Slowly, she lifted her gaze, her eyes wide and tear-filled, and bit down on her red, slightly bloodied lips, as if trying to hold back more tears.


    Hera silently observed, curious to see how Alice’s supposed male leads would react.


    Would their feelings be stirred by her pitiful disy?


    Even Hera, a woman, couldn’t help but feel something when she saw Alice like this—a deep, instinctive urge to protect her, almost making her want to apologize, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong.


    Perhaps it was the storyline whispering in her ear, pulling her to y her part.


    But Hera, having developed resilience against the storyline’s urging over time, was growing ustomed to these forced emotions.


    She didn’t move. Instead, she seemed like an outsider, watching a drama unfold before her, wondering whether the characters would stick to the script or break free from it.


    Hera’s breath became shallow as she held it, waiting to see how things would unfold.


    However, herck of response led the supposed male leads to assume that she felt wronged or upset—or perhaps, they thought, she didn’t even realize she was being targeted.


    At that moment, all of them thought the same thing: ’<i>Woman! Someone’s trying to seduce your man, and you’re just standing there watching?!’</i>


    Dave stomped his foot in frustration, ring at Hera.


    The others exchanged subtle nces, a mix of amusement and confusion, but in Alice’s eyes, it seemed like they were doubting Hera.


    Biting her lower lip again, Alice stepped closer to Rafael’s bed. This movement immediately drew a collective frown from the group.


    They were already upset by Hera’s passive behavior, as if she were watching a drama unfold, and now, the woman who had stirred everything up and ruined the previously good mood was advancing toward them.


    "Wifey, do you miss me?" A hoarse, seductive, yet unmistakably masculine voice echoed through the door just as it opened.


    Leo stepped in, halting in his tracks as he took in the scene. Behind him, Luke did the same, both of them momentarily confused by the tension in the room.


    Leo raised an eyebrow, taking note of Dave and the others looking clearly upset. However, he chose to ignore them, his focus immediately shifting to Hera as he walked toward her without hesitation.


    "Wifey, I’ve missed you so much! Did anyone give you a hard time? Tell me, and I’ll take care of them," Leo said, his tone dripping with affection as he began massaging Hera’s shoulders.


    Hera, jolted from her thoughts by Leo’s sudden appearance, nced around the room.


    It was only then that she noticed the wronged expressions on Dave, Xavier, and Rafael’s faces.


    Even Zhane, usuallyposed, had a hint of questioning in his gaze, tinged with a slight frustration.


    Hera’s brow furrowed. ’<i>Did they believe Alice?’</i> The thought struck her, and her chest tightened, a sharp pang of unease spreading through her.


    Now, all attention shifted to Hera, and once again, Alice was forgotten.


    The shift only fueled Alice’s growing hatred, her fists clenching in frustration.


    <i>’This slut...</i>’ she thought, her eyes burning with fury. <i></i>


    <i>’She wasn’t content with just stealing Rafael and Xavier from me—now she’s trying to surround herself with all these men? Does she really think she’s worthy?’</i>


    Little did Alice know, someone had noticed the hatred in her eyes. "Miss, are you someone closet or a rtive of the man in this room?" Leo asked, his tone cold andced with disdain.


    "Hey! Ugh!" Rafael, eager to clear his name once again, reacted too hastily, causing a sharp pull on his wounds.


    He winced in pain, his face paling instantly. Despite the difort, he refused to let the pain make him appear unfaithful or suggest that he was hiding something from Hera.


    Though Leo was being unfriendly toward Alice and questioning her, his words effectively linked Rafael to her, making it seem as though he had a secret rtionship with her.


    Rafael wasn’t about to let that stand. "Don’t nder me," he said, his voice tight.


    "I’ve already told them—I don’t even know that woman. She was the one crying and acting pitiful in front of us." He took a slow, steady breath, aided by Zhane, before settling back into his bed.


    "She ims to be my sister’s best friend, but we’ve already made it clear that we don’t wee her here. It’s <i>her</i> who keeps lingering around, trying to annoy us," Rafael stated, not caring whether he hurt Alice’s feelings or not. After all, he wasn’t close to her and had no positive impression of her.


    When Alice heard Rafael’s words, her face flushed a deep red before draining to an ashen pallor.


    She opened and closed her mouth, struggling to find the right words but failing to speak.


    This wasn’t how she had imagined her first real meeting with Rafael would go.


    In fact, she had expected it to unfold like it had in her previous life, where Rafael, though indifferent, would at least greet her with a respectful nod.


    She had hoped that, over time, he would warm up to her.


    But this—this cold reception from both Rafael and Xavier—waspletely unexpected.


    She couldn’t understand how things had gone so wrong, so differently from what she remembered.


    <i>’Was this the butterfly effect caused by my rebirth?’</i> Alice’s mind raced, struggling to make sense of it all.


    <i>’No, I haven’t done anything to disrupt my rtionship with Rafael and Xavier, aside from focusing on advancing my career...’</i> She couldn’t ept this unexpected oue.


    Then, her eyesnded on Hera’s face, and a flicker of realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. <i></i>


    <i>’It’s her! It’s all because of her!’</i>