The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 616

Chapter 616: Chapter 616 Be The Villain
After their brief conversation, Leo’s group relaxed, now that they had a few suspects to focus on.

They continued their investigation, keeping a close eye on those people and groups.

Meanwhile, Leo, who had been lying beside Hera with her nestled safely in his arms, put down his phone.

He switched it to silent mode to avoid any further distractions, wanting nothing more than to stay in this peaceful moment.

He closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of Hera’s gentle breath against his skin and the comforting weight of her body pressed against his.

There was a deep sense of calm in having her so close, knowing she was safe and sound in his arms.

The memory of how close she had come to harm lingered in his mind, and the thought of it still made his pulse race.

When the danger had been real, his mind had snapped, and before he even realized what he was doing, he had kicked the man who tried to harm her with all his strength—without considering the consequences.

The only thing that mattered at that moment had been protecting Hera, and everything else had faded into the background.

At that moment, all Leo could think about was keeping Hera safe at any cost—even if it meant hurting others.

He didn’t even consider the possibility of the sulfuric acid splashing onto innocent bystanders when he kicked the man who had tried to hurt Hera.

At that moment, he was so consumed by the need to protect her that he didn’t think about the consequences—or perhaps, it wasn’t that he didn’t think of them, but rather that he didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was making sure she was safe.

He knew, deep down, that his reaction had been extreme, and that his actions could scare her if she ever found out.

But the thought of Hera being hurt terrified him far more than the idea that she might change how she saw him.

The possibility that she might think of him as ruthless, cold, or even come to dislike him didn’t matter—not in comparison to the fear of losing her or seeing her in pain.

In his mind, if her opinion of him soured, if she began to see him as a villain, it would be a small price to pay. It would hurt, of course, but he could live with it. He wouldn’t mind being the villain, the one she feared or resented, as long as it meant keeping her safe. Even if that meant keeping his distance from her, even if he could never touch her again, he would still protect her—because her well-being was all that truly mattered.

But when Hera showed concern for him after piecing together what had happened, mistakenly thinking that he was the one who had been hurt instead of her, Leo’s heart trembled.

The thought that she might dislike him stung deeply, making his chest ache and his heart bleed.

He never wanted to be a source of discomfort or displeasure for the woman he loved and cherished, yet he was at a loss for how to act in this situation.

The uncertainty of what she might do next left him on edge, his emotions raw as he waited, his heart heavy with anxiety.

When she relied on him, burying her face in his chest as he carried her to the car, holding onto him as if he were her safe haven, his heart trembled.

The anticipated pain he had braced for eased in that moment, replaced by a bittersweet warmth.

Even as they watched the race together with everyone, though he felt happiness and support for Hera, a lingering fear clung to him.

He had always presented himself to her as harmless and warm, never revealing the colder, more ruthless side of him in front of her because he had always wanted her to like him.

And now, he was afraid of what she might think when she discovered that side—the side that had surfaced when he kicked the man who tried to hurt her. That hidden part of him, which he worked so hard to conceal, had slipped out, and he feared Hera’s reaction to it.

Now, Leo held Hera close, as if he wanted to merge her into his very being, yet at the same time, he was afraid to hurt her.

The conflicting emotions churned within him, driving him almost mad. Then, Hera nuzzled her face deeper into his arm, like a contented cat in her sleep.

She looked so beautiful and serene, her peaceful expression calming the storm within him. As he felt the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against his own, his trembling heart gradually settled.

In the quiet of the room, surrounded by the warmth of her presence, they both drifted into sleep.

Just before his consciousness surrendered to sleep, Leo heard Hera mumble softly, “Leo, don’t be afraid, I’m here…” Her voice faded, growing quieter with each word.

As her reassuring words lingered in his mind, his fear slowly melted away, and his heart steadied.

A smile tugged at his lips as he buried his nose in her hair, savoring the warmth and comfort of her presence. With a final, contented breath, he let himself be taken by sleep.

