Chapter 330 Time to Talk
She could feel the heat rising in her back, acutely aware of the stares and disapproval from those around her as if daggers were being thrown her way for making Rafael cry. Even though she hadn’t done anything to intentionally hurt him, the guilt weighed heavily on her. Rafael’s vulnerable state triggered Hera’s protective instincts, and she reached out to him, despite her struggle to bridge the gap. His tall frame and broad shoulders made it challenging to reach his height, but her concern for his distress drove her to try and comfort him.
Fortunately, Rafael was leaning slightly towards her, which made it easier for Hera to reach out and gently wrap her arms around his neck. She drew him closer and softly caressed his head, guiding him to rest his forehead on her shoulder. At first, Rafael tensed slightly at her touch, but that hesitation quickly faded. He eagerly buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her comforting scent as he tried to calm himself.
Rafael’s feelings quickly subsided as he inhaled Hera’s soothing scent, his turbulent emotions gradually calming. For Hera, however, the situation was more complex. Rafael’s warm breath against her skin was both ticklish and oddly stimulating, causing her stomach to churn with an uncomfortable yet intense reaction. She was acutely aware that this wasn’t the appropriate moment for such feelings, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed by the indecent thoughts that were creeping into her mind.
Hera pushed her distracting thoughts aside and focused on soothing Rafael’s distress. "Shh, I don’t hate you or feel angry," she said gently. "You’ve done more than just kiss me before, but did I push you away then?" She wanted Rafael to understand that even in more intimate moments, she hadn’t reacted with anger or rejection, so he shouldn’t worry about this situation causing a rift between them.
However, Hera’s soothing words seemed to heighten Rafael’s anxiety. As he recognized the absurdity of his actions, his fear intensified, causing him to stiffen further. Hera was bewildered as her attempts to comfort him appeared to backfire. She could feel his tears dampening the crook of her neck, realizing that her words might have only increased his distress. ’Did I end up frightening him even more?’ she wondered, feeling a pang of guilt.
"Shh, it’s alright," Hera said softly, continuing to stroke the back of Rafael’s head. "I’m not angry, and I won’t reject you, okay?" She could feel him sniffling and trembling slightly in her embrace before he settled more comfortably against her neck, his arms tightening around her waist. Hera couldn’t help but think that Rafael might have missed out on a proper childhood or lacked opportunities to express his emotions openly. It seemed that when he reached his emotional limits, it overwhelmed him, leading to this unexpected breakdown.
"Um. Promise?" He asked a little hesitantly.
"Yes, I promise," Hera said, her voice soothing. "I was just caught off guard by everything, and that’s why I didn’t respond right away. I didn’t mean to cause any more distress." She wanted to make sure Rafael understood, fearing that without a clear explanation, he might misinterpret her words and start crying again. Hera could feel the weight of the stares on her back, the intensity of the glares from those around her. It seemed that everyone, including herself, believed that a man’s tears were a true indication of his emotions.
It was almost unbelievable to see such a tough man crying—something she’d never imagined. Yet here was Rafael, breaking down his tough exterior and exposing his vulnerable heart to Hera, seemingly indifferent to the watching crowd. He seemed to cast aside his pride and ego, traits he had once held so dear as if they no longer mattered in this moment of raw emotion.