During the gunfight, he had taken two hits—one in the shoulder and another in his side—but he had fought and moved as if unfazed. However, he was still human.


    No matter how much he ignored the pain and blood loss, his body had its limits. Before he could even reach a safe ce to tend to his wounds, his strength gave out, and he lost consciousness.


    Now that he was losing blood fast, the people around him wasted no time. They quickly made their way to a clearing, where the jeep came to a halt. One of the helicopters trailing them descended, and as soon as it touched down, a team disembarked.


    The female doctor, along with ck Puma’s most trusted people, carefully lifted him onto a stretcher from the helicopter and carried him aboard.


    The neers from the helicopter took over the jeep, while the doctor, ck Puma, and a select few boarded the helicopter, heading straight for their safe house. No one hesitated—every second counted as they rushed to save him.


    When morning came, Hera slowly woke up. Zhane and the others were still sleeping peacefully beside her, with Zhane holding her close. Although her body felt a little stiff from staying in the same position all night, the crisp scent of Zhane carried a soothing quality that made her rest peaceful.


    As soon as she was fully awake, she gently pried Zhane’s hand away and stretched her limbs. Turning back, she nced at the sleeping faces of the men beside her. At some point, without even realizing it, their presence had be a natural part of her life—a quiet warmth that had seamlessly settled into her heart.


    A soft smile yed on her lips as she admired their peaceful expressions for a moment longer before finally making her way to the bathroom to wash up.


    As soon as Hera stepped into the bathroom, Dave cracked open his eyes and whispered with a smirk, "I knew it—she’s taken with my handsome face." His voice was still husky from sleep, and his eyes were slightly red from just waking up.


    In truth, he and the others had been awake before Hera, but none of them had wanted to get up just yet. Instead, they had silently watched her sleep, smiling at the peaceful expression on her face. Without realizing it, time had slipped by. Dave had been absentmindedly twirling a lock of Hera’s hair between his fingers, enjoying the quiet moment.


    When they sensed that she was about to wake up, they quickly returned to their previous positions, feigning sleep until she finally got up and headed to the bathroom. Only then did they open their eyes, their amusement lingering in the air.


    "You’re too narcissistic for someone with no real ability," Rafael said with a smug grin. His words carried a teasing edge—Dave was full of himself, yet unlike the rest of them, he still hadn’t managed to make a move to get closer to Hera and be intimate with her. In the end, all he could do was lick his wounds like the loser he was.


    Dave felt personally attacked by Rafael’s backhandedment, his pride taking a direct hit. Shooting Rafael a re, he retorted, "Just you wait! When the timees and I make love to my sweetheart, I’ll make sure it’s so unforgettable that she’ll forget all about her first time with you. Asshole!"


    With that, he jumped out of bed, storming off toward the guest room to wash up and change—determined toe out at the same time as Hera.


    "What’s the point of always bullying Dave? He’s already insecure enough about not making any progress. Keep it up, and you might end up paying for it sooner orter," Zhane said as he slowly propped himself up. As the one who naturally took on the role of the older brother in their group, he had every right to reprimand Rafael for pushing too far.


    Luke, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. "Let him be. Sometimes, what Dave needs is a little provocation—a push to make him act on what he truly wants. He might seem fearless and strong, but in reality, he’s the most innocent among us. He’s probably still feeling insecure and hesitant. Let Rafael taunt him. Maybe then, he’ll stop overthinking and just take the leap."


    Although Rafael’s words were harsh and stung to hear, he genuinely wanted to help Dave in his own way. Of course, a part of him enjoyed the idea that with Dave holding back, there would be one lesspetitor vying for Hera’s time. But deep down, he still considered Dave a friend, and this was his way of giving him a nudge forward.


    Dave mighte across as a mischievous daredevil, but in truth, he was like a little puppy taking his first steps—still in need of guidance. But who were they? They were both his friends and his rivals in love. While they might help him, they certainly wouldn’t make it easy for him, just as they weren’t doing now.


    Rafael chuckled to himself as he watched Dave scurry away with his tail tucked between his legs. Amused and in high spirits, he stretched before making his way out to wash up and get dressed.


    Zhane shook his head as he observed the childish antics of the men around him. He still couldn’t believe he was friends with such immature people, but in the end, he let them be and made his way out as well.


    By the time Hera stepped out of the bathroom after washing up, Zhane, Dave, Rafael, and Luke had already returned to her room, now dressed in fresh clothes. It was then that Hera realized—they must have already moved their wardrobes into her ce, allowing them to change outfits whenever they pleased. Her guest rooms were probably filled with their belongings by now, and she suspected Amy had already helped them settle in without her even noticing.


    Helplessly shaking her head, Hera decided to head downstairs for a morning run. As expected, the four men followed her to the elevator, out into the garden, and ran alongside her for a full hour.


    After finishing their run, before returning to the penthouse, Hera made her way to the duck house behind the garden. Cindy had built it for her to house the ducks and chickens she had received from the vigers during her first variety show.


    The ducks and chickens looked plump and healthy, their feathers shining under the morning sun. The caretaker, dressed in a jumpsuit and a farmer’s hat, was currently feeding the ducks, his movements steady and practiced.


    The fresh eggs from the ducks and chickens were regrly delivered to Hera’s penthouse, where Hannah often used them for breakfast and desserts. Their freshness made the meals taste even better.


    Hera nced around for a moment, satisfied with what she saw, then decided to return with a smile. As she made her way back upstairs, she carried a basket filled with freshly gathered eggs.


    "Sweetheart, let me carry that for you," Dave offered, reaching out to take the basket from her hands.