Hera didn’t do it on purpose—she was truly asleep—but as she drifted into her dream, she saw Leo. It wasn’t the man she knew, but a younger version of him, a child sitting alone in a dark room. His knees were drawn up to his chest, and he was crying softly.

The sight of little Leo, with his big round puppy eyes, chubby cheeks, messy hair, and small frame, tugged at Hera’s heart.

She couldn’t bear seeing him so vulnerable and alone, biting his lips to stifle his sobs, as if afraid of disturbing anyone or letting them know he was in pain.

“Why are you crying?” Hera asked gently, crouching down in front of him. Leo peeked up at her, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and hope.

“Did someone bully you?” she continued, her voice softening as she instinctively lowered it to a comforting tone, wanting to reassure him.

Little Leo shook his head, but as Hera gently prodded, his distress deepened, and his small form seemed to curl in on itself.

His voice came out in a painful croak, “I did something bad to protect my loved one… but I’m afraid they’ll hate me.”

His eyes searched Hera’s face desperately, as if bracing for rejection, his vulnerability raw and palpable.

He shrank back a little, afraid to see even a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.

Hera’s heart twisted, a deep ache settling in her chest as she watched him tremble with the weight of his emotions.

This was the first time she saw him so truly distressed—his usual playful acts, his caring nature, and the little moments of vulnerability he’d allowed her to see, had never revealed this raw, unguarded side of him.

Her heart tightened as she realized that even though he often wore a mask, pretending to be shameless or seeking attention, this was different.

He was truly baring his soul to her now, afraid not of the world, but of her—the one person he most feared could reject him.

Hera gently extended her hand, cupping Little Leo’s small face with tenderness. “Leo, don’t be afraid. I’m here. I will always be here with you, and I will never hate you,” she whispered soothingly.

As she cradled the little boy in her arms, he buried his face against her chest, comforted by her embrace.

But then, to her surprise, the small, aggrieved Leo seemed to transform before her eyes. In place of the vulnerable child, the grown Leo emerged, his demeanor shifting from sorrow to mischief.

Instead of crying, he now feigned tears, a playful, yet shameless grin spreading across his face as he casually leaned into her embrace.

Leo’s large hands began to grope and fondle her breasts, his touch firm yet teasing as he gazed at her with mischievous eyes.

Their position had shifted; she now straddled his lap, her legs on either side of his hips while he sat cross-legged beneath her.

Before she could voice any protest, Leo captured her lips in a deep, fervent kiss, the sound of wet kisses filling the room with an intimate rhythm.

With one hand, Leo guided her hips to grind against him, the motion slow and deliberate, while his other hand gripped her perky ass, his fingers sinking into the soft flesh.

Hera felt a wave of heat rush through her body, the intensity of his touch and the closeness of their bodies stirring her deeply.

Before she realized it, both of them were already naked, and Leo’s hands roamed freely over her body.

Driven by an equally intense hunger, she straddled him with need, her voice growing louder and more desperate in the quiet air, each sound carrying a lewd undertone.

Her heart pounded furiously, every inch of her skin burning with heat, and she felt each of Leo’s touches with vivid clarity.

The overwhelming sensation of him inside her made her eyes roll back in sheer ecstasy, her mind spiraling into a haze of pleasure.

“Hera?!” Leo’s voice cut through the haze of sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, still heavy with the remnants of a dream.

The room around her felt strange, unfamiliar—so different from the world she had just been in.

Her heart raced, pulse quickening in her chest, and she gasped for breath, her lungs struggling to catch up. Her face burned with warmth, and the sensation from the dream lingered, a vivid echo that made her skin tingle.

Blinking through bleary eyes, she finally focused on Leo’s concerned face.

He was staring at her with a look of alarm, clearly worried after seeing her breathing heavily in her sleep. He must have thought she was trapped in a nightmare.