The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Chapter 288 Wanted to Soar High
With her words, Hera subtly conveyed to Luke that she had been on the phone with her best friend Athena, which had distracted her and caused her to lose track of time. Luke smiled gently at her but didn’t say anything. He then gestured for her to sit back down in her chair and helped pull it out for her, displaying his gentlemanly manners.

Luke studied Hera’s face silently, his gaze steady and unwavering. Hera could sense the intensity behind his eyes, as if he could see through her, right into her thoughts and emotions. She felt exposed, vulnerable under his scrutiny, as though he could discern every hidden aspect of her being with just a glance.

She felt goosebumps all over her body as Luke’s gaze persisted, causing her to feel increasingly nervous and fidgety. Fortunately, Gerald arrived just in time with the servers, who began serving the food. It was almost a relief—an interruption that provided Hera with an exit and prevented Luke from probing further into her thoughts.

But as these thoughts raced through her mind, Hera began to wonder if Luke had discovered something about her or had uncovered what she had been up to while she was away. She quickly pushed these suspicions aside, realizing that dwelling on them would only lead to overthinking. It was crucial not to let these nagging thoughts overshadow any potential clues that might arise during this critical time.

When the food arrived, Luke returned to his usual demeanor as if the intense moment had never occurred, and any hint of scrutiny had vanished. He effortlessly transitioned to serving Hera the newly arrived dishes. Grateful for his courteous gesture, Hera smiled warmly at Luke, appreciating how he continued to treat her with kindness throughout the meal.

When Hera took a bite of the Egg Benedict, she immediately sensed a familiar taste. Eggs Benedict typically had a consistent flavor, but this particular dish had a distinctive touch that triggered a sense of déjà vu. She blinked thoughtfully as she chewed, and then it dawned on her why it tasted so familiar. Her eyes widened as she glanced slowly over at Gerald.

She realized that the chef Gerald had mentioned was none other than the one who had served in her grandfather’s mansion, and who was also Hannah’s father. As she savored the food, her eyes crinkled with nostalgia. ‘Oh God,’ she thought, ‘I miss Uncle’s cooking! Not that Hannah’s is inferior, but they just have different methods and distinct tastes.’

Seeing her reaction, Gerald gave her a small nod before turning away, trying to contain his chuckle so as not to attract the attention of the ever-observant Luke. But Gerald’s effort came a little too late; Luke had noticed their subtle interaction and regarded Hera thoughtfully.

But even so, he pretended not to notice anything and continued to chat with Hera with genuine interest. He observed that Hera’s appetite seemed better that morning and couldn’t help but chuckle slightly as he served her more food, which she accepted happily with a warm smile on her lips.

Luke enjoyed their time during breakfast so much that when the time came for them to part ways—him to work and Hera to school—he felt reluctant to leave. However, he reluctantly bid farewell, not wanting to appear too eager in his efforts to woo Hera.

Hera set aside all other thoughts and dedicated herself to her school duties. After her first subject, she was summoned by her tutor, Mr. Fletcher, to his office to continue their discussion from where they had left off earlier. There, Hera was introduced to the select group of students he had chosen, mostly seniors and master’s candidates.

Those students were all well-known and talented individuals at the university, each having shown remarkable achievements. Initially anxious that Hera might feel burdened or overwhelmed by the pressure of working alongside such outstanding students, Mr. Fletcher was pleasantly surprised. Hera was ecstatic to meet her senior peers, many of whom had already begun internships at major companies and were achieving impressive results. Several had even received job offers and opportunities to study abroad, enhancing their future prospects.

She mingled with her senior peers, studying alongside them while Mr. Fletcher observed their interactions and occasionally interjected to guide their discussions. This served as a valuable networking opportunity for his students before entering the corporate world. Mr. Fletcher emphasized the importance of collaboration and mutual support among his students, encouraging them to strive for collective success rather than competing against each other which would lead to negative rivalry.

He could also see that Hera was well-liked, not just for her beauty, but for her respectful demeanor and ability to grasp the strengths of others’ arguments while gently correcting any misunderstandings. When both parties were mistaken, Mr. Fletcher intervened to steer them in the correct direction, fostering a productive learning environment.

“Professor! You surprised us by bringing in this adorable junior! She’s been a godsend. Now we’re not just a bunch of stinky academians—we can actually see and smell the flowers!” chuckled one of Mr. Fletcher’s senior students, prompting laughter from the others in the room.

“Professor! Now I understand the true meaning of ‘beauty and brains.’ I used to think God was fair—if someone’s good-looking, they might not be smart. But now I see my junior is both intelligent and beautiful, with a great personality to match! It’s like having a cute sibling—I’ve finally found the bliss of having a sibling, though sadly, my parents are too busy and too old to have another child,” another student added, jokingly.

“We can treat little Hera as our little sister from now on,” another added, and they all agreed. Little did they know, that treating Hera as their little sister would turn out to be one of the best decisions they made in their lives.

Hearing their exaggerated compliments made Hera giggle like a five-year-old, prompting everyone to laugh along with her. With Hera joining their group, their academic progress improved significantly. Hera brought a fresh perspective that differed from theirs, which not only clarified complicated theories but also opened new understandings and pathways for all of them.

Even Mr. Fletcher found himself enjoying the exchange, feeling like he was learning alongside his students and keeping his mind sharper than ever.

Others reluctantly left to attend their classes or prior engagements, but they all agreed to study together again soon. When everyone had left and Hera was alone with Mr. Fletcher, he continued to teach her one-on-one until her next class began.

And coincidentally, her next class was Business Fundamentals. Originally a finance student, Hera had made the decision to expand her knowledge and demonstrate her ability to lead the Avery Consortium without being compared to the stand-in her grandfather had hired. She had opted to pursue a double major in Business Administration alongside her Finance Major.

Fortunately, Hera had already completed all the non-major subjects for her Finance major during her first two years, leaving her with only a few major subjects remaining. The non-major subjects required for Business Administration were also manageable because some of them overlapped with her Finance major, making her academic load more streamlined.

After her classes, Hera had to excuse herself from mingling with her classmates to attend acting, dancing, and singing classes arranged by Betty. These sessions were crucial for Hera to develop the skills necessary to meet the contract requirements for the roles she was pursuing.