Under the heiress facade

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Chapter 201

A startled gasp escaped Hera’s lips.

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With unexpected ferocity, Hera seized the intruding hand and yanked, following through with a sharp knee kick.

Caught off guard by her sudden attack, Bernard managed to shield himself but was still thrown over her shoulder.

“Sweetie, it’s me…” he groaned out the words.

Seemingly deaf to his words, Hera scrambled up and launched another attack. Bernard relied on his night vision and narrowly dodged her kick. But as soon as he regained his footing, she charged again.

After a brief exchange, Bernard’s curiosity was piqued. Hera’s fighting style was raw and untrained, yet her blows instinctively found their mark, targeting vulnerable areas.

Each time Hera fell, she rose again, seemingly impervious to pain. Her body moved with an instinctive, primal urge to protect itself.

until he found an opportunity to restrain her. As he held her tightly, he noticed how icy her body was and how hard she was trembling.

he called again, but she only struggled

was far worse than he’d imagined. What could have caused such

me,” he murmured, pressing her head against

grunted but didn’t release

a gust of sea wind swept the clouds aside, revealing a bright

“Hera…”

Samantha arrived with two flashlights in

realized both Hera and Bernard were gone. The untouched barbecue and the encroaching darkness fueled her worst fears, prompting her to grab flashlights and

brought initial relief but was quickly replaced by alarm. Both were covered in sand, and

cried out,

could you let her wander off alone? Hera is terrified of the dark! When she was young, she was locked in a dark room and abused by traffickers. It left her traumatized. She becomes

trembled with emotion as she spoke. Bernard’s heart ached, his

flashlight’s beam seemed to anchor Hera, her struggles subsiding as she

Bernard…” she murmured, her voice soft

patted her head. “I’m

voice and scent calmed her slightly, but the