Chapter 116


    Hera dried her damp hair and got into bed to sleep.


    In the dimly lit hallway, the door of the adjacent room crept open. Simultaneously, another figure


    emerged from the staircasending.


    Two figures stealthily approached Hera''s door. Their movements halted when they heard each


    other.


    After a moment of confusion, they both whispered, "Shh!"


    The two figures were Gideon and Lilith.


    "Why aren''t you asleep yet?"


    Both whispered in unison. Then, they exchanged knowing nces toward Hera''s door.


    Light seeped out from under the door, but there was no sound from within to confirm if Hera was


    asleep.


    "Hera came back alone in a taxi," Lilith said.


    At noon, Hera mentioned she had ns with a friend and wouldn''t be back for dinner. She had gone


    out and unexpectedly returned only in the early hours of the morning.


    "Yeah, I know."


    Gideon refrained from mentioning the ck Audi following Hera''s taxi. He was wary of exacerbating


    Lilith''s concerns.


    Once Hera disembarked and entered the gate, the Audi parked at the corner. It waited there until


    she went inside and only left after a considerable time had passed.


    "It''s good that she''s returned."


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Lilith breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Did Hera used toe back thiste before?" Gideon asked with a slight frown.


    "No, not when she lived at home. But after moving out..."


    Lilith recalled Giselle mentioning the photo of Hera with a young guy, which left her feeling uneasy.


    Yet, she also worried abouting off as nagging if she prodded too much.


    "What''s wrong?"


    The tightly closed door abruptly swung open and startled Gideon and Lilith.


    At the same time, a thud echoed from the other end of the hallway. It took them a moment to adjust


    to the light spilling from the room.


    Following the noise, they spotted a small figure scrambling up from the floor and dashing nervously


    toward the room.


    "Gino?"


    Gideon flicked the hallway light on.


    "Gino, why aren''t you asleep yet? Are you worried about Hera, too?" Lilith asked.


    The sudden brightness left Gino momentarily disoriented.


    "Who cares if shees back or not? I just got up to use the bathroom."


    After saying that, he didn''t bother to find his other slipper and hastily returned to his room with one


    foot bare. He nearly stumbled and left the slipper behind in the hallway.


    "I could''ve sworn there was nothing wrong with the bathroom in Gino''s room..." Lilith muttered to


    herself as she hurried to catch up.


    "Gino, let me see if you''re hurt."


    Gideon grumbled, "Spoiled brat."


    Hera was speechless at the scene.


    "Is there anything else?"


    She looked at her brother as he lingered by the door, not intending to leave.


    Gideon cleared his throat and asked, "Where were you tonight? Did you get yourself into any


    trouble?"


    She nced at him again with a fleeting hint of caution in her eyes. She wasn''t sure why he


    suddenly asked these two questions.


    "Just went to a party with friends. What''s up?"


    Gideon noted her reaction and realized she likely wasn''t aware of being followed.


    "Call me if you''re out past ten. I''ll pick you up. It''s not safe for you to take a taxi back thiste," he


    said.


    His sister was undeniably beautiful, and he felt a need to watch over her.


    Hera paused and thought he knew something. But she realized he was simply concerned for her


    well-being. When she returned home that night, she found the living room softly illuminated yet


    empty.


    Assuming everyone had retired for the night, she quietly went upstairs, unaware that they were all


    waiting for her return.


    A warmth stirred within Hera''s heart. It was a gentle sensation that thawed her usual indifference


    toward the world.