That thought alone made Xavier cheer up considerably. He began eating with renewed enthusiasm, even scooping extra food onto Hera's plate, as if he were fattening her up or making sure she had enough energy for the long day ahead. Meanwhile, Alexandre sat across from them, silently watching with envy, chewing his food without tasting it, everything suddenly felt bland, like he was biting into cardboard.
Antoine could only glance at Alexandre with quiet pity. Lucky him, he had been decisive enough to let go of his feelings for Hera before it was too late. There were plenty of fish in the sea, he told himself. Maybe none would shine as brightly as Hera, who burned like a star, but chasing someone so far out of reach could only lead to heartache.
