Under the Heiress' Facade

"How could the daughter of the Chimes not be better than some woman in a nightclub?"

Bernard kept silent.

The onlookers murmured among themselves, pulling out their phones to take photos and videos.

Bernard held Hera tighter, pressing her face against his chest as he quickly left, his expression cold.

Bernard carried Hera to the room in the west wing of Youngworth Miracle Clinic. She had caused a commotion the entire way but finally fell asleep from exhaustion.

Bernard used a warm towel to wipe her face and hands before changing her clothes.

He suddenly felt tempted as he looked at her unguarded and charming sleeping face. He didn't expect her to transform completely when drunk. It would have been disastrous if she fell into someone else's hands.

Bernard decided that he must never let Hera go out drinking alone again.

At that moment, a knock came from the door. Douglas was standing outside, hesitant to enter.

He asked through the door, "Bernard, do you want me to handle the news?"

If what happened that night wasn't dealt with immediately, the following day's headlines would certainly be about him trying to interfere in someone else's relationship.

Douglas was prepared to contact major media outlets and the bar owner. When his boss gave the order, he would completely suppress the news.

However, he heard Bernard's deep voice from inside the room saying, "No need."

If he didn't have to do it, it meant someone else would handle it.

The video from the bar quickly made its way to Chad.

His stern old face darkened as he said, "What a disgrace!"

The Killians and Chimes were in the midst of forming an alliance through marriage. Chad reckoned that Bernard must have done something like this deliberately.

Chad immediately had the news suppressed. If it got out, the alliance would be in jeopardy, and the Killians' reputation would also be tarnished. This piece of news could never be published. Although the video from that night was not officially published by the media, it circulated in the social circles of high society.

The video was shared in a socialite group in Jedburgh, of which Camille was a member. She was in her car after having just left Astral Nova. She watched the video, which only showed Bernard carrying a struggling woman out. The woman's head was covered by a coat, so her face wasn't seen.

But Camille didn't think it was Hera since she had seen her at the auction earlier that evening.

Camille's jealousy dissipated instantly as she thought about how Bernard was only playing around with Hera.

She closed the video and checked what her group of socialite friends were discussing.

"I had always thought that Bernard wasn't into women. So, he just hadn't met the right woman."

"I'm really curious about her. She has a boyfriend but still caught Bernard's eyes."

"She must be a seductress. Men are really driven by the lower half of their body."

"Isn't Ms. Chime supposed to marry him? What's the meaning of this video?"

"I don't know what he's thinking, but Ms. Chime is beautiful and talented. She's also Dr. Shadow. Why would he go looking for a tramp?"

"Isn't it obvious? Bernard would rather find a tramp than marry Ms. Chime."

"Rumor has it that this marriage is being pushed by the heads of both families, and Bernard isn't pleased. So, he deliberately found some woman to spite them."

"Is there something weird about Ms. Chime that makes Bernard prefer a tramp over her?"

...

The texts in the group became increasingly harsh. Camille's expression darkened. Julia was startled at that.

"Camille, are you okay?"

Camille took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and smiled.

"I'm fine. Have someone investigate the woman Bernard carried at Nightless Haven."

Julia looked at Camille's smile and felt a chill down her spine.

"O-Okay."