The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 577

Chapter 577: Chapter 577 Contract Signing
“Shut up. At least I’m not like you—someone who needed rescuing.” Dave shot back immediately, causing Rafael to sputter, choking on his own saliva.

He was at a loss for words. As a man, he had been saved and supported by a woman, something that should have been the other way around.

It left him feeling weak and useless, a blow to his pride that cut deeper than he cared to admit.

But instead, he shot back, “At least I received love and care from my little minx. What about you?” A wide grin tugged at his lips as he taunted Dave.

Dave, too, wasn’t sure if Rafael was referring to Hera rescuing him or the love and care he’d received the night before.

Either way, it sent a wave of anger through him, leaving him simmering with resentment. He could only nurse his belly full of resentment, his gaze shifting to Hera’s face as he pouted.

“Sweetheart, look at that brute.” Dave pointed to Rafael, who was laughing hysterically at the sight of Dave, defeated.

The sharp words that Dave usually shot back were lost now, but Rafael’s laughter only made his wound reopen.

“Ah! Ouch!” Rafael yelped, his face instantly paling as he fell silent.

“Serves you right,” Dave said, his grin smug as ever.

Hera couldn’t help but laugh at their back-and-forth antics, the playful exchange lifting her spirits and making her forget her own embarrassment.

It was this kind of atmosphere that always pulled her away from her worries, making everything else fade into the background.

She wasn’t sure if they were doing it on purpose, helping her adjust and let go of her awkwardness, since these moments were just part of life—and if they happened, they happened, with no reason to feel ashamed.

Or maybe they were simply so comfortable with each other that this kind of banter was second nature to them.

Soon, Hera was laughing along with them, and Dave, clearly enjoying himself, became even more animated.

It was obvious he was putting in a lot of effort, playing the role of the group’s clown just to make Hera smile.

But that didn’t matter—what truly mattered was the harmony between the seven of them.

Leo, focused on his task, simply smiled as he continued massaging Hera’s limbs, while Luke, moving slowly, climbed onto the bed to gently work on her shoulders.

“Shoot, I feel like a queen with her harem!” Hera thought as she glanced around.

Leo sat at the edge of the bed, his eyes half-lidded in concentration as he focused on massaging her legs.

His long, slender fingers were so well-defined that, as he worked, it almost looked like he was playing a piano—a sight that was oddly enticing.

Luke wasn’t far behind in skill either. He applied just the right amount of pressure as he worked on her shoulders, making her muscles relax and forget the strenuous exercise from the night before with Leo, Zhane, and Rafael.

Now that she had come to accept it, thinking back on it no longer embarrassed her.

But every time the memory resurfaced, a knot would tighten in her stomach, sending a jolt through her core that made her muscles clench deliciously.

After a while, Hera began to feel better.

Her stiff shoulder muscles had loosened, and her legs regained some strength.

Earlier, when she woke up, she’d felt feverish and unsure of what was going on, but now she felt a bit more refreshed.

Xavier had even gone to the kitchen to make her warm lemonade with honey.

The drink was both refreshing and soothing, warming her throat and easing the dryness and hoarseness that had lingered.

“Thank you,” Hera said sweetly, her words causing all six men to look at her with warm smiles and gentle eyes.

They didn’t say anything, but their gazes spoke volumes, making Hera feel as though the warmth of the lemonade was spreading through her heart as well.

Once Hera began to feel better, she and Xavier went out, while Luke returned to Green Dragon Manor to drop off Hera’s used clothes and the lunch boxes before heading off to work.

Leo also disappeared somewhere, and Dave, albeit reluctantly, made his way to his office to check on ongoing national projects and reforms with his assistant.

Rafael, on the other hand, was left in his ward to rest, the effects of his medication making him drowsy.

Before he finally drifted off to sleep, however, he was on the receiving end of an earful from Zhane, who scolded him for constantly reopening his wound with his reckless actions.

When Xavier and Hera arrived at the studio, some staff were already waiting at the entrance to greet Xavier.

However, when they saw Hera step out of Xavier’s car, with him attentively opening the door and escorting her, the atmosphere shifted.

