The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 228

Chapter 228: Chapter 228 Mission Accomplished?
Hera remained lost in thought until Leo, Zhane, and Dave concluded their negotiation. She felt as if she had become slow-witted overnight. ‘Could this mean that her mission is complete?’ she wondered.

Wasn’t she just fretting about how to catch the male leads’ attention and divert them from Alice? Did this mean she could relax now? The mere idea sent a shiver down her spine. She parsed Zhane’s words carefully; “interested” and “court” implied they would openly pursue her with their friends’ awareness. But that didn’t guarantee her success. Alice still had the chance to win them back if an opportunity arose. As she pondered the situation, she realized her position hadn’t really changed much. Instead, it had grown more complicated, as now there were six men involved instead of five.

Leo stood firm in the face of opposition from Dave and Zhane, indicating he wasn’t backing down. Hera sensed the brewing conflict between them and could decipher their intentions. Leo’s reassuring gaze met her worried expression, catching her off guard. She hadn’t realized her emotions were so transparent. The situation felt like it had spiraled out of control, escalating into unnecessary complexity.

In the future, relying solely on the novel for guidance would become increasingly challenging. The events unfolding around them diverged significantly from the narrative laid out in the book.

The men in the room interpreted Hera’s worried expression as concern for their well-being, oblivious to the true source of her anxiety. In reality, Hera’s apprehension stemmed from her own capacity to handle the growing number of male leads. She grappled with doubts about her time management skills and questioned how she would navigate the complexities of juggling multiple relationships. The addition of another contender only intensified her uncertainties, leaving her feeling overwhelmed by the looming challenges ahead.

Hera couldn’t fathom how Alice managed to balance her time between the male leads and her career. Truth be told, Alice’s schedule seemed dominated by her interactions with the male leads, often finding herself in intimate encounters with one or several of them simultaneously. They played a pivotal role in elevating her career, securing top positions and lucrative deals, ultimately establishing her as an internationally acclaimed actress and movie queen.

“Let’s dial down the overthinking for now,” Hera coached herself, taking a moment to reorganize her thoughts and regulate her breathing. She recognized the futility in dwelling on every detail and exhausting her mental faculties. Glancing around at the men in her room, she felt a wave of overwhelm wash over her. Thankfully, her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Hastily turning towards the entrance, she found Athena already stepping inside.

Athena entered with the air of an aggrieved wife, her expression a mix of concern and annoyance, as if she had rushed over to find her husband surrounded by beauties. Hera couldn’t help but chuckle at Athena’s demeanor, noticing the huff and snort as she rolled her eyes while making her way to Hera’s bed.

As Hera’s best friend arrived to check on her, the male leads, sensing the need for privacy, tactfully excused themselves. Leo, ever the gentleman, took the initiative. “Hera, why don’t you stay here with your friend? I’ll go grab some fruits for us to snack on.” With a comforting pat on Hera’s hand, he made his way out of the room. Zhane, following Leo’s lead, offered Hera a reassuring smile and a gentle pat on the head before silently departing.

Dave, who had been stubborn just moments before, suddenly grasped Leo and Zhane’s intention to give Hera and her best friend some privacy. Feeling a rush of panic, he darted towards the door, only to return with a nervous smile. Without thinking, he planted a quick peck on Hera’s cheek, catching both her and Athena off guard. Meanwhile, Leo and Zhane, still lingering near the door, witnessed the gesture, their expressions shifting to one of disapproval as they exchanged glances, silently questioning Dave’s impulsive move.

Dave, observing Zhane and Leo’s jealous reactions and their simmering anger, couldn’t resist a teasing remark. “What’s the matter? Can’t keep up with the pace? Should I have moved slower for you two turtles?” With a mischievous grin, he sauntered out of the room, whistling a merry tune as he went about his task, leaving Zhane and Leo seething in his wake.

Leo and Zhane shared a brief glance before they walked back inside the room and mirrored Dave’s gesture, each giving Hera a peck on the cheek before taking their leave. They made sure to extend the same courtesy to Athena, offering her warm smiles before departing from the room.

Hera and Athena were both taken aback, their reactions delayed by the unexpected display of affection. They exchanged bewildered glances, their mouths hanging open in surprise. As the others departed, leaving them alone in the room, silence settled in like a heavy blanket. For five whole minutes, they simply stared at each other, as if attempting to communicate silently, their minds racing to process the sudden turn of events.

Athena’s excitement bubbled over as she broke the silence. “What on earth just happened? Have you already hooked up with the third and fourth male leads? And Leo?” Her original purpose for being there slipped from her mind as she became engrossed in the potential gossip with Hera.

Hera couldn’t help but notice the clear excitement in Athena’s eyes, reminiscent of someone engrossed in a soap opera. And in a way, she was witnessing a real-life drama unfold—a story straight from the pages of the novel from her world. It was no wonder Athena was thrilled; these happenings must have been the highlight of her day.

Hera sighed in defeat. “Honestly, I’m not even sure where all this is headed anymore. It’s like everything went off track somewhere along the line.” She cast a weary glance at her best friend, hoping for some reassurance. Seeing Hera so defeated and uncertain, Athena’s excitement waned, and she fell silent, searching for the right words to comfort her friend.

Hera cut in before Athena could respond. “Did you know your blind date tried to drug you?” Hera’s words tumbled out as she recalled the earlier report. She pushed aside the recent events at the backburner for the moment, focusing instead on the urgent matter at hand—her anger simmering anew at Tyler Lennon after remembering what he tried to pull with her best friend.

Athena’s eyes widened in shock. “What?!” She exclaimed, taken aback. She had just returned from the blind date and had sensed something amiss with her companion. He had persistently tried to prevent her from leaving at first, making flimsy excuses. Then, when something happened, and the entire hotel was sealed off, forbidding guests from departing, she noticed her blind date’s growing anxiety. Not that she had any fondness for him—in fact, she couldn’t stand being near him.

If Athena hadn’t known that the hotel belonged to the Averys and upon discovering Hera’s hospitalization, she immediately called on her connection with Hera to the hotel’s staff so they would let her go without a second thought. The nurse had been tight-lipped about her condition, prompting Athena’s swift action. So consumed by worry, she hadn’t realized that it was Gerald’s right-hand man overseeing the hotel who had send her to the hospital.