The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Chapter 69 They had Come Together
Under the rays of sunlight streaming through the window, his golden hair gleamed, accentuating his pale skin. His golden eyes sparkled like stars beneath his long eyelashes, and his lips curved into a bright smile. He seemed akin to the sun itself—radiant, warm, and inviting.

Hera sucked in a mouthful of air as realization dawned upon her.

It hadn’t occurred to her earlier that this man seemed familiar—or rather, his description did.

Athena must have noticed it earlier through the guest list and orchestrated their seating arrangement. Initially, Hera dismissed Zhane and Rafael sitting together as a mere coincidence. However, upon realizing that Luke was also seated with them, she concluded that everyone important must be present. She hadn’t noticed earlier, likely because she was drawn to Luke’s gaze from the very beginning.

‘Yeah, it’s like his eyes have this mesmerizing quality that pulls her in, even from the very beginning.’

Observing Hera’s captivation with Luke’s appearance, Leo angrily cleared his throat. While he knew Hera had a similar reaction upon seeing him, it didn’t sit well with him to witness her exhibiting the same response to other men besides himself.

He had completely forgotten his grandfather’s advice on how to behave around the woman he liked.

Thanks to Leo’s intervention, Hera managed to regain her composure and steady her emotions as she calmed her nerves. “Hello, Mr. Greyson. I’m Hera Ainsley,” she greeted him. Then, recalling his earlier remark, she inquired, “What exactly do you mean by my ‘heroic act’?”

Luke’s gaze remained fixed on Hera as his melodious chuckle filled the room before he responded with nonchalance. “Just a week ago, I happened to witness you defending a lady in distress and delivering a homerun kick to the douchebag who hurt her.”

“A week ago?” Hera’s mind raced to recall what he described. “Oh! That?!” Hera’s mouth formed a big ‘O’ as the realization dawned on her, which Luke found cute.

He nodded in confirmation. “Yes, that.”

He was indeed there. Initially, he didn’t notice Hera when she was just standing behind the man causing a scene in the receptionist area of the Dragon Jade Building. However, when the situation escalated and the man turned physical with the receptionist, Hera stood firm to help the girl. Luke found her actions admirable.

She did exude a heroic presence, almost warrior-like, during that moment. However, he couldn’t shake off the fear that she might be harmed, especially when the man became increasingly agitated after being humiliated in public. At that moment, he felt a wave of nervousness wash over him, a sensation he hadn’t experienced since his youth.

That’s why he started making a run to her side hoping that she could somehow avoid being hit before he reached her, but to think that she would instead go after the balls. Even Luke unconsciously flinched seeing that.

But that scene also piqued his interest in Hera. He and his friends don’t like mingling with women because they are rather a complicated creature that are beyond their business and political schemes. It was fascinating for him to find an odd one.

She was an odd one not because she was the most valiant woman, nor was she the most beautiful in the world. But there was something in her that pulled him to her, that’s the veil of mystery that’s continuously poking his interest like an inkling itch.

He had been wondering when he would get another chance to meet the woman, and surprisingly, it came sooner than expected. He felt elated for having decided to accompany his friends to the Charity Auction, despite initially being wary of the superficial social interactions with other wealthy individuals who often used charity events for their own agendas.

He felt a wave of nausea wash over him, craving a moment of peace where he wouldn’t have to tread so cautiously. The constant vigilance, always watching his back against unfamiliar faces and their potential schemes, was draining.

Despite grappling with these unsettling thoughts, he maintained a warm and friendly smile on his face. However, while he was preoccupied with his own contemplations, Hera found herself pondering the sudden appearance of such significant figures from the novel in her life. It felt akin to encountering lost treasures on her doorstep as if she were the custodian of a lost and found booth for missing souls.

Is she now wearing the female lead halo? Since when? For how long?

She didn’t have much time to dwell on these thoughts as she found herself face to face with the three male leads from the novel ‘Thin Line Between Love and Lust’. Standing before her was the biggest supporter of the female lead in all her adversities, a character straight out of the pages of fiction now embodied in flesh and blood.

