Chapter 227 Her Choice 2
Hera felt a lump form in her throat at Leo’s words, a sensation akin to being choked by her own saliva. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was akin to a courtesan, with multiple suitors vying for her attention, yet she remained indecisive, leaving them dangling on a thread while she relished in the attention and pursuit.
Observing Leo’s pitiful expression and his willingness to accommodate Hera’s needs, her heartstrings were effortlessly tugged. It seemed as if Leo possessed an innate understanding of Hera, knowing precisely when to assert himself and when to retreat, allowing her the space she required. His intuitive approach resonated deeply with her, fostering a sense of connection and trust.
This very quality also made it increasingly difficult for Hera to resist Leo’s charm. She found herself admitting, albeit reluctantly, that her fondness for him was growing with each passing moment they spent together. The realization that Leo wasn’t one of the male leads already set him apart from the others, granting him a special place in Hera’s heart.
Hera was clear about her likes and dislikes, she held firm in her convictions, refusing to tolerate anything she disliked. The only time she compromised was during her relationship with Alexi, enduring his family’s condescending treatment and feeling like a beggar. Despite the discomfort, she saw it as the best option, given Alexi’s deviation from the story’s narrative. She held onto the hope that his family might not be bound by the storyline’s constraints and could eventually warm up to her, provided she showcased her best qualities. Hera believed in the potential for change, inspired by Alexi’s own transformation from his novel-prescribed behavior.
"Alright! You want to compete with us fair and square like a man, right?" Dave’s smirk conveyed his challenge to Leo before he continued, "Well then, let’s play by those rules. Otherwise, you’d accuse us of ganging up on you." Despite Dave’s awareness of Hera’s leaning towards Leo and the potential risk of losing her if Leo pursued her, they knew intervening directly might only fuel Leo’s determination. They understood that if they didn’t act, Leo could still court Hera successfully, potentially even winning her over completely, leaving them with no chance.
Rather than affording Leo a genuine opportunity to compete fairly, it seemed more like they were collaborating to dismantle Leo’s pedestal and vie for Hera’s affection collectively. Dave recognized that if he played the part of the magnanimous gentleman in Hera’s presence, appearing above petty tactics, it could potentially alter her perception of him—particularly now that she had learned about his engagement and Zhane’s, both factors subtly demoting them in her eyes compared to the others.
There’s a saying: keep your friends close and your enemies closer, and that’s precisely what Dave attempted. However, unbeknownst to him, Hera was on the verge of rejecting Leo and severing ties, unable to bear dragging him into her turmoil despite her feelings for him. Dave’s words halted her, causing her to withhold the words she intended to speak, much to Leo’s delight. Leo didn’t require Dave’s fair competition; he understood his standing and anticipated Hera’s decision. Consequently, he found amusement in Dave inadvertently aiding him, laughing inwardly at the unexpected assistance.