Even if it was the storyline pushing for this to happen or it was Minerva’s desire to eliminate her means little to her now because it only means her or Minerva’s death but if she really led Minerva to take her fate and die on her behalf, that would surely backfire on her and she would still need to face Rafael’s wrath and probably the other male leads banding together against her and Alice could take that chance to seized back her own fate which would then put Hera back to where she belonged.


    Hera stillcked a concrete n for dealing with Minerva and Alice. This matter was delicate and couldn’t be approached randomly or hastily. She needed to carefully monitor the characters involved in the novel and conduct some strategic experimentation before taking decisive action, so, she’ll just have to take whateveres her way head-on.


    As Hera pondered the storyline’s scenarios, Rafael’s husky voice, usuallymanding, softened slightly as he responded with resolve. "I understand. I will honor your wishes." Hera was taken aback; she hadn’t expected him to agree so readily. After all, Minerva was his sister, whom he had always protected and treated like a princess.


    Rafael noticed the change in her expression and shyly rubbed the tip of his nose, guilt evident in his gaze as he looked at her. "I’m not just being a heartless brother willing to discard my family, especially my sister, to pursue my love. But I’vee to realize this is what’s best for her too. As you said, even before I came to see you, I’d already seen how my parents’ coddling led to her bing unruly, oblivious to the consequences of her actions. Your words were a wake-up call for me, and it felt like the right course of action."


    He paused, searching for the right words. "I realized that letting her face the consequences of her actions might help her mature and understand the gravity of her choices," Rafael confessed. "Agreeing to your request was something I had already decided on. It feels like I’m not just doing you a favor, but also doing what’s best for my family and myself."


    Hera studied Rafael intently, her brow raised. She found no deception in his words or in the sincerity of his gaze. "In that case, I’ll do my best not to let my prejudices cloud my judgment," she replied evenly. "But I must be clear: I believe in giving one chance. If you betray my trust or act against me, I won’t give you another opportunity to be close to me."


    Hera took a step back, creating the impression that she was doing him a favor while giving him an ultimatum. How he used this chance was entirely up to him.


    Rafael fell silent for a moment, deep in contemtion. Hera didn’t interrupt his concentration. If she wanted to make use of the male leads and their respective ’Male Lead Halo,’ she needed to earn their trust and protection. This way, even if Alice had the world protecting her, Hera might not suffer as much. Probably.


    Rafael, however, was ted by the chance Hera had given him. At the same time, he began reflecting on how he had wronged her in the past and the actions he must take to prevent it from happening again. He also considered his path forward. Right now, he was at the very end of the line, unlike Leo, Xavier, Luke, and Zhane, who had made good impressions on Hera. He pondered what he should do, knowing he didn’t have the same starting point as the others. He didn’t even count Dave in the mix.


    "Now that we’ve finished our talk, shall we calcte how you’ll repay me for touching me without my permission and even before you’ve started courting me?" Hera’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Rafael, who suddenly felt as if he had been doused with cold water and started to get nervous.


    He was used to being the dragon in hispany, always breathing fire. But now, on the receiving end, he felt a conflicting mix of emotions. To make matters worse, this was another mark against him. Nervousness numbed his tongue, and sweat formed on his forehead. "I-I... I’m sorry." He lowered his head in embarrassment, his lips pursed and brows tightly knitted. He had no excuse for his actions and didn’t n to make any. In fact, even if given another chance, he knew he’d do it again.


    "Sorry, huh? Do you think that’s enough to absolve you for your actions?" Hera asked, an evil smirk ying on her lips. Now that Rafael was in her hands, she didn’t n to make things easy for him. She intended to be subtle enough not to arouse his suspicion that she was taking revenge on him. She wanted to ensure that even if she sold him out, he would still happily help her count the money.