The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 353

Chapter 353: Chapter 353 You Are?
But before Bry’s father could maneuver the truck to give the black jeep some space to move forward, the jeep’s driver had already stormed out from the back door, face red with rage. He began kicking the truck’s tires and cursing loudly, even attempting to break the truck’s glass. Bry was frightened but held back his tears. Fortunately, there was a security post nearby, and the guards quickly intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.

Bry’s father stepped out of the truck to apologize, but the jeep’s owner only grew more aggressive, hurling insults, curses, and even threats, which only prolonged the delay. When Hera arrived, she took in the scene and felt an overwhelming urge to kick the man, who was behaving like a spoiled, tantrum-throwing child.

Bry’s father hung his head, silently enduring the barrage of insults without attempting to defuse the situation, which had devolved into verbal abuse. He was wary of escalating the conflict, knowing that the people frequenting the Avery Racecourse were not only wealthy but also wielded significant power. He feared that any confrontation could bring unwanted trouble for Hera.

He didn’t want to be presumptuous and risk causing trouble for Hera, who was only there to try her luck. He feared that offending someone from such a powerful and influential place could jeopardize Hera’s future in the entertainment industry. So, he chose to swallow his pride, accept the blame, and take responsibility for the situation.

Not until Hera herself stepped in did the situation begin to ease. “What’s going on here?” she asked, her tone neutral and curious, without a hint of humility or authority. She aimed to avoid appearing as if she was siding with anyone, instead adopting the role of a neutral observer. To be an effective peacemaker, she knew she needed to remain unbiased and not show favoritism.

The man erupted with rage when he saw someone intervening in his tirade. “Who the hell are you?” he spat, swiveling from Bry’s father to Hera. But when his eyes landed on her face, his anger seemed to catch in his throat, and he fell silent immediately.

Hera was momentarily taken aback by his reaction and tilted her head to study him more closely. He was a stranger to her, and she didn’t recognize him at all. As she dismissed the thought that he might be someone she knew, the man continued to stare at her, his movements faltering. He even paused in his attempts to shake off the security guards who were trying to prevent him from escalating the altercation.

“You’re Hera, aren’t you?” His voice shifted to one of excitement as he stared at her. The earlier aggression vanished, replaced by a friendly and enthusiastic demeanor.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” Hera asked awkwardly, not wanting to dismiss the man outright. He appeared to be around her age, with a rebellious aura. Dressed in a leather jacket and pants, with aqua-blue dyed hair and piercings, he looked more like a rockstar than someone she recognized. Although he was handsome in his own way, his style was not quite to Hera’s taste.

She couldn’t recall ever meeting the man, so she assumed he might be one of her fans. Not wanting to come across as narcissistic, she refrained from mentioning it and waited for him to introduce himself. Although he appeared slightly disappointed that Hera didn’t immediately recognize him, which struck her as unusual, he still proceeded with his introduction.

“Hi, I’m not sure if you remember me, but I was from Class C, your neighboring class. You helped me a few times with bullies who tried to steal my allowance and beat me up,” he said with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his head.

Hera raised an eyebrow, struggling to remember him. Throughout her life, she had frequently helped people, especially when it came to standing up against bullies. It was a cause she couldn’t ignore, but his face still didn’t seem familiar.

She had also been bullied at times by girls who were jealous of her looks and academic success, or who had crushes on Alexi. These experiences were part of what motivated her to learn martial arts and self-defense.

Since she had helped many people over the years, she couldn’t remember all of them. At the time, she had been just a passerby and hadn’t taken her actions seriously, as she didn’t expect anything in return—it was simply what she believed a decent person should do.

“How about we go in first?” Hera suggested, glancing at the growing line of impatient cars forming behind them. She didn’t want to dwell on the past and cause a delay for other customers at the racecourse.

The man nodded eagerly, his expression brightening like a pleased puppy. He quickly hopped into his jeep, maneuvering it out of the way. The jeep had a noticeable dent from where the truck had hit it, and the truck itself had a larger dent and damaged headlights. However, since the man had stopped causing trouble, Bry’s father chose not to pursue the matter further. With the truck’s damage being the least of his concerns, he focused on pacifying the young man and defusing the situation when they entered the facility.

Bry’s father gave Hera a grateful glance before getting back into his truck and driving away. After ensuring that no further issues would arise, Hera began to return to her car. However, the security guards stopped her to apologize and thank her for intervening. They personally escorted her back to her vehicle, to show their respect for her.

Before she could get back into her car, a sudden wave of tension washed over her. Her hair stood on end and goosebumps prickled her skin. She had the unsettling feeling of being watched as if she were a small rabbit being tracked by a predator.

She glanced discreetly behind her at the line of cars, but with so many vehicles around, she couldn’t determine if the unsettling feeling came from them or somewhere else. Not wanting to remain exposed to that eerie stare, she quickly got into her car and followed Bry’s father’s truck to the parking lot.

She parked a few feet away from Bry’s father’s truck, and before she could even get out, the man from earlier had already approached her car, looking at her with a cheerful expression. Hera responded with a polite smile as she stepped out. Noticing his earlier behavior might have been intrusive, the man quickly took a step back to give her some space.

He didn’t speak until Hera made the first move, but he followed her every step like a lost puppy. Reluctantly, Hera stopped and turned to him. “To be honest, I don’t remember many people from high school,” she said. “I was so focused on my part-time jobs and studies that I barely recall my classmates. If I did help you back then, please don’t dwell on it. It was something I did for myself and my own sense of conscience, not for recognition or repayment.”

Although Hera didn’t want to come across as rude, she felt it was necessary to clarify her position. She didn’t want the man to hold her in unrealistic regard as a savior or to cling to her just because of something she did years ago. She didn’t want to be burdened by the weight of gratitude for something that happened so long ago. and just happened in passing

“I’ve always known you were a kind soul,” he said proudly, puffing out his chest. “But repaying the kindness I received is something I feel I must do. Your help from before inspired me to change and become a bit braver.”

Hera raised an eyebrow and looked him straight in the eