Chapter 274 Another Trouble
Hearing the undertone in Dave’s statement, Rafael raised an amused eyebrow as he looked at him. It wasn’t that he enjoyed seeing his friend in distress, but it was rare to see Dave on the receiving end. Normally, Dave was the one orchestrating schemes and playful antics, so seeing the tables turned on him was a moment of quiet satisfaction for Rafael.
More so for the people he has schemed against. They must have been dying to see him in a sorry state.
Dave noticed the smirk playing on Rafael’s lips and instantly felt incensed. He pouted and glanced at Hera, seeking some backup from her, only to find her disinterested in the matter. She was absorbed in studying the menu as if each choice were a matter of life and death, her brows furrowed and her left hand idly playing with her chin in deep thought.
Seeing Dave so aggrieved but no one to comfort him made Rafael guffawed right in front of him. "Serves you right!" He mercilessly threw at him.
Dave’s eyes widened. "How did I even offend this brute?" he thought to himself as Rafael kicked him while he was down. His chest heaved heavily with anger, wanting to curse at everyone, but then he remembered Hera was also there and he didn’t want to scare her.
After coming home last night, he realized that compared to Leo, he was not doing a great job at wooing Hera. He sensed that Hera might lean towards Leo if pushed too hard, so he began contemplating changing his approach. Reluctantly, he acknowledged Leo had outshone him last night, feeling like he was the least favored in the group. Even Rafael, whom he believed was his closest rival in this pursuit, now seemed to have gained an edge and Hera’s favor.
Feeling utterly defeated, Dave struggled to maintain his composure. As his spirits plummeted, he instinctively reached into his pocket and retrieved a strawberry candy, surreptitiously placing it on Hera’s lap. His sudden move startled Hera, prompting her to turn her head sharply towards him, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"I’m sharing my last piece of favorite comfort candy with you," he said, smiling like a bashful boy. Hera was taken aback, pleasantly surprised by this side of Dave she hadn’t seen before—innocent and endearing. He seemed almost shy, as if he wished he could offer more but was constrained by his current predicament. Smiling back at him, she found herself touched by his gesture.
Dave’s small gesture reminded her of Bry, and it made her giggle softly. This gentle reaction warmed Dave’s heart and eased his nervousness, but his relief was short-lived. Unbeknownst to him, the people pursuing him had tracked him to the restaurant. Caught up in his attention on Hera, he only realized it when their table was suddenly surrounded by the Korean dignitary’s bodyguards, forming a formidable wall around them.
He felt his head throbbing as a snarl escaped his lips in annoyance. His gaze turned dangerous as he scanned the faces of the people surrounding them. Hera, though surprised, managed to keep her composure as she looked around, trying to grasp what was happening.