Hera hadn’t fully grasped the situation yet, but Athena was inwardly chuckling with mischief. While she weed the idea of Hera mingling with the male leads, she also relished the opportunity to showcase her friend to potential love interests beyond the male lead circle. ying the role of a discerning mother eyeing fish in an aquarium, she sought to select the finest and most promising match for her dear friend.


    Athena had long desired to y this role in Hera’s life, so she enthusiastically introduced Hera to the interested madams. Despite Athena’s good intentions, Hera couldn’t shake off the feeling of embarrassment. She felt like a wild animal on disy, being auctioned off for all the mothers to scrutinize.


    She excused herself and made her way to thedies’ room, seeking respite from the enthusiastic bunch of madams eager to match their sons with her. With a sigh, she traversed the silent hallway. <i>’I guess I can hide in thedies’ room for a while before the auction starts,’</i> she thought to herself.


    A fewdies of Hera’s age dashed around the hallway in a state of panic, seemingly eager to find someone. "Have you seen him?" They asked each other after they regrouped near thedies’ room.


    Hera paid no mind to the franticdies and proceeded directly to thedies’ room. She gently pushed the door open, taking a moment to lift the hem of her dress. As she stepped inside and raised her head, her eyes fell upon a handsome man seated on the floor, his back against the wall. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his breathing wasbored and irregr.


    She didn’t dwell too much on why he was in thedies restroom, as it was evident he wasn’t in a good state and was hiding.


    Hera remained calm and approached the man cautiously to assess his condition. Drawing nearer, she gently extended her hand to touch his forehead, feeling for any signs of fever, as hisplexion appeared flushed and his breathing was erratic.


    As Hera’s hand made contact with his face, she felt the intense heat radiating from his skin, causing her to flinch slightly. Concerned, she couldn’t discern the cause of his condition or determine whether he was suffering from a high fever.


    As Hera’s cold hand made contact with his cheek, the man felt a coolness spread through him, prompting a sigh of relief. He struggled to open his eyes, gradually meeting her amber gaze with his own blue orbs.


    With a frown and a scowl, the man scanned Hera’s face for a moment, his eyes struggling to focus. It took him a while to finally discern the image of the person in front of him. Once he identified Hera, his expression softened considerably.


    They held each other’s gaze for a moment until the man grunted in difort. "Please, don’t get too close. I can’t guarantee that I won’t do anything harmful to you right now," he managed to say, his voice strained with effort.


    Veins bulged on his temples, betraying the effort he put into keeping himself upright against the wall.


    "Hey, are you okay?" Hera asked with concern, noticing his struggle to maintainposure.


    "I am not," he responded, his gaze dark and somewhat misty. He regarded Hera as if she were his prey, poised to pounce at any moment. Hera’s heart pounded fiercely as she observed him, a sudden realization dawning on her in conjunction with themotion of thedies searching for someone outside.


    She swiftly pulled him to his feet with all the strength she could muster. He attempted to push her away, clearly concerned he might inadvertently harm her, but Hera firmly interjected, "If you wish to be caught by them, then continue struggling."


    He instantly stopped and did his best to drag himself to where she wanted to bring him.


    In a swift motion, Hera guided him into the inner cubicle of the restroom, seating him on the closed lid of the toilet seat. Retrieving her handkerchief from her bag, she dampened it with cold water before returning to his side. With a firm twist, she locked the cubicle door, ensuring no unwee interruptions from the girls outside.


    With gentle persistence, Hera pressed the dampened handkerchief against his face, coaxing him to hold it despite his struggles to lift his arms. Then, she retrieved the medicine she always carried and offered it to him. Initially resistant, he hesitated to open his mouth, his eyes still red and wary as he nced at Hera.


    He appeared strikingly handsome, his disheveled hair adding to his allure. Whenever his unfocused gaze met Hera’s, her heart raced and her stomach fluttered uncontrobly. She attempted to avert her eyes from the obvious bulge below his navel, but despite her efforts, her gaze asionally strayed in that direction.


    <i>’Why is it so big?!’</i> she eximed as her heart beat violently.


    Unbeknownst to her, the man’s eyes remained fixated on her face, allowing him to notice her asional nces. A devilish smile yed on his lips as his eyes turned dangerously hungry, his thoughts veiled in mystery. Even with his unfocused gaze, he could still discern Hera’s face and expressions. Despite hispromised state, he remained conscious and rational, relying solely on his sheer willpower to maintain hisposure.


    Observing his reluctance to take the medicine, Hera offered reassurance. "I understand your caution after what you’ve been through, but this is an anaphrodisiac. It will counteract the effects of the aphrodisiac you’ve ingested."


    That’s right, he had been drugged by the aphrodisiac, likely linked to the women searching outside. As for why Hera carried an anaphrodisiac, Athena often warned her about such schemes from the novels she read before transmigrating. It wasmon for women to resort to such underhanded tactics to capture the powerful men they desired.


    Therefore, she made it a habit to carry one with her at every party for her own safety. She had instructed Cindy to find an antidote effective against any type of aphrodisiac, and Cindy had diligently ensured that Hera always had a supply of tablets on hand, just in case.


    It was fortunate if she never needed to use it, but having it on hand meant she was prepared for any unfavorable situation that might arise. Little did she anticipate that she would actually need it this time.


    He still refused to take the antidote, so Hera attempted to pry his jaw open. In a sudden move, he pulled her onto hisp, catching her off guard. Hera found herself sitting on hisp, her legs on either side. She couldn’t ignore the hardness pressing against her, and he groaned again. Resting his head on her neck, he inhaled her scent deeply.


    Hera felt a shiver run down her spine as his hot breath grazed her skin. <i>’What did I get myself into?!’</i> she thought, beginning to scrutinize herself as she attempted to pull away from him.


    He scowled slightly and said, "Don’t move. Let’s stay like this for a while. Or else, don’t me me for not being able to control myself and taking you here and now," he threatened.


    Hera froze, her entire body stiffening at his threat. <i>’What a hooligan!’</i> She couldn’t employ any of the self-defense techniques she’d learned because he had her in close proximity, his strong arms around her, making her feel trapped.


    By now, Hera regretted ever helping the ungrateful bastard. Before she could make another move, thedies’ room’s door swung open, and thedies from earlier barged in, pushing every cubicle door as they entered.


    They seemed frantic, as if worried someone might snatch away the prize they had meticulously prepared for themselves. Their urgent search suggested they were determined to secure him for their own before anyone else couldy im.