Chapter 382 Dave, Apologize
Hera bit her lip, her gaze locking with Dave’s resentful pout as he pressed his face against the window, trying to peer inside the car. Zhane let out a hearty chuckle, slowly releasing Hera from his embrace. Despite his amused demeanor, a flicker of concern crossed his eyes as he realized they had been in that position for quite some time. He was anxious to check if Hera was comfortable and if her waist was okay.
As soon as Hera moved, a sharp pain shot through her waist, making her cry out in discomfort when she tried to settle back into her seat. "Ah!" Her hand instinctively reached to the spot on her lower back where she felt the strain, halting her movement midway as she tried to alleviate the pain.
Zhane glanced at Hera with a look of regret. "I’m sorry, Hera. It was my fault," he said, reaching out to gently rub the spot on her back where she was holding. His other hand unbuckled his seatbelt, and he unlocked the door from the dashboard before stepping out of the car. Though his demeanor was calm, his expression was stern, betraying his concern.
As soon as Zhane stepped out of the car, Dave erupted with frustration. "You guys are too much!" he exclaimed, his face flushed with anger. His eyes were red, and though he wanted to hurl more accusations at Zhane, he hesitated. Realizing that there were more people around the entrance of the establishment, he knew that making a bigger scene would only draw more attention. Reluctantly, he swallowed his resentment and refrained from escalating the situation further.
After his initial burst of anger subsided, Dave noticed that Zhane looked genuinely concerned. He followed Zhane’s movements with his gaze as Zhane took a determined stride to the driver’s side. Opening the door, Zhane carefully reached in to lift Hera out of the car. He then turned to face the valet, who was trying to blend into the background and lessen his presence.
"Please take care of the car; the key is still inside," Zhane instructed before striding over to Dave’s side. At the entrance, the manager, Bry, and his father stood, pretending they were unaware of the commotion. Hera hid her face against Zhane’s chest, earning a soft, teasing chuckle from him. Meanwhile, Bry tried to peer around his father’s hand, which was covering his face, eager to see what was happening but left in the dark by his father’s protective gesture.
Dave, trailing behind Zhane, tried to catch a glimpse of Hera from over Zhane’s shoulder. Hera, feeling embarrassed, softly protested, "Zhane, I can walk on my own. Please, put me down." The celebration felt overshadowed by the awkwardness of the moment. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she had let her guard down, especially around the male leads, and even with Leo. It seemed like her brain always malfunctioned in their presence, giving them an opening for intimate gestures that left her flustered and self-conscious.
It wasn’t as if she could change the situation, given that this world was based on an R18 novel where such things were bound to happen. Now the focus wasn’t on Alice anymore, but now, she too was thrust into the spotlight and at the receiving end of all the intimate scenes and gestures from the male leads.