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.

found an opportunity to restrain her. As he held her tightly,

again, but she only

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

afraid. It’s me,” he murmured,

on his chest. Bernard grunted but didn’t

sea wind swept the clouds aside, revealing a bright

“Hera…”

Samantha arrived with two

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

by alarm. Both were covered in sand, and Hera’s torn dress suggested a fight between them.

cried out, hesitant

you let her wander off alone? Hera is terrified of the dark! When she was young, she

voice trembled with emotion as she spoke. Bernard’s heart

to anchor Hera, her

voice soft as a

her returning sanity, Bernard gently patted her head. “I’m here. You’re safe now.”

calmed her slightly, but the surrounding darkness still