Even though she didn’t have time to y hard to get, she couldn’t make it too easy either. Athena once mentioned that when a man wins a woman’s affection too easily, his feelings of novelty tend to fade quickly. He might soon realize that his romantic interest wasn’t genuine and could quickly grow tired of the rtionship. It was crucial to strike a bnce to avoid such oues.
This is why Hera couldn’t easily give in, as she was still uncertain about the male leads’ intentions and how Alice might interfere. There were many concerns on her mind. For now, Hera cleared her thoughts and focused directly on Rafael, trying to peer into the depths of his soul through his eyes.
He truly had a certain charm—a rugged, forbidden aura reminiscent of a mafia boss. Yet, at that moment, his presence was more subdued and refined. His sincere confession stirred something in Hera, making her stomach flutter and her scalp tingle in a delightful way. The sensation was sopelling that she almost wanted to close her eyes and savor the feeling.
Rafael took a step closer, his hand unconsciously reaching for Hera’s chin as he gazed at her with nervous anticipation. The silence between them was unbearable; every passing second felt like a painful stab to his heart, and his fear of rejection grew stronger. He had imagined countless scenarios where fate seemed to conspire against him, with everything Hera might dislike seeming to be tied to him. It felt as if he were being dragged to the bottom of the ocean.
n a final effort to make her believe him, Rafael wanted her to see his sincerity. As he gently held her chin and made her look up at him, the proximity made him feel a rush of giddiness and excitement. His body tensed, and a warmth radiating from his core began to intensify, making him aware of the nature of this heat.
Despite his desire to remain calm andposed, Rafael felt mesmerized by Hera’s gaze and wanted to stay that way for as long as possible. Before he fully realized what was happening, he found himself leaning down, wrapping one arm around Hera’s waist, and pulling her closer. She instinctively stood on her tiptoes to meet him. Before his mind could catch up, his body took over, and he pressed his lips against Hera’s with an intensity that took herpletely by surprise. She was left stunned, unable to process the sudden, passionate kiss.
At that moment, Hera’s mind nked out the presence of the people around them and the live stream. Rafael’s kiss, both forceful and tender, took her breath away. Through the kiss, he tried to express everything he couldn’t put into words. It wasn’t wless—more clumsy than spectacr—but it was imbued with deep passion. The sensation was so intense that Hera almost moaned, forgetting to resist. All her frustrations and struggles melted away, consumed by the fervor of Rafael’s embrace.
The viewers were equally stunned by the sudden turn of events. Some sat frozen, staring at their screens in disbelief, unable to process what was happening. Those who were cooking while watching were jolted back to reality only when they smelled something burning. Others, munching on popcorn, were so shocked that their hands trembled, causing popcorn to scatter everywhere. Those watching live were momentarily breathless, experiencing firsthand a passionate kiss they had only ever seen in movies. The intensity was so gripping that if they didn’t know better, they might have thought Hera and Rafael were filming a romance scene in real life.
It was only when Rafael’s deep, masculine voice broke the silence that everyone snapped back to reality. "I—I’m sorry," Rafael stammered, his panic evident. He had just realized the extent of his impulsive actions, having let his body lead while his mind momentarily short-circuited. As he processed what had happened, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of embarrassment and exhration, grateful for the unexpected turn of events.
Meanwhile, Hera remained in a daze, still processing the kiss. Rafael’s voice cut through the fog of her stupor. "I-I’m sorry," he repeated, his voice now louder and his face a deeper shade of red. He was frantically trying to exin himself, but he felt as though he had only dug himself deeper into a hole. The realization of his impulsive actions made him feel like crying; he regretted acting without thinking.
"I-I’m sorry, please don’t reject me," Rafael said, his voice quivering like he was already in the verge of crying while flustered with what he did. Rafael looked like ’Big Bird’ but with a scared look and like a drenched chick, everyone felt like he’s so cute and pitiful at the same time but his image was just contracting with how he acted.