The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 689

Chapter 689: Chapter 689 When They Cared, They Care
While Hera was trending yet again, Alice seized the opportunity to elevate herself at Hera’s expense.

She didn’t attack Hera directly; instead, she played the role of a concerned friend, pretending to help by offering ‘clarifications’ that only made things worse. With feigned innocence and an air of worry, she subtly twisted the narrative, making it seem as though she was defending Hera while actually fueling the controversy.

Watching Alice’s so-called “explanation,” Hera narrowed her eyes. It was clear—Alice wasn’t trying to clear her name. She was making sure the netizens kept questioning whether Hera had stolen her role.

Hera snorted as she watched Alice on the screen.

‘No wonder she’s the female lead. She never misses a chance to put herself in a favorable light—using me as a foil in the process,’ she thought before exiting the platform and setting her phone aside.

Deciding to ignore the chaos online, she headed downstairs for breakfast. But as she descended from the second floor, she was met with an unexpected sight.

Aside from Leo, the dining table was already occupied by Luke, Zhane, Rafael, and Dave—all of whom were helping set the dishes.

The moment Hera stepped into the dining room, every pair of eyes turned to her. Their smiles widened, their eyes curving into crescent shapes as they welcomed her.

“Sweetheart, I’ve been trying to reach you since dawn, but I couldn’t get through to your phone, so I rushed over to see you. Are you alright?”

Dave was the first to speak, his voice laced with concern. He hurried toward Hera like a worried child, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. His eyes scanned her face intently, searching for any signs of distress—any hint that she was upset or devastated by the cyberbullying.

The moment he woke up and saw the trending topic online, worry gripped him. He immediately tried to contact Hera, but when his calls went unanswered, he didn’t hesitate. Despite his packed schedule and exhausted body, he drove straight to her penthouse.

After all, he couldn’t shake the guilt gnawing at him. His grand display of love—meant only to cherish Hera—had now been twisted into a weapon for others to attack her.

Seeing the deep concern in his eyes, Hera’s expression softened. A gentle warmth filled her gaze as she nodded.

“Yes, I was sleeping like a baby last night, and my phone was on silent, so I didn’t notice. Sorry for making you worry,” she said, her tone light yet reassuring.

“No, sweetheart, there’s no need to apologize. I’m just glad you’re okay,” Dave said gently, his tone filled with warmth. “Don’t worry—I’ll make this right and take care of everything for you, alright?”

He guided Hera toward the dining table, where everyone was watching them in quiet concern. Yet, no one interrupted Dave’s moment with her. Their silence spoke volumes—the worry in their eyes made it clear that they all cared deeply about Hera.

“Don’t worry, Dave, I’ve got this. My manager and I are already handling everything, so just focus on your work,” Hera said reassuringly. A soft smile touched her lips as she added, “But your gesture made me feel happy and supported.”

Not wanting to dismiss his efforts, she tiptoed and placed a gentle peck on his cheek. The simple gesture lit up Dave’s face, making him grin from ear to ear like a fool—especially so early in the morning.

Of course, not wanting to show favoritism, Hera made sure to kiss each of the others on the cheek before finally settling into her seat.

Everyone smiled, setting their worries aside for now—they didn’t want to dampen Hera’s mood.

Rafael carefully placed a plate in front of her: golden pancakes drizzled with maple syrup, topped with a dollop of whipped cream, and accompanied by neatly sliced fruit. He had heard from his sister that women liked sweets, but not too sweet, so he had put extra effort into making these just right.

The process, however, had been anything but smooth. He and Minerva were a complete disaster in the kitchen, turning it into a charcoal-black mess.

Their mother had nearly reprimanded them over the phone when she found out they had almost destroyed her beloved kitchen.

Determined to make it work, Rafael and Minerva spent the entire night learning from their chef. After multiple failed attempts, he finally succeeded.

