It felt like he’d been a fish thrown back into the water, like he’d just been granted a second life. Hera stepping in as an investor after the project’s biggest backer withdrew their funding was nothing short of a miracle. He was already deep into production, and tens of millions had already been spent on custom props and preparations. Even if he emptied his own pockets, he wouldn’t be able to cover everything.


    But just as another concern began to weigh on him, Betty addressed it first, repeating Hera’s message. As long as the team could prioritize filming the scenes that didn’t involve Hera while she recovered, there was still a real chance they could finish the movie on time. If everything went smoothly, they could still submit aplete entry for the award ceremony the director was aiming for.


    So while waiting for the sun to rise, the director and Betty discussed everything in detail, strategizing how to proceed with the shoot withoutpromising Hera’s recovery. Meanwhile, Hera sent a message to Larry Wickman, outlining what she needed him to handle. Once she finished tying up the loose ends concerning the movie, a wave of drowsiness washed over her.


    Xavier, unaware of what she had just been doing, gently took the phone from her hand. He helped her lean back against the pillow and quietly lowered the bed’s elevation. He then sat beside her, watching as her breathing steadied and her eyes finally closed in sleep.


    After confirming she was resting, Xavier turned to Minerva, Liz, and Athena and urged them to return to the hotel. At first, they resisted, wanting to stay and keep watch over Hera. But eventually, they realized that they needed to rest too. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be able to take overter and give Xavier a break. After all, knowing him, he wouldn’t leave Hera’s side until she truly began to heal, and even then, only reluctantly, and he might burn himself out because of it.


    Because out of everyone, Xavier had been the most shaken.


    He had watched the car explode with his own eyes, felt the heat of the mes, and for one terrifying moment believed that the woman he loved was still inside. That kind of trauma wasn’t something easily shaken off. Zhane, Luke, Rafael, and Dave had all been frightened, too, but what Xavier experienced was different. He had nearly witnessed the death of the woman he loved, powerless to stop it, even when he was just steps away from her.


    It was only natural that he now clung to her presence, needing her nearness to anchor his sanity, to assure himself that she was really alive.


    Xavier kept reaching out to touch Hera, as if needing constant reassurance that she was real, that she hadn’t vanished in the explosion. He couldn’t even bring himself to close his eyes, afraid that if he did, she might disappear the moment he opened them again. Everyone around him had already noticed his unusual behavior, but they understood. He was still trying to process what had happened, and only Hera herself could truly calm the storm inside him.


    In a way, they felt sorry for Xavier. He was clearly suppressing his inner turmoil, clinging toposure while his heart struggled to believe she was truly safe. More than anything, he needed this time alone with Hera to ground himself in her presence, to fall apart quietly if he had to. But even after Liz, Minerva, and Athena left to give him space, Alexandre remained by Hera’s side, refusing to go.