The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 994

Chapter 994: Chapter 994 A Little Improvement

Unlike the Leo before his amnesia, who had been vocal, bold, even coquettish, this version of him was more aloof, guarded, and unsure. Around Hera, he often felt awkward, unable to express himself the way he wanted.

And now, as he watched the conversation flow without him, he felt left behind. Making them acknowledge his presence was the only step he knew how to take… words could come later.

But since he didn’t know how to properly convey his feelings, he defaulted to the way he usually spoke to his subordinates and outsiders, which resulted in his being awkward, distant, and cold.

The moment the words left his mouth, a flicker of panic stirred inside him. They sounded harsher than he intended, and he worried Hera might misunderstand.

Yet he couldn’t find the right words to fix it. If he knew how to speak from the heart, he wouldn’t be in this predicament. It was as if he had forgotten everything his grandfather once taught him about winning a woman’s attention and love with his memories of her.

“I… Um…” Leo tried to explain himself, but the words tangled on his tongue, leaving him stammering. Hera glanced over, raising a brow.

From the slight twitch in his eyebrow, she could tell he was feeling awkward and jealous, even. She realized she and Rafael really had been neglecting his presence after started talking about Alexandre, so it was natural for Leo to grow moody.

Besides, he had more reason to be irritable. He was still a patient, bearing injuries more severe than hers. Unlike Hera, who could come and go from the hospital freely, Leo remained confined within its walls.

The stifling monotony wore him down, his days filled with limited distractions.

Even when he managed to work, his hours were short-lived; soon enough, the medication would leave him drowsy. Dr. Zigheart’s special medicine targeted his brain, repairing the damage caused by the explosion, but the side effect demanded rest.

Compared to Hera’s own medication, Leo’s condition made him far more prone to fatigue, and living like that was undeniably harder for him.

“It’s alright, I know you don’t mean it,” Addison said softly, her smile gentle as she looked up at Rafael, wordlessly asking for his help. With one hand in a cast, maneuvering her wheelchair on her own was difficult, so Rafael quietly wheeled her closer to Leo’s bedside.

“So, Leo,” Hera continued, her tone warm yet earnest, “tell me honestly, do you also welcome Alexandre or not? Your opinion matters. If even one of you disagrees, I won’t do anything that would make you uncomfortable. That means your feelings matter to me.”

As she spoke, Hera reached out to take Leo’s hand, wanting him to feel her sincerity. Through his gaze, she could sense his jealousy, but she couldn’t quite tell if it stemmed from Alexandre’s presence or from the fact that she had been too focused on Rafael, leaving Leo to feel overlooked.

“Will you tell me how you feel?” Hera asked again, her voice softer this time. All she saw was Leo pressing his lips into a thin line, clearly holding back. It seemed as though he was afraid that if he spoke, his words might come out too sharp, cold, and indifferent, even if that wasn’t his true intention.

Actually, Leo wanted to deny Hera’s words and insist that he didn’t care, but before the words could leave his mouth, he bit his tongue. Something told him that if he said it, Hera would be hurt, maybe even angry, because it would sound like he was dismissing her feelings.

And the thought of upsetting her carried a heavier weight than he expected.

What if she stopped visiting him?

What if he never saw her again?

It was strange. He couldn’t remember this girl before him, yet her opinion and emotions mattered to him more than they should have. Little by little, without realizing it, his focus was being pulled toward her, and whether he liked it or not, he was paying more attention to her than he wanted to admit.

So perhaps, amnesiac or not, Leo had really fallen for Hera all over again. But because of his memory loss and his own stubborn pride, he refused to admit it. Instead, he found himself saying things he didn’t truly mean, words born more from frustration than sincerity.

What truly gnawed at him was the dissatisfaction of always seeing her with another man, while he himself was trapped, unable to come and go freely or care for her the way the others did. It made him feel useless, and that sting to his pride and ego only darkened his mood further.

Hera could see the irritation flicker in Leo’s eyes, but she knew it wasn’t aimed at her; it was aimed at himself. If she hadn’t known Leo as well as she did, she might have missed that subtle undercurrent, mistaking it instead for coldness toward her.

And that would have hurt, because the difference between the Leo she knew before his memory loss and the Leo before her now felt like night and day.

After all, Leo was the one she felt most emotionally connected to, the one she harbored the deepest feelings for.

Before discovering he was the greatest villain of the novel, she had believed that, unlike the other male leads she approached with ulterior motives, her bond with Leo was something pure.

And that very tug-of-war within her, the struggle not to drag him into her mess, only deepened her attachment and fondness for him. Again and again, Leo had proven to her that no matter what happened, he would always stand by her side.

When Hera needed him most, Leo was always there. Even when he struggled with the other male leads, he still put her first, silently carrying the burdens, always thinking of her feelings and well-being.

How could she not fall so deeply in love with a man like that? And now that he was the one in trouble, how could she possibly give up on him?

Just because he was moody or had forgotten her? As long as he didn’t tell her to leave or that he no longer loved her, Hera saw no reason to be angry or to give up on Leo.

Yes, it was hard, harder than she wanted to admit. She missed the old Leo more than anyone could imagine, and it hurt that the Leo before her now was cold, distant, and looked at her like a stranger.

The pain cut deeper than she let on, but that pain also proved to her that her feelings for Leo were real. More than anyone, she wanted him to get better.

She couldn’t bring herself to give up on him, not when he needed her the most; it would be unfair to him. Instead, she wanted to become his strength now.

“Shhh…” Hera gently brushed her thumb over the back of Leo’s hand. “I understand your heart more than anyone. I know you didn’t mean it, so I wasn’t angry.” Her gaze locked onto his, her eyes shimmering like starlight against the night sky.

For a moment, Leo forgot to breathe; his heart trembled as an unfamiliar warmth spread through him. It wasn’t just the physical closeness; it felt as though his very soul was being soothed by her touch.

The feeling was so disarming, so precious, that without realizing it, a soft smile found its way onto his lips.

“Hmm…” Leo responded with a short hum. He probably didn’t even realize it, but it came out gentle, almost as if his old self was the one who answered Hera.

From the sidelines, Rafael raised an eyebrow, fighting the urge to laugh. Just moments ago, he had been the one making grand declarations, trying to win Hera’s attention and favor. Yet with a single, unthinking action, Leo effortlessly stole the moment.

Amnesiac or not, Rafael thought, Leo would always be Leo. Shaking his head with a soft chuckle, he moved to the other side of the bed and casually draped an arm over Leo’s shoulder.

“You really know how to steal a woman’s attention with ease, huh?” Rafael teased, and just like that, the tension in the room began to ease. The three of them slipped into conversation, though their words only skimmed the surface about Alexandre.

Leo, for his part, showed no hostility toward the man. Hera couldn’t tell whether he quietly shared Rafael’s opinion or if, because of his amnesia, he simply chose not to speak about it, unsure of what his old self might have thought. For now, he remained silent.

But Hera didn’t want to push the topic of Alexandre. Yes, she was attracted to him, but he still wasn’t as important as Leo or the others, in her heart. What mattered now was the subtle shift she felt between her and Leo. His words no longer carried the same cold edge as before.

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