The staff fell silent, their eyes filled with knowing smiles as they watched the pair.

More than that, they were awestruck by how perfectly Hera’s aura and features complemented the best actor, Xavier.

Normally, anyone who stood beside Xavier seemed to fade into the background, as his presence and temperament often overshadowed those around him.

That’s why no one wanted to walk the red carpet with Xavier, or even be seen near him in public.

Being caught in a photo with him wouldn’t bring good publicity—it would only invite criticism.

The comparisons were inevitable, especially for men, who would be overshadowed.

As for women, Xavier’s fans would bombard the actress with harsh criticism and anger, making the experience even more daunting.

But seeing Hera standing side by side with Xavier felt so natural, like they were an immortal couple straight out of a fairy tale. “W-welcome, Xavier, Hera,” one of the staff stammered as he greeted them, his mind still reeling, as if he were living in a dream.

“Thank you,” Hera replied sweetly, but Xavier simply nodded before gently taking her hand and resting it in his arm to support her.

Hera didn’t pull away; instead, she leaned in slightly as they walked together.

They were escorted to the conference room, where the other actors and Hera’s manager were waiting.

Betty was deep in conversation with Director Nick about the contract, while the other actors’ managers had long since finished the contract signing.

Since the other roles weren’t as significant as the lead roles, their contracts were largely standard, almost like a template, while the leads had different compensation packages and additional clauses.

When Hera and Xavier entered, Betty glanced up, her face instantly lighting up with a smile. “Hera’s here! And it looks like you’ve arrived with Xavier,” she said, giving Xavier a quick once-over before shifting her gaze between him and Hera.

After a moment, she turned back to Director Nick.

“See? I told you, you should reconsider this clause and the compensation. As you can see behind me, my artist can stand shoulder to shoulder with the male lead, and the chemistry between them is already well-known and well-accepted.”

“I can guarantee that these two will bring out the best in each other and turn your movie into a blockbuster.”

“Of course, I’m not saying the script and other factors don’t matter, but having an actor who can truly bring a character to life is something else entirely.”

“Think of this adjustment in compensation as a small investment—after all, you’ll be earning hundreds of millions from this movie anyway.” Betty continued, her words flowing as she tried to negotiate the terms.

For a female lead role, the compensation was indeed modest, but that was because Hera was still a newcomer with little to show for herself.

The reason Betty was pushing to renegotiate was that, although Hera was a newcomer, her popularity rivaled that of any A-list actress.

Her acting skills weren’t lacking either—Director Nick had already witnessed her talent firsthand.

Before Hera’s arrival, he had been hesitant.

However, when Hera and Xavier walked in, and he saw their undeniable chemistry both on and off stage, Betty boldly raised the compensation threefold.

The move left Director Nick regretting that he hadn’t agreed to her terms earlier.

Director Nick let out a grunt of defeat as he glanced back, his expression pained.

With a reluctant nod to Betty, he conceded.

His assistant director wasted no time, quickly revising the contract and printing the updated version in under ten minutes, fearful that Betty might push for additional clauses or increase the compensation again.

After all, they couldn’t afford to lose Hera.

Hera, meanwhile, quietly let Xavier guide her to a seat beside him near the head of the table. She listened to Betty’s words but remained composed.

The other actors and actresses kept their heads lowered, pretending not to hear anything.

This conversation was something that should have been discussed behind closed doors, with only the involved parties present.

However, Director Nick was a peculiar individual.

Perhaps he wanted to promote transparency, or maybe he intended to spark a sense of rivalry among the actors, motivating them to strive harder.

After all, excelling in this project could give them leverage to negotiate better compensation in his future films.

Or, perhaps, he simply didn’t care enough and found it too much effort to handle the matter privately.

Once the revised contract arrived, Director Nick signed it without a second glance and handed it to Betty.

True to her perfectionist nature, Betty meticulously reviewed every detail to ensure there were no issues.

She took her role as Hera’s manager seriously and wanted everything to be perfect.

After confirming that the requested adjustments, including the new compensation, were accurately reflected, she signed it herself and brought it to Hera.