Under the heiress facade

.

Chapter 201

A startled gasp escaped Hera’s lips.

1/1

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.

an opportunity to restrain her. As he held her tightly, he noticed how

again, but she only struggled

remembered her intense fear of the dark. This was far worse than he’d imagined. What could have

afraid. It’s me,” he murmured, pressing her head against

hard on his chest. Bernard grunted but didn’t release her. Instead, he whispered her nickname

a gust of sea wind swept the clouds aside,

“Hera…”

that moment, Samantha arrived with two flashlights

had washed over Samantha when she realized both Hera and Bernard were gone. The untouched barbecue and

by alarm. Both were covered

Samantha cried out,

here! How could you let her wander off alone? Hera is terrified of the dark! When she was young, she was locked in a

Bernard’s heart ached, his grip on Hera tightening involuntarily.

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

she murmured, her voice soft as a kitten’s.

returning sanity, Bernard gently patted her head.

slightly, but the surrounding darkness still made