the emotions that threatened to spill over.

‘Get a grip,’ he reminded himself. He knew his feelings were selfish and didn’t want to burden Hera with them.

Forcing himself to focus, Xavier returned to the dining area and busied himself cleaning the table, channeling his frustration into something productive.