Excited to show off his newfound skill, he rushed straight to Hera’s penthouse—only to walk in and find the other guys already there, each busy with their own gestures of care.

Zhane had prepared a nourishing chicken collagen soup, packed with health benefits and great for the skin. He had been the first to arrive, bringing carefully selected herbs that he had picked and processed himself. With patience and dedication, he simmered the broth over low heat, meticulously peeling and chopping the vegetables by hand.

Though he didn’t boast about his effort, Hera could see it in his eyes—the quiet anticipation, the subtle hope that she would enjoy it. As he gently ladled a steaming cup of soup and placed it in front of her, his expectant gaze spoke louder than words.

“Don’t forget to drink some soup. It’s good for your skin and health,” Zhane said simply.

But in reality, he had put in far more effort than his words let on. He had spent hours experimenting, carefully balancing the herbs to ensure the soup wasn’t too earthy, bitter, or overpowering. He wanted Hera to enjoy every spoonful.

Despite having hands trained for intricate surgeries, he hadn’t hesitated to cook for her, and that thought alone made Hera feel deeply cherished. Surrounded by such warmth and care, she felt truly pampered—a feeling so comforting that she feared she might get used to it.

After all, the scariest thing wasn’t just the pampering itself—it was the possibility of getting used to it, only for it to suddenly disappear one day. Hera was no exception to this fear, especially knowing that, in the original story, these men were meant to belong to someone else—the true female lead.

Her heart pounded violently at the thought, a wave of unease washing over her. But she pushed it aside.

‘I’ll deal with it when the time comes.’

For now, she wanted to savor the moment—to enjoy their company and appreciate the effort they had put into making her feel cherished.

She nodded at Zhane, her eyes sparkling with joy as she happily accepted the soup. Taking a sip, she found it warm and slightly thick, yet rich and creamy. The herbs blended seamlessly with the savory chicken broth, creating a comforting balance of flavors that soothed her throat as it went down.

After savoring the warmth of the soup, she eagerly sliced into her pancake and took a mouthful. She looked like a contented cat, her eyes turning into crescents as she enjoyed the meal.

Seeing her genuine delight, Zhane and Rafael couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction. Watching her relish the fruits of their effort made all their hard work feel truly rewarding.

Luke refused to be left out, making sure to contribute in his own way. Knowing full well how much Hera loved cold fruit juice, he carefully selected the freshest and sweetest fruits from the tray, squeezing them with precision to ensure the perfect balance of flavor. Once he was satisfied, he placed the freshly made juice beside Hera before settling into the seat next to her.

Meanwhile, Dave played the role of the lively troublemaker at the table, filling the room with laughter. He animatedly shared stories of his own embarrassing mishaps in front of his subordinates, turning his failures into comedy gold.

His jokes and exaggerated expressions had everyone around the table chuckling, easing any lingering tension and making the morning feel even more lighthearted and warm.

Even the usually stoic Zhane couldn’t help but chuckle at how Dave exaggerated his own foolishness, all just to make Hera laugh. His antics worked like a charm, filling the dining room with warmth and laughter.

In the kitchen, Amy and Hannah paused as they heard the cheerful sounds from the dining room.

Smiling in relief, they exchanged glances. Earlier, they had been deeply worried about Hera—concerned that the harsh online attacks would weigh her down. They had even tried to defend her, responding to the trolls in an attempt to set the record straight.

But their voices were quickly drowned out in the flood of hateful comments, and before long, they, too, became targets. It left them feeling helpless.

‘If even they feel this way… then how much worse must it be for Hera?’

But hearing her laughter now, light and unbothered, reassured them. At least for this moment, she wasn’t letting the negativity get to her.

They had wanted to cheer Hera up themselves, but before they could even try, they were surprised when these group of men arrived early in the morning—each of them determined to help prepare breakfast for her. What caught Amy and Hannah even more off guard was how adamant they were about doing everything themselves, refusing any assistance.