The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 282

Chapter 282: Chapter 282 Acceptance
Hera didn’t wait for Lucas and promptly led Logan back to where her car was parked.

When they got into the car, Hera ensured that both she and Logan were properly seated and buckled up before she smirked triumphantly. “See how I handled Lucas? You don’t have to be openly hostile to deliver a blow. Sometimes, the most effective and heaviest strike is the one that seems innocent and unintended.” Hera then giggled mischievously.

‘It seems Athena has really corrupted me,’ Hera thought as she drove away from that street.

Logan fell silent, lost in contemplation, but something in him seemed to change. Hera chose not to delve deeper, focusing instead on driving him directly to the address. When they arrived, she left him to his thoughts as he entered his new unit. Betty had ensured he had a spacious apartment fully furnished befitting an A-lister, complete with a high-end nanny van for convenient travel.

Betty also arranged for a competent assistant to arrive the next day, reassuring Hera that Logan would be well-supported. With this peace of mind, she felt comfortable leaving Logan on his own for now, allowing her to focus on matters she had been putting aside for a while.

After bringing Logan to his new place, Hera returned to her own penthouse. Her bodyguards, now openly surrounding her car like a convoy, ensured that no one could try anything suspicious. She allowed this security detail to remain in place until she reached the gate of the Green Dragon Manor and went straight to the parking garage Dragon Jade Building and only then did her bodyguard disperse.

“Hera?!” someone called from the shadows, instantly putting her on high alert. She turned around with vigilance, keeping her distance from the source of the voice.

“It’s me.” The owner of the voice stepped closer to Hera, momentarily pausing to confirm that the person who had exited the Bugatti La Voiture Noire was indeed her. Once certain, he approached quickly, his molten golden eyes gleaming in the shadows like stars sparkling in the night sky.

There was only one person she knew with such beautiful golden orbs for eyes. “Luke?”

“Yes.” Luke’s voice was gentle yet sensual, tugging at Hera’s heart. She wasn’t sure if it was exhaustion making her lower her guard or if she was genuinely starting to warm up to the male leads.

“What are you doing here at this hour?” Hera asked before Luke could get closer to her.

“I was called in for an emergency meeting two hours ago, and I’m just now getting back. You look really tired.” Luke quickened his pace, coming closer to Hera and gently holding her arm to support her.

Hera glanced up at him with an appreciative look. She was indeed tired, both mentally and physically, and she just wanted to crash into her bed now. “Thank you,” Hera said, barely above a whisper.

“Don’t mention it,” Luke replied softly, supporting Hera as they walked slowly towards the elevator. Part of him wanted to sweep her up in a princess-style carry, but he restrained himself; he didn’t want to risk coming across like Rafael or Dave. Instead, he focused on being gentlemanly and providing Hera with the comfort she needed.

“You must be very busy.” Hera said, trying to start a conversation so it would feel awkward since there were only the two of them in the dimly lit parking lot.

Luke could sense Hera’s nervousness, and he chuckled softly, aware of his own inner struggle to maintain control, and reminded himself to maintain his composure and not act impulsively. He fought the urge to sweep her off her feet, mindful of not succumbing to the desire to kiss Hera passionately. Despite his self-control, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was falling behind compared to his friends. A hint of impatience crept in, knowing they might win her over if he hesitated.

“I thought you were out for dinner with Dave and Rafael?” Luke asked casually, trying to avoid sounding jealous or possessive. Then, realizing the need to clarify, he added, “They happened to mention it during our discussion about the scandal targeting you.”

“You believe they’re targeting me? Isn’t it true, though?” Hera responded, her voice and expression neutral, masking her thoughts.

Luke chuckled softly. “Even if it is true, it’s not your problem. We all took a chance at the same time. What can we do? You’re too good to resist, and all of us are worried that if we blink, someone else will sweep you off your feet.” He shrugged nonchalantly but his eyes gleamed with seriousness.

Hera glanced up at Luke, surprised by his answer, and couldn’t help but laugh a little to herself. ‘No wonder this is a reverse harem novel’, she thought, shaking her head.

Unlike Luke, who was wrestling with inner turmoil, Hera had already come to terms with herself. She accepted that no matter which path she chose, survival meant she couldn’t avoid entanglements with the male leads. At the same time, she was reluctant to let go of Leo, feeling a greediness to retain what they shared. Now, she simply wanted to go with the flow, embracing both the benefits and struggles that came with stealing the female lead’s fate.

This was the path she had chosen to walk, and so she resolved to accept everything that came with it. Now that her decision was made, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders and a newfound sense of happiness. If this couldn’t deter her, she believed nothing could.

“I see you guys were discussing the scandal. Any updates on that?” Hera chuckled as she asked, the atmosphere between them lightening.

“Yes, actually… The whole topic has been deleted, and now netizens are buzzing about something else entirely,” Luke answered with a smile, glancing at her expectantly, hoping for some praise.

“New topic?” Hera asked with raised eyebrows, the elevator falling into a brief silence as Luke searched for the right way to explain what had happened to her.

“We… I mean, me and the other five, just played around a bit, and because of it, the whole topic has turned into a shipping battle about which one of us suits you better, and it’s actually boosted your popularity.” Luke replied with a fond look, gently rubbing the top of her head.

Hera looked up at Luke for a moment, blinking a few times before bursting into laughter. ‘I haven’t even done anything, and these guys have managed to sort out the issue themselves without harming my career. Instead, they’ve boosted it up. That’s some serious ‘male lead halo’ effect.’

Luke smiled happily as he watched Hera laugh, her eyes brimming with happy tears as she imagined what had transpired online in her absence. If only he had known she would be this delighted, they might not have kept it from her and let her witness the online saga unfold alongside them.

“You mean, you, Rafael, Zhane, Xavier, Dave, and Leo all worked together to bury the hatchet without the netizens knowing?” Hera asked, still laughing as she imagined the scene.

Luke nodded, his eyes narrowing with a smile as he joined in her happiness. Right now, Hera felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, knowing that one of her immediate problems had been solved.