The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 665

Chapter 665: Chapter 665 Waking Up Alone
Not wanting to tease Zhane any further, Rafael walked over to join them and began massaging Hera’s arms and shoulders. The room fell into a comfortable silence as each of them focused on their task.

Once they were finished, Zhane carefully lifted Hera and carried her to the bed, gently tucking her in.

At first, he considered changing her into pajamas, but the soft, fluffy bathrobe she wore felt so comfortable that he decided it would be just fine for her to sleep in it.

After settling Hera in, they turned off the lights and climbed back into bed, all three of them lying close together, ensuring she felt safe and cared for.

With everything taken care of, they drifted off to sleep, ready to face the next morning.

When Hera woke up, feeling refreshed and in a good mood, she reached out only to find that the bed was empty.

She blinked and opened her eyes, realizing there was no one beside her. For some reason, the emptiness felt strange.

Over the past few days, she had grown accustomed to being surrounded by the male leads, even Leo, or at least having one or two of them sleeping beside her.

It was as though she had gotten used to their presence, and now she couldn’t shake the feeling of missing them.

A twinge of loneliness settled in her chest as she stared out the window. The bright morning sun streamed in, and when she glanced at the bedside clock, she saw that it was already 8 a.m.

With a sigh, she slowly stood up and, only then, realized that she was still wearing the soft bathrobe.

She walked to the bathroom to freshen up and change. Once done, she slipped into dark brown shorts and knee-high boots of the same color.

She paired them with white thigh-high socks and a cream-colored dress shirt. Over the shirt, she carefully fastened a black corset with intricate laces that accentuated her waist.

Lastly, she picked out a trench coat that matched her boots and shoes, and grabbed her white Hermes Kelly bag, completing the look.

She was ready to face the day, even if it felt a little different without the usual presence of the others.

She sprayed a touch of Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb Haute Couture perfume on her wrists, under her ears, and a few other spots, letting the scent settle around her.

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror, she admired her reflection.

Her hair was down, flowing naturally as always. She twirled once, watching the fabric of her outfit shift gracefully with her movements.

When she was satisfied with her look, feeling both confident and content, she stepped out of her room and made her way down the stairs to the second floor.

“Good morning, little minx,” Rafael greeted with a playful smile, glancing up from the financial section of his newspaper.

He had been lounging on the sofa in the living room, but his attention shifted when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye coming down from the stairs.

“Good morning,” Zhane added, his voice calm and warm as he looked up from his medical magazine, sitting near the small flower garden by the window.

Moments later, Luke appeared, fresh from his morning jog outside, his energy still buzzing from the run.

“You’re awake. Good morning, babe,” Luke said softly, making his way toward Hera.

He leaned down and placed a gentle peck on the top of her head. “We came down early to take care of a few things. I hope you’re not too surprised waking up alone.”

Hera’s heart warmed at his words.

Even if she hadn’t admitted it out loud, she had felt a little down when she woke up without anyone beside her.

But hearing Luke’s considerate explanation made her realize how much they truly thought about her feelings—more than she had realized.

Zhane put down the magazine and stood up, walking over to Hera with a gentle smile.

He wrapped his arms around her in a light hug before planting a soft kiss on her cheek. “We know how tired you’ve been, so we let you sleep in,” he said, his voice warm.

“We were planning to bring you breakfast in bed, but it looks like you woke up earlier than we expected.”

Rafael, who had been standing the farthest from Hera, walked over with a smirk that held a mix of danger and mischief.

He leaned down and kissed Kisha on the lips before pulling back slightly, his eyes gleaming with playful intent. “How about a shopping trip?” he suggested. “I can bring my sister along too—so you two can chat about fashion and all that.”

Luke and Zhane exchanged a glance, raising their eyebrows in silent acknowledgment as if to say, ‘You sly bastard, now you’re using your sister as a wingwoman?’

Rafael met their gaze with a mischievous grin, unbothered by their silent judgment.

It wasn’t his fault he had a sister and they didn’t.

Besides, with Minerva reflecting on her past actions, he saw this as the perfect opportunity to break the ice between her and Hera.

The thought of his two favorite people—his beloved little sister and Hera—finally getting along filled him with a sense of contentment he hadn’t expected.

In the past, he’d been torn, feeling as though he’d have to choose between them as they clashed like rivals, especially with Minerva’s hostility.

But now, seeing how things were evolving, he felt more fulfilled than he ever had, happier than any of his friends could imagine.

Rafael couldn’t help but feel grateful that his sister had finally woken up to reality, choosing to recognize what was truly important instead of continuing to act like a spoiled brat, constantly pushing against everyone.

In hindsight, he realized that her kidnapping had been a strange blessing in disguise.

It had forced her to see who truly cared for her, removing the rose-colored glasses that had distorted her view of the world.

She had been able to grow from that experience, and he couldn’t help but appreciate the change.

Inviting Hera to go shopping with Minerva was his way of paving the path for the two to connect and possibly become friends.

He didn’t want any bad blood between his future wife and anyone in his family—he valued their feelings, even if he didn’t always express it.

Deep down, he wanted them all to get along, and this seemed like the right step forward.

“Um… Maybe next time?” Hera replied, her voice soft but thoughtful.

“I actually need to head somewhere before meeting Director Nick for the final costume fitting and script checks…” She hesitated, her mind briefly racing.

She did want to go with Rafael.

The idea of spending time with Minerva and possibly improving their relationship felt like a significant step—especially considering Minerva’s role in the novel.

In the original story, Minerva had been her greatest nemesis, the one who ultimately killed her.

Changing that dynamic now, forging a connection with her, could alter the course of her fate.

It would also bring her one step closer to stepping into the role of the new female lead, making her relationship with Minerva much more advantageous.

Still, she couldn’t afford to delay her preparations for the meeting with Director Nick.