The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 990

Chapter 990: Chapter 990 Sophia Targeting Rafael

Her tone was firm, her expression steady. While Hera did carry a small ulterior motive in helping Cherry, her true concern was Leo’s safety. She couldn’t shake the memory of Sophia’s eyes in the garden earlier, the glint of obsession there, sharp and unstable, teetering on the edge of madness.

Hera knew all too well how dangerous people like that could be. They would stop at nothing to claim what they desired, even if it meant destroying the very person they claimed to love.

“Alright then, let me accompany you back to Leo’s hospital room,” Rafael said as he rose from the couch.

Zhane, however, stayed behind. Though he wanted to go with them, he needed to tie up the loose ends on his side and make sure he gathered the remaining evidence himself. Hera had entrusted him with this part so he could preserve the dignity of his family’s hospital.

After all, while Hera had instructed Sasha to collect almost everything necessary to prove that Sophia was conspiring against Cherry Sullivan, she had deliberately left a few threads untouched.

It wasn’t an oversight but a tactful gesture, an opening for Zhane. If Sasha had dug into every detail and handed over a fully finished report, it would have left Zhane with nothing but the bitter feeling of being outdone in his own territory.

Instead, Hera ensured there were gaps, unfinished leads paired with subtle hints. Enough to guide Zhane toward the same conclusion she had already reached, but in a way that allowed him to uncover the truth on his own, without compromising his pride.

This way, not only could Zhane preserve his dignity, but he could also untangle the knot in his heart on his own.

“I can’t come back with you. Take care of Hera for me. I need to continue the investigation on my side to prevent anyone from erasing their tracks,” Zhane said simply as he rose to his feet.

After all, what remained unresolved were the events inside his own hospital. His former uncle-in-law had provided Sophia with detailed knowledge of the facility, its layout, and operation, which allowed her to carry out her scheme against Cherry.

That alone could be seen as negligence on Zhane’s hospital’s part, making it all the more important for him to gather the final evidence himself.

Since his former uncle-in-law had aided Sophia, it explained how she had been able to bypass the surveillance cameras so effortlessly. No one had noticed her subtle, ongoing attempts to poison Cherry, both covertly and in plain sight.

After all, if Sophia had been in Cherry’s hospital room every day, suspicions would have quickly arisen. Instead, she appeared only occasionally, cultivating an image of kindness and concern. Most likely, she timed her visits for when the Sullivans were present, reinforcing that impression.

But in truth, the real damage had been done elsewhere. Sophia must have slipped the poison into Cherry’s prescribed medication or into her food, methods subtle enough to go undetected.

And yet, no matter how cautious she had been, Hera believed she must have left traces behind. Those were the very trails Sasha had deliberately left untouched, giving Zhane the chance to uncover them himself.

Crossing the room, he came to Hera and pulled her into a gentle embrace. Leaning close, he murmured, “Thank you, darling,” before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

The gratitude in his voice told Hera he had understood her intentions. She could only smile sweetly in return, lifting her gaze to him and giving him a small nod, her silent way of urging him to do what he must.

Zhane held Hera in a lingering embrace before reluctantly letting her go.

‘She’s so good to me,’ he thought, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. He wasn’t blind—he knew exactly what Hera was doing, and the realization warmed his heart.

She wasn’t just protecting him from external blows; she was protecting his pride, his dignity. That kind of care made him feel cherished in a way he hadn’t known before, and it struck him again just how lucky he was to have her.

The thought only deepened his resolve.

If Hera could go this far to shield him, then he had to grow strong enough to protect her in return. Watching as Rafael escorted Hera out of his office, Zhane remained standing for a long moment before finally sinking back into his leather chair.

His gaze fell on the files Hera had sent him, and with renewed determination, he began studying each piece of evidence, mapping out the path he would take to uncover the rest.

As Rafael wheeled Hera out, they unexpectedly crossed paths with Sophia at the elevator. True to her skill as an actress, Hera feigned indifference, keeping her eyes on her phone and pretending not to notice.

Rafael, on the other hand, didn’t bother with pretense; he blatantly ignored Sophia as he guided Hera inside, carefully settling her wheelchair before pressing their floor button.

“We meet again, Miss Hera, Mr. Rafael…” Sophia greeted with a bright smile, though her eyes shimmered with pain and sorrow, as if she had just lost a dear friend.

Hera nearly rolled her eyes. She could see right through Sophia’s performance. Sophia was playing the part of the heartbroken friend, devastated by her so-called friend’s declining health, when in truth she was the one orchestrating it.

This little display was nothing more than a calculated act to draw attention, to paint herself as grieving and sympathetic, and to ensure that no one would suspect that she’s been the one orchestrating everything from the shadows.

Had Hera and Rafael not known the truth, they might have been convinced by Sophia’s performance. Hera even found herself thinking what a waste it was that Sophia hadn’t entered the entertainment industry, as she had the talent to become a celebrated actress.

Her act was flawless enough to fool anyone. No wonder the Sullivans had been taken in, believing her to be a kindhearted, compassionate doctor willing to offer her bone marrow to a leukemia patient without expecting anything in return.

But Hera knew better. Sophia’s supposed selflessness wasn’t driven by generosity; it was a bait. She hadn’t cared for the smaller rewards that came her way, because she had her eyes set on the greatest prize of all: replacing Cherry as the Sullivans’ only daughter.

Hera nearly scoffed at Sophia’s theatrics. It was obvious Sophia was waiting for them to ask why she looked so sorrowful, but neither she nor Rafael gave her the satisfaction.

They ignored her completely, treating her presence as nothing more than empty air.

Annoyance flickered beneath Sophia’s carefully crafted mask, but she forced herself to hold the act together. Any crack in her performance could spell trouble if someone caught on.

Still, her thoughts weren’t solely fixed on Leo. As obsessive as she was about him, Sophia wasn’t about to close the door on other opportunities. She couldn’t let go of Leo, but she also couldn’t ignore the other fine specimens of men around her.

And Rafael, handsome, well-built, and so unwaveringly devoted to Hera, sparked a dangerous thrill within her. The thought of stealing someone like him for herself made her pulse quicken.

“Mr. Rafael, are you going back to check on Mr. Leo?” Sophia asked with a gentle smile.

Though Hera and Rafael never turned to look at her, Sophia could still watch them clearly in the elevator door’s reflection. The polished metal gleamed like a mirror, kept spotless by the hospital’s strict maintenance to ensure a sterile, bacteria-free environment.

Sophia subtly inched closer, letting Rafael’s masculine scent wash over her. The heat radiating from his body reached her easily, and in her mind, she could already trace every contour of his muscles. Her gaze lingered on him, unable to look away.

Rafael’s intimidating aura and mafia-like features might have unnerved others, but to Sophia, they only heightened his allure. He wasn’t just dangerously handsome; he had the kind of body, power, and wealth that made him the very picture of the perfect man in every woman’s eyes.

To her, the attraction was undeniable, like a moth drawn to a flame. She didn’t even spare Hera a thought, already convinced she could snatch Rafael away with ease, as if stealing him would be no more than a game she was destined to win.

Sophia, after all, was a beautiful woman herself, carrying a mature, older-sister allure that she knew men found attractive. She was confident in her looks, and while she could admit that Hera was stunning, she didn’t believe she was lacking in comparison.

With her respectable profession and polished image, she even considered herself the better woman.

That confidence fueled her belief that winning over a man like Rafael was entirely possible. So, inch by inch, she moved closer, already toying with the idea of feigning a stumble, just enough to lean into him and let her ample chest brush against his arm.

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