The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 161

Chapter 161: Chapter 161 The Day Before they go Home
After dinner, the Director promptly arrived to escort Leo to his designated lodging for the night.

“Did you enjoy your dinner?” he inquired, his tone amiable, as if genuinely unaware of Leo’s dining experience. To dispel any misconceptions, he added, “I apologize for my tardiness. I intended to personally host you, Mr. Hendrix, but unforeseen obligations arose, particularly with the show concluding tomorrow.” His smile carried a hint of apology, suggesting sincerity in his explanation.

In truth, he had been stationed in the OB van, engrossed in the unfolding drama between Hera and the two male leads of the show. Initially skeptical about introducing the poll for the two men, he had feared it would only exacerbate the already tumultuous dynamics among the participants. Yet, much to his surprise, the viewers had embraced it wholeheartedly.

To think that because of the trio, his show had garnered even more attention than the trending teen drama dominating the market. Teenagers flocked to his show eagerly, not to witness romantic antics, but simply to watch the three cook together as if they were hosting a cooking show.

The reason for his delayed arrival was to afford Leo and Hera additional time together. He would be a fool not to recognize Leo’s purpose for joining the show amid his busy schedule, even resorting to going incognito at this point.

He merely fulfilled what was anticipated of him. After all, Leo’s company had made a substantial investment shortly after his assistant’s departure. Who was he to decline Leo’s goodwill? The Director’s grin stretched from ear to ear as he guided Leo up to the second floor.

“Mr. Hendrix, while you were out with Miss Ainsley earlier, I’ve already instructed the crew to tidy up the room next to hers. This way, it’ll be more convenient for you to reach her if you require anything. After all, she’s the only one you’re acquainted with here.”

With the Director having made his stance clear and even evicting the previous occupant of the room beside Hera before the crew began cleaning, any opposition to this decision was effectively silenced. What added to the irritation was the necessity for the crew to disinfect the room, implying that the prior inhabitant might have been carrying an infectious disease.

Who occupied that room, you wonder? None other than Alice herself. She had selected it for its proximity to Xavier’s room, besides Hera’s. However, now that the Director insisted she vacate, she couldn’t refuse, as she was keeping a low profile to prevent further negative impressions from Xavier.

Moreover, the Director didn’t afford her the opportunity to protest; they swiftly arranged a new room downstairs, far away from Xavier’s. With Xavier constantly in Hera’s company, Alice found no chance to get close to him, a fact that fueled her previous efforts to target Hera. Reflecting on it now, Alice realized she had inadvertently become the subject of ridicule on the show.

So, Alice resolved to revert to her former sensible and understanding self, the qualities Xavier had once appreciated. However, she couldn’t entirely disregard what had transpired involving Hera, but she acknowledged it wasn’t the appropriate moment to take action.

Following the Director’s escort of Leo upstairs, he made sure to express gratitude to Hera. “Hera, thank you for assuming the responsibility of looking after our guest, Mr. Hendrix,” he said, offering her a broad smile.

Hera turned towards the Director, a gentle smile adorning her lips. “It’s no trouble, Director. I enjoyed our tour of the village as well,” she replied warmly. Casting a glance at Leo’s way, she offered him another gentle smile before addressing Xavier too. “Good night, Leo. Good night, Brother Xavier,” she bid them farewell with a sweet smile before retreating into her room.

Once inside, she readied herself for bed, intending to take a shower first before completely turning in for the night. However, since she had to go outside again to take a shower, she opted to wait until the commotion outside her room had subsided, not wanting to tread amidst any lingering tension between Leo and Xavier.

Even after they ceased their earlier competition, there were still moments when Leo and Xavier’s subconscious hostility toward each other would manifest, their auras clashing like blades at each other’s throats. Hera, ever perceptive, would swiftly intervene, stepping between them to defuse the tension very subtly. Only then would they consciously rein in the auras emanating from their bodies.

Their behavior seemed to suggest an innate rivalry, as though they were destined to be each other’s antagonists. Hera found this abnormal and puzzling. As far as she knew, Leo wasn’t a character in the novel “Thin Line Between Love and Lust,” so he shouldn’t have any connection to the male leads. According to what she has observed with Athena, characters like Leo should operate independently, unaffected by the emotions of the main characters. They were meant to be like Athena, existing as blank slates in the world where they are free to do whatever they desire without being affected by the invisible thread called fate. So, there shouldn’t be any emotions that would dictate inside of them to be drawn or be weary of someone.

Even if she has to say that they are acting hostile to each other because of her and they are being territorial somehow because of their interest in her, their reaction is still a little bit off, just like how the other three male leads acted in the infirmary on the Auction house.

Contemplating further, Hera began to harbor suspicions about Leo’s true identity, sensing that there might be more to him than he had revealed. Whether this revelation would benefit her survival or pose a threat remained uncertain. However, she felt compelled to uncover the truth, as Leo appeared to have some connection to the novel’s narrative.

As Hera grappled with unraveling the intricacies of the storyline and the rules governing the world she inhabited, a memory resurfaced: her initial encounter with Alexi. At that moment, a persistent feeling and voice tugged at her, suggesting that Alexi was the love of her life and more. Initially attributing these thoughts to her own consciousness, Hera now pondered whether they might instead be echoed from the storyline itself, subtly influencing her perceptions and emotions to align with the narrative’s expectations.

Hera shook her head, determined to dispel the swirling thoughts threatening to drown her in overanalysis. Realizing that seeking immediate answers would likely yield no results, she resolved to stay the course with her plan of wooing the male leads. Only through action would she uncover whether her suspicions held any truth. If diverting their attention altered the narrative’s progression or if she ascended to the role of the female lead, the truth would inevitably reveal itself in due time.

So for now, she cleared her thoughts and calmed her nerves. What she needed to do was to enjoy her life and spend however she wanted. She’s not the Hera in the story and would never be.