"No, you may not," Xavier snapped back instantly, tightening his arm around Hera’s waist and pulling her closer. Just a little more, and she would’ve been in hisp. He didn’t care if it looked possessive—he wanted Alexandre to see it loud and clear: Hera was taken, and there was no room left at this table for unwanted guests.


    But Alexandre continued to ignore Xavier entirely, which, ironically, only irritated Xavier more. Being brushed off stung worse than a direct insult, and now he felt like the one being slighted.


    Pouting slightly, he bit his lip and nced at Hera with watery, exaggerated puppy eyes, looking for all the world like a heartbroken puppy left out in the rain. He was clearly acting, but he was such a good performer, it still tugged at the heart.


    Hera, despite knowing full well he was faking it, couldn’t help but be swayed. Xavier looked too pitiful to be ignored. She sighed and gently cupped his face in her palms, her voice softening as she gave in.


    "Alright, alright... stop looking at me like that," she said with a helpless smile.


    Xavier leaned into Hera’s touch, rubbing his cheek against her palm like a spoiled cat seeking affection. "Then... can you kiss me?" he murmured, his ruby-red eyes lowering in a wounded, puppy-dog expression. "I feel so bad..."


    It was clear he was putting on a show—to make Alexandre jealous, to assert his ce—but it didn’t make him any less effective. Hera knew this was Xavier’s strategy, and perhaps it was a little cruel, but her heart still softened. After all, Xavier rarely acted like this. He wasn’t the type to ask for affection; he usually showed love through action, not words. So when he let himself be vulnerable, it struck a chord deep in her chest.


    Giving in, Hera kissed him on the cheek.


    But Xavier still looked pitiful.


    So she kissed him again—on the forehead, then on the tip of his nose. Still unsatisfied, he kept that heart-wrenching expression until finally, Hera chuckled softly and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.


    Only then did Xavier smile, radiant and smug, like a star that had just won the night sky.


    And it worked. Alexandre’s expression stiffened, his heart taking a visible hit. Even Antoine winced—he had once harbored feelings for Hera too, and seeing her openly dote on Xavier stung more than he expected.


    He thought Alexandre, proud heir of the powerful Arnault family, would never tolerate such humiliation. Surely, he’d storm off in indignation. But no—Antoine realized, to his shock, that Alexandre wasn’t letting go.


    He’d fallen too deep, and there was no turning back.


    Even after Xavier’s tant challenge, trying to force him to retreat with his pride wounded, Alexandre didn’t move. He stood there, watching Hera kiss Xavier gently, soothing him with soft affection. It twisted something deep in his chest.


    <i>’Is this how they do it?’</i> he wondered bitterly. ’<i>Taking turns? Watching the woman they love be tender with someone else?’</i>


    The ache in his heart confirmed it—yes, it stung. It burned to see the woman he cared for show such love to another man. The possessiveness rising in him was sharp, almost maddening. How could the others stand it? How could they restrain themselves?


    But then it dawned on him—they didn’t restrain their possessiveness. They embraced it. They channeled it. And they were all deeply, irrevocably in love with her.


    Because if they were to fight for her, truly fight, only one could win—and the rest would be left shattered. And so, they chose to share her... not because they wanted to, but because losing her altogether would be far worse.


    Fortunately, Leo was the most magnanimous among them. He never tried to drive the others away or im Hera entirely for himself. He understood that while he was strong, if the others ever decided to gang up on him first before fighting amongst themselves, it would turn into a lose-lose situation. In the end, the one who would suffer most would be Hera.


    It hadn’t been easy in the beginning, but Leo and the rest eventually chose coexistence over chaos, for her sake. Over time, they even established a kind of hierarchy, with Leo naturally bing the unspoken head. The others, though reluctant to admit it at first, gradually epted their positions.


    But now, with someone new like Alexandre entering the picture, that fragile bnce was under threat. His presence could tip the scales and unravel the uneasy peace they had worked so hard to maintain. That’s why they were so firmly against him—because his involvement wasn’t just about love or rivalry anymore. It was about preserving the harmony they’d built for Hera’s sake.


    This was something Alexandre still didn’t fully understand. He could only observe and try to piece it together. Even so, he remained stubborn, his intense gaze fixed on Hera. Hera, feeling the weight of his stare, felt her cheeks flush. After all, she had just kissed Xavier—and it would be a lie to say she didn’t understand Alexandre’s feelings. He had been vocal about them from the start.


    "Um... you can sit down," Hera said atst.


    Xavier’s bright smile faltered into a frown, while Alexandre’s expression lit up with surprise and satisfaction. He didn’t waste a second dragging over a chair and nting himself right beside Hera.