Under the Heiress' Facade

"Which department are you from? Why are you here? Do you have nothing to do?" Douglas purposely raised his voice at Sean.

"I..."

Sean realized that he'd made a big mistake. He didn't know how to explain himself.

In the end, Douglas forcefully dragged Sean out of the office to the finance department.

When they reached the finance department, Douglas said, "Give him his pay. He doesn't need to come into work anymore after this."Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"Tell HR that Mr. Killian doesn't want to see his face ever again."

Shock and fear rattled Sean like a thunderclap in the dark of the night.

He grabbed Douglas' hand and pleaded, "Mr. Copley, I was wrong. I won't do it again. Please don't fire me "

Douglas yanked his hand away from Sean and turned to leave, leaving the finance department staff staring at each other in confusion.

Back in the office on the top floor, Bernard approached Hera and lightly tugged the hem of her sleeve.

"Sweetie, why did you come here all of a sudden? You didn't even tell me beforehand. I could've picked you up."

His deep, attractive voice was gentle to the ears.

The cold, domineering aura he had before this was gone. He pouted like a puppy yearning for its master's attention. He didn't look like the person he was when he just entered the office a moment ago.

Hera had seen his demeanor change drastically several times before. She should've been used to it by now, but this change in his attitude was overwhelming that day.

Taking a step backward to distance herself from him, she tried to sound calm as she said, "If I told you that I was coming here, how would I know if you were telling the truth or just lying to me."

When Bernard saw Hera keeping her distance from him, his expression turned cold again.

He knitted his brows as he ran through the possibilities in his mind. From what Douglas had told him, Hera had gone out to meet Leon.

She had bumped into Queenie at the coffee shop. After that, Hera insisted on going over to the company to see Bernard.

Bernard wondered if Queenie had said something to Hera.

"I was indeed in a meeting just now," Bernard said.

"It wasn't in this company, though. It was at my friend's company."

He moved closer to Hera while looking into her enchanting eyes and continued explaining, "I don't get along well with my relatives at home, so I take on some side gigs. It's not bad to make some extra money, right?"

Hera stared back at him, her gaze cold.

"This isn't the only thing you're hiding from me, right?"

Bernard frowned slightly. Did she perhaps discover his true identity?

"Such as what?" he asked.

"Such as..." she said.

"You don't like women."

Bernard was at a loss for words.

"Who told you that?"

"Everyone in this company knows about this, right?" Hera asked, puzzled.

Bernard's reaction was so intense that she couldn't decide if he was embarrassed because she had found out about it or simply mad because he had been accused of it.

Bernard fell silent.

He suddenly remembered the time Frederick and Roman discussed his sexual orientation here in the company.

His face fell. So, the "discussion" had spread in the company like wildfire. And now, even Hera learned of it.

Still, he questioned how she could believe in a rumor like that so easily.

Bernard cursed himself for screwing himself up.

"Is that why you're deliberately staying away from me?" he said, wearing an exasperated smile.

"Why are you always so cute? You have a high IQ, and yet you still believe in a rumor like this?"

He raised his hand to ruffle Hera's hair, but she dodged his touch.

"A rumor?" Hera repeated.

She was skeptical.

"You said you aren't getting along well with your family at home,

why aren't you considering some

getting

married to inherit Grandpa's shares?"

If Bernard inherited the shares, the other Killian family members would at least fear him a little, even if they disliked him.

Hera figured that if she could think. of it,

t believe it for a

ard should too. She

never occurred to