Under the heiress facade

"I'm tired. Give me a piggyback ride!"

Hera turned around with an air of haughtiness.

Bernard's lips curved slightly as he stepped forward and bent down. Hera jumped onto his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her face into his back.

The auction was still ongoing, so the parking lot was mostly empty. Bernard walked toward his car with Hera on his back.

Neither of them spoke, but the mood seemed to ease up naturally.

Listening to his steady footsteps, Hera hesitated momentarily before speaking softly, "Actually, I've been hiding something from you."

Bernard responded gently, "I'm sorry for doubting you earlier. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I trust that you'll tell me when you're ready."

Hera felt that there was more to his words, but she was unsure if he was referring to the suspicious person in Astral Nova or the Grandmaster of Astral Nova. "Actually, I..."

She was gathering her thoughts on how to explain.

They had reached the car. Bernard put her down and opened the passenger door for her as he casually dropped a bombshell.

to tell me

just about to sit in the passenger seat

hand protected her head from hitting the

"How did you know!"

thought of

the

guided her into the passenger seat and answered, "No. Astral Nova's staff seems to be looking for a suspicious

if he was searching her

was the Grandmaster of

did you

addition to that, Camille was impersonating her identity as Dr. Shadow. She wondered how Bernard

didn't respond but instead took her left hand

the bracelet on her wrist. The pink pearls and white diamonds shone brightly

at the auction that day,

"Yes."

said you

call after telling me you were