"Don’t even mention it. What are friends for if not to help with things like this?" Liz said warmly, then, trying to lighten the mood, she added with a bright note in her voice, "Actually, I called with some good news. I wanted to officially congratte you—you won the championship! We also received your flight ticket and the official invitation to the IGI Expressions Competition Finale in France. All expenses paid, too! You’re really about to step into a much bigger world, Hera."
Liz hoped that this bit of good news would lift Hera’s spirits, even just a little. After all, she had worked so hard for this moment.
Then Athena chimed in, "And one more thing, babe—Alice managed to snag the first runner-up spot, so you’ll be flying there with her..."
Athena’s words carried a deeper, unspoken meaning that only she and Hera could fully understand.
Beneath the casual tone was a warning: Hera had to attend thepetition, no matter what. If she didn’t, for whatever reason, she would be handing the stage to Alice on a silver tter, and all her hard work would go to waste.
Instead, Hera needed to grit her teeth, push through, and fight even harder. She couldn’t allow Alice—or the storyline they both knew too well—to regain momentum andunch Alice into the entertainment industry’s spotlight with a new title and a stronger persona that could propel her toward bing a top celebrity.
Hearing this, Hera immediately sat upright in bed, her brows knitting tightly together. With just a simple sentence, Athena hadpletely jolted her awake. Although Hera’s original reason for entering thepetition was to build her reputation and carve out a new path for the Avery family’s business—gaining enough personal power to eventually take over the consortium—thispetition meant something very different for Alice.
If Hera allowed herself to get distracted now, everything she had worked so hard for—the years of effort, the grueling months of preparation—would all be for nothing. She would be handing the female lead halo right back to Alice and pushing herself back to square one.
Hera felt torn and conflicted. Part of her desperately wanted to stay by Leo’s side, to be there the moment he opened his eyes—to be the first person he saw when he woke up. But at the same time, she knew she had to be present at thepetition.
She couldn’t afford to let Alice im the championship uncontested. Now that they were sharing the female lead halo, Hera had a real fighting chance, especially whenbined with her own talents.
But if she didn’t attend, she wouldn’t know what tricks Alice might pull, and with the help of the storyline, Alice could easily clinch the title. Hera’s physical presence alone could tip the scales—and she couldn’t risk throwing away all her hard work now.
Seeing the conflicted look on her face as she absentmindedly yed with her nails and stared down at her hands, Zhane immediately understood. Hera wanted to stay and watch over Leo, but at the same time, she needed to go.
Whether it was a strong desire to win or something deeper, he didn’t know for sure—but the silent room, broken only by the sound of their breathing, made it easy for him to catch the conversation even without her phone on speaker.
Hearing that Hera had won the championship and was now invited to the grand finale in France made him genuinely happy. It was an opportunity that could open new doors for her career and future sess. But seeing her torn between duty and ambition, Zhane felt the need to step up to be her support and give her the reassurance she needed.
So he did.
Zhane gently ced his hand on Hera’s back, catching her attention. When she looked up at him, his steady, reassuring gaze met hers. "You should go," he said softly. "My team of doctors and I will do everything we can to take care of Leo—he’s in good hands. Besides, if Leo were awake, he would want to see you shining on that stage, winning like you deserve."
"If he found out you gave up this chance because of him, it would only make him feel guilty, and that wouldn’t be good for his recovery." Zhane spoke with care, knowing he needed to push Hera a little.
After all, a patient’s emotional state was closely tied to their healing, and Hera would never want Leo’s recovery to be burdened by guilt or regret.
After hearing Zhane’s reassuring words, Hera managed a weak smile and looked at him with deep appreciation. He had made it so much easier for her to make a decision.
A mature, steady man like Zhane was truly so endearing. Feeling a wave of gratitude, Hera leaned closer and pressed a light kiss to his cheek, her smile turning sweet. "Thank you, Doctor Zhane," she said, her tone carrying a yful, flirtatious liltpletely forgetting she was still on a call with Liz.
On the other end, Athena, the ever-unfiltered queen, burst intoughter and teased, "Babe, we’ll end the call here and just send you the details. You can cozy up with Doctor Zhane and let him tend to your little garden for a while. We won’t disturb you anymore."