Chapter 13

After exiting the Dean of Students' office, Hera breathed a sigh of relief. Could the professor truly be the person from the Killian family? Hera was aware that while the Killians appeared friendly on the surface, they were actually ruthless. "Miss, allow me to escort you to the exam room." A warm and charming voice interrupted Hera's thoughts from behind. She stopped and turned around to see Bernard approaching down the long corridor. He stood tall and handsome, wearing a faint smile. The autumn sunlight cast a graceful and elegant air around him. "No tha—" Hera was about to refuse, but Bernard had already caught up to her. "Don't mention it. It's on my way." Bernard's tone left no room for argument, and Hera fell silent. Meanwhile, Douglas stood waiting in the corridor. After hearing Bernard's words, Douglas couldn't resist saying, "Bernard—" He was aware that Bernard wasn't headed in that direction at all. Besides, Andrew was still waiting for him! Bernard glanced at Douglas with a sharp look, his gaze piercing through his gold-rimmed glasses. "What a beautiful day." Douglas chuckled awkwardly as he tried to shift the conversation. He scratched his head and glanced around. Bernard turned to Hera. "Let's go, Miss." His features were handsome and strong. A faint smile spread across his face, making the intimidating look he had before seem like nothing more than Douglas' imagination. Douglas was left speechless. Bernard's favoritism was glaringly obvious! Despite this, Douglas couldn't deny that Hera was indeed attractive. Unaware of their inner thoughts, Hera followed behind Bernard. Bernard and Hera walked together down the corridor. Their striking good looks made for a breathtaking sight. As they reached the turn of the stairs, Bernard, who was in the lead, abruptly stopped. Fortunately, Hera stopped just in time to avoid bumping into him. Bernard turned around, his gaze intense as he looked at Hera. "Miss, do I know you from somewhere?" Hera's heart skipped a beat, but she kept a straight face as she stepped back. "Professor, your approach to starting this conversation feels rather outdated." Bernard stayed quiet. He edged closer to Hera, his gaze intensifying with a flurry of emotions. Was Hera unable to recognize him? Or was she deliberately choosing to ignore him? As Bernard drew closer, his towering figure—standing at six and a half feet—cast a shadow over Hera, who, at five and a half feet, felt overwhelmed by his presence. The Bernard before her bore no resemblance to his former gentle self. Hera instinctively stepped back as Bernard steadily approached. She stopped abruptly when she felt the wall against her back. "Do you really not remember me? Cecily Killian!" With his hand against the wall, Bernard glanced down at her. His eyes reflected a surge of emotions. At the mention of the name, Hera felt a shiver down her spine. She realized she had indeed been recognized. 17 years ago, Hera was mistakenly taken in by the Killian family and lived with them for six years. 11 years ago, Bernard's father, Albert Killian, died. On his deathbed, Albert appointed his third son, Greg Killian, as the next head of the family. However, just before Greg was due to take over, he was murdered. All evidence at the scene pointed to Hera's father and Albert's sixth son, Lucius. Lucius was accused of killing his brother for power and was promptly imprisoned. Hera's mother, Daphne, couldn't believe Lucius would harm his brother. After months of searching for answers, Daphne finally uncovered a clue. But tragically, on her way back to the Killian residence, she died in a sudden car accident along with the driver responsible. Sensing danger, Catherine took drastic action to protect Hera. She set the house on fire, faked their deaths, and spirited Hera away to the countryside. Without Catherine's intervention, Hera might not have survived. Hera's heart swelled with emotions as she reminisced about those tumultuous years. Even though it turned out that Hera wasn't biologically related to Lucius and Daphne, she felt a deep gratitude toward them for raising her. She returned to Norburgh to wield her influence and gather evidence. Her next step would be a journey to Jedburgh to prove Lucius' innocence and avenge Daphne's death! Until she uncovered the true culprit, she wouldn't trust anyone from the Killian family, not even Bernard, who had once been closest to her! Hera met Bernard's crimson eyes after pushing aside the fear lingering in her heart. "I'm not Cecily Killian. My name is Hera Youngworth." "No, you're an Everett. You're the daughter of the Everetts!" Bernard retorted through clenched teeth. Hera's thick lashes fluttered nervously, but then she realized that knowing her true identity wouldn't be difficult with a bit of effort. "Now that you know the truth, you must realize we have no connection anymore. Please, step aside," Hera asserted. "You..." Bernard stared at Hera, puzzled by her sudden coldness and aloof demeanor. He couldn't fathom why Hera, once so close to him, had become so distant. Something inside his head felt like it was breaking apart. He frowned, and his once handsome face twisted in pain. Hera was confused. She noticed the bulging veins on his hand pressed against the wall. It looked like he was fighting to control something. Was he ill? It seemed like he was having some sort of attack! "You're unwell—" Before Hera could finish her words, Bernard gripped her throat and silenced her. His eyes turned increasingly red, his breathing heavy, and his face contorted with agony. "Why... would you leave... me..." Bernard's grip tightened, making it hard for Hera to breathe. She desperately tried to pry his hand away with both of hers, but her efforts were in vain. Slowly, her face began to turn red. As Douglas turned the corner, he caught sight of Bernard strangling Hera. Horrified, Douglas wasted no time and sprinted toward them. "Holy crap, Bernard! Let go! You're going to kill her!" The air grew thinner, and Hera's face flushed deeper red. If this went on, she would suffocate!