Chapter 273 The Schemer
Hera glanced at Rafael once more before laughing again. Her laughter was contagious, and Rafael couldn’t help but find the situation amusing himself. This was something he had never attempted before and would usually disdain to even consider, yet here he was, trying to appease the woman he liked.
Though his domineering and intimidating appearance didn’t quite suit the act, it still made Hera laugh, which was good enough for him. If someone had told his past self that he would act this way and be patient with a woman, he might have laughed before kicking that person in the ass. That just wasn’t him. But reality had a way of surprising him, and he didn’t even realize he was doing it until it happened. Now, he found that it didn’t look or feel as bad as he had imagined.
He was genuinely happy to see Hera laughing merrily because of him. Her eyes were brimming with happy tears as she tried to wipe them away with the back of her fingers. She looked adorable yet enticing, and Rafael’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he watched her with fervent eyes. However, he tried to hide his emotions, not wanting to risk making Hera angry again.
Only now did he realize that he had a low EQ. This realization made him feel at a disadvantage, but then he remembered his friends, who were no better than him when it came to emotional intelligence. The thought that they would all go down together made him laugh even more merrily. However, his laughter abruptly stopped as Leo’s image flashed in his mind. ’Well, probably except for one,’ he thought.
After they both settled down, Rafael and Hera made sure they looked presentable. Rafael then went to the door to call everyone. Meanwhile, Sandra and Logan were downstairs, passing the time by browsing the accessories on display.
When they saw Rafael coming down, they stopped in their tracks and silently followed him back to the VVIP room. No one asked any questions, understanding it was best not to pry into someone’s private life. After this brief interlude, they resumed shopping. This time, Rafael happily carried all of Hera’s shopping bags, while sending the others to the penthouse.
"It’s getting late. How about we have dinner here?" Rafael suggested, his eyes searching for Hera’s. When she looked up at him, he tenderly smiled, waiting for her decision. Hera saw nothing wrong with it and agreed right away.
This time, she let Rafael decide where to eat, wanting to give him the opportunity to take charge. She didn’t want to be accused of favoritism or not giving him a fair chance to prove himself.
Rafael then guided them to a well-known French restaurant located on the upper floor of the mall. Since many socialites, elites, and businesspeople frequent this mall, the facilities are much more upscale than those of a typical mall. Luxury brands and Michelin-starred restaurants are common on the upper floors. This particular French restaurant recently earned its third star, thanks to the innovative cuisine of its owner, an international cooking competition champion.
Seeing where Rafael was taking them, Hera couldn’t help but feel excited. Being a foodie, she often watched reels and videos of restaurant introductions by bloggers online. She had even heard about this restaurant before from a blogger who was invited by the owner for a small publicity event.
If before, Hera didn’t have the means to eat at such a restaurant, now that she did, she felt ecstatic. When Rafael glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, he noticed how giddy Hera was. He recalled that Hera enjoyed dining experiences more than material possessions. This realization made him feel like he had finally done something right to impress her, especially since he often felt like he was digging his own hole.