The financial mogul who spared no expense, investing billions after billions to ensure the female lead received top-notch treatment and the best possible outcomes in every film she chose to be a part of.

The man who would condone all her misbehavior, shield her from harm, and appear whenever she needed him, the one who bedded her the most like a rabbit in heat, now smiling like the sun in front of Hera.

‘If I did not know better, I would also fall for this harmless smile of yours. TSK!’

The main male lead truly stands out from the others, literally shining like a star with an almost visible halo above his head. Just by looking at him, he exudes the aura of a Greek God that descended to the mortal realm.

Hera made an effort to gather her thoughts and prioritize the current situation, prompting Zhane to examine Leo’s condition. Despite Leo’s initial resistance, he eventually relented and stepped back to allow Zhane to conduct his examination.

Since Leo had taken the antidote from Hera some time ago, his condition had improved significantly, and he no longer felt any lingering effects of the aphrodisiac that is related to his sex drive. Consequently, Zhane only needed a few minutes to assess his condition. Zhane even offered generous praise to Hera for her timely intervention and decisive action.

The question lingered in everyone’s mind: Why did Hera have an antidote for an aphrodisiac? Was it due to vigilance or past experience? All four pairs of eyes turned to Hera, their gazes reflecting a mix of complex emotions, already jumping to negative conclusions.

This conclusion was far from the truth. However, it prompted a shift in the atmosphere among the gentlemen present. Whether this shift was positive or negative remained to be determined.

“Leo’s condition seems stable now; he just needs some rest to recover from the fatigue caused by the side effects of the aphrodisiac,” Zhane concluded his examination. Leo, however, appeared unfazed by Zhane’s words, as if they weren’t talking about him.

“Since he’s already fine, he can go and leave on his own,” Rafael remarked with a mocking tone, taking a jab at Leo. However, Leo remained unfazed, showing no signs of being affected by Rafael’s comment.

In a scenario akin to a good cop, bad cop dynamic, Luke tactfully interjected, saying, “Rafael, let’s ease off a bit. Leo seems to be in a vulnerable spot and could really use Ms. Ainsley’s assistance.” While his words appeared concerned, the undertone suggested Luke’s belief that Leo was simply a feeble man, easily schemed against by a woman, and now reliant on another woman’s aid to extricate himself from his earlier predicament.

Hera found herself in a state of uncertainty, pondering whether there might be lingering animosity between the men engaged in this discreet exchange. Her reticence wasn’t born out of a lack of comprehension regarding the subtleties of their words; rather, it stemmed from her realization that she lacked insight into their shared history. Thus, she remained a silent observer, acutely aware of the dynamics unfolding before her, yet unable to fully grasp their intricacies due to her unfamiliarity with their past.

So, it seems they either share a bad history or the male leads are influenced by the storyline, exhibiting possessive behavior towards the individual they views as the female lead.

As Zhane maintained his usual stern demeanor, Leo quietly adjusted his clothing.

Engrossed in his own thoughts, no one could tell what was going on in his head. Luke also started to silently gauge Leo knowing that he didn’t look like a normal wealthy young lad with a handsome face.

However, his interest quickly waned, and he turned his attention back to Hera. Despite being surrounded by attractive men, she appeared lost in her own thoughts, unruffled by their presence. He couldn’t help but wonder what occupied her mind behind her serene facade.

“Miss Ainsley, your assistance has been invaluable… I would be honored to express my gratitude by inviting you to dinner if you would be so kind?” Leo gracefully bypassed Rafael and Luke, making a beeline for Hera, who had just redirected her attention to him after being lost in thought.

Breaking his silence, Zhane interjected, his voice carrying a hint of seriousness beneath the veneer of a question. “Shouldn’t I be included in your dinner invitation as well? After all, I did go out of my way to assist you just the same.” His words held an expectation, leaving little room for refusal.

Luke’s eyes crinkled into crescents as he chimed in, “Why don’t we make it a group dinner? It could be a chance for us to forge new friendships, don’t you agree?” His warm smile was aimed at Hera, as he playfully added, “It seems like fate has brought us together.”