Under the Heiress' Facade

In the mountains, the two special forces assigned to watch over Eric and the other three kidnappers had just received their orders and hadn't even started their interrogation.

However, Brian cracked when he heard that they were being taken deep into the mountains.

"I'll come clean! I'll tell you everything. Amelia from the Gaskell family hired us. I was just doing it for money.

"I know I was wrong, and I'll never do it again. Please, don't take me into the mountains. I have a family to look after."

"M-Me too! Ms. Gaskell was the one who ordered us. She even had us imprison a mother and daughter for over a month before.

"It was all on her orders. Since I told the truth, can you please let me go?" another chimed in eagerly.

They all worked under Eric and had no idea who the real mastermind was. They had only seen Amelia and naturally assumed she was behind everything.

After all, Amelia did seem to have a deep hatred for Hera.

Recalling Queenie's previous instructions, Eric saw that his men had already implicated Amelia, so he followed the lead and confirmed her guilt. He angrily kicked each of them.

"Cowards! How dare you guys betray our employer? Don't expect to get a single cent of the money!"

"Eric, I was wrong. I don't want the money. I just want to go home."

The four kidnappers started arguing among themselves while the two special forces exchanged glances, finding their story believable.

After gathering enough information, the special forces swiftly knocked each of the kidnappers out with a quick chop to the neck. Then, they dragged them into the mountains, left them there, and returned to give their report.NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

When Hera woke up three days later, her head throbbed with a dull ache. As she moved, she realized it wasn't just her head. Her whole body ached as if it had been dislocated and reassembled.

The sharp scent of disinfectant filled her nose, and she saw an IV drip hanging by the bed.

Feeling disoriented, she wondered, "Am I in a hospital? Am I still alive?"

Hera stared at the white ceiling, trying to piece together the events before she passed out.

She remembered struggling to climb out of a hole, only to be surrounded by wolves. Everything after that was a blur to her, though she vaguely remembered having a nightmare.

In the dream, she was back in the small, dark room where human traffickers had locked her up as a child. No matter what she did, she couldn't escape.

"Sweetie, you're awake. Are you feeling alright?"

A deep, familiar, and maic male voice sounded beside her.

Hera turned her head to see Bernard's chiseled, handsome face. He was sitting by her bedside and looking at her with soft eyes.

The moment she saw him, all the

pain and fear she had bottled up burst out like a flood breaking

through a dam. Tears filled her eyes, and she sat up abruptly, throwing

herself into his arms.

Bernard was caught off guard but soon felt the warm wetness soaking through where her face was buried against him. His heart softened instantly.

It struck him then that despite Hera's cool, aloof demeanor, she was just 17. Her independence and decisiveness often made people forget how young she was.

Usually, young people her age still

sought comfort in their parents' arms. Yet, she had performed high-risk surgeries, outbid him for the Eclipse Stone at an auction received offers from top international universities, and created life-saving medicines.

Her ability was impressive but heartbreaking.

Bernard gently soothed Hera by patting her back with his large hand. "There, there. Everything's alright now."