The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 236

Chapter 236: Chapter 236 Help
Rafael came to an abrupt halt upon hearing Hera’s angry voice. He felt a surge of indignation, especially as he perceived Hera protecting Leo from harm. Glancing at her, he couldn’t help but notice how adorable she looked with her cheeks puffed up and a furrowed brow.

Zhane added firmly, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose. “Dave, quit causing trouble or I’ll have to ask you to leave the room.”

“Why me?! I was just telling the truth!” Dave shot Zhane an incredulous look tinged with resentment. Consumed by jealousy, he failed to grasp the larger implications of his actions. By stirring trouble, he inadvertently pushed Hera closer to defending Leo. In doing so, he risked portraying himself as an antagonist and troublemaker, inadvertently creating more opportunities for Leo to bond with Hera.

However, Leo was far from a pushover. He saw this as a prime opportunity to appear more isolated within the group, hoping Hera would feel sorry for him and defend him. While he observed from the sidelines, watching the other five practically seethe with jealousy, Leo had no intention of backing down from any of them. Despite his desire not to be disliked by Hera or seem petty, he made a concerted effort to avoid causing trouble. He made efforts to avoid causing trouble, yet he was prepared to exploit situations where they troubled him to garner sympathy and portray himself as a victim.

He remained silent but gazed at Hera with an aggrieved expression, then looked down, expressing his remorse for what had transpired earlier. Dave’s words had stirred up memories of their private moment in the room, a shared experience known only to the two of them. Leo appeared bashful and conflicted, lowering his head in a mix of emotions.

Observing Leo in this state only solidified Dave’s suspicions and left the others feeling increasingly uneasy and curious. They were antsy to learn what had occurred but knew they couldn’t be too assertive about it.

Hera felt attacked by Dave for exposing her too much and decided to teach him a lesson for being a tattletale. She reminded him of something she knew he hadn’t told his friends. “Dave, last night…”

Hera had barely begun her sentence when Dave exclaimed loudly, his voice overlapping with hers as he nervously waved his hands in front of her to stop her from talking. He knew exactly what Hera was about to reveal—that he had climbed into her bed last night. If the other men found out, he was certain they would shred him to pieces on the spot. Dave looked at Hera with pleading eyes, silently begging her to keep his secret. His expression conveyed a desperate promise to stay quiet if she spared him from the wrath of the five sharp glares now directed at him. Even Leo, who had been listening intently, seemed alarmed, realizing that Hera shared a secret with Dave as well, making it the second such secret among them.

Hera gave Dave a mischievous smile, causing him to break into a cold sweat. He realized he had said too much, putting both Hera and Leo in a difficult position. He could sense that his friends were now suspicious of what he might have done at Hera’s penthouse last night after they left him there. Feeling their piercing stares, Dave pretended not to notice, though it felt like needles were pricking his skin.

Xavier stepped forward. Being the youngest in the group, he wasn’t as restrained as the others. He approached Hera’s side and gently brushed her hair with his hand. “Are you alright? Can you share what happened?” His genuine worry and hurt were evident, making it difficult for Hera to push him away.

With Xavier bravely asking the question everyone else had been eager to pose despite Dave’s antics, six pairs of eyes turned to look at Hera.

“Do you want to tell them?” Zhane offered, gently rubbing the back of Hera’s hand. “If not, no one will force you. But if you want, I can explain the general gist to ease your discomfort.”

“We might be able to help too,” Luke said, his calming voice dispelling the awkwardness in the air. He offered his hands, ready to assist with any issue. Luke, Rafael, and Xavier sensed that something serious had happened, given the guarded but understanding expressions on Zhane and Dave’s faces. It was clear that whatever had transpired wasn’t Leo’s fault and that there was more to the story than they were letting on.

Hera thought long and hard about whether she truly wanted their help. While she pondered, no one interrupted her. The room remained silent, each person understanding that Hera had much to consider and respecting her need for quiet reflection.

After a few minutes of silence, Hera spoke up. “I appreciate that you’re all willing to help,” she began, her voice steady. “But I don’t want to drag you into this. I know that one way or another, you and your families are connected to the Lennons, whether socially or in business. I don’t want to put you in a difficult position. I’ve got this. Your support means the world to me.” She finished with a composed and determined smile.

Yes, she had the Avery family backing her and Athena had support from both families, but if her suspicions were correct and Tyler Lennon was targeting powerful families through their heiresses, the situation was more complex. The Avery Consortium was indeed a major conglomerate with many allies, but they also had many rivals eager to take them down. Despite their significant influence, if numerous families united against them, it could result in a prolonged economic tug-of-war, with one side inevitably losing.

In the novel, this was precisely how the male leads dealt with the Avery family. They banded together, leveraging their connections and power to turn others against the Avery. Similarly, others attempted to do the same when her parents died, knowing that the Avery family was weakened without their two strong swords and shields, the generals who had been paving the path.

This was why her grandfather was too busy to even look after her; they wanted to wear him down. While Lennon’s motives might differ, aiming primarily to elevate his own position, everyone was striving for the same goal: growing their power by expanding their alliances. Although Lennon’s methods were unorthodox and underhanded, the outcome would ultimately be the same.

If she used the Avery’s influence to suppress the Lennons and teach them a lesson, she was certain they wouldn’t back down. They would likely fight back even if she provided solid evidence. Hera believed the Lennons were arrogant and bold, and their willingness to pull this trick in the Avery’s territory suggested they weren’t afraid of the repercussions.

Turning down the male leads’ help was actually a reverse psychology tactic. Zhane had just declared his interest in her and even spoke for the rest, indicating that she had successfully garnered their attention. Even without love, their possessiveness and protectiveness over what they considered theirs would surely drive them to take action. By refusing their assistance and expressing concern about bringing trouble to them, she was confident it would only make them more eager to help her.