With this newfound realization, Hera felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Thinking this way allowed her to feel less stress and fear about the future.
She could now focus on what lay ahead and pursue genuine connections with them, no longer treating them as mere obstacles to win over or characters from a novel, but as real individuals with whom she could build something meaningful.
With these thoughts, she felt a lightness in her chest, a genuine smile spreading across her lips as she directed it toward Zhane. His eyes lit up, gleaming with warmth as he witnessed her first true smile—one that wasn't out of politeness or restraint, but a heartfelt expression that showed she was beginning to open her heart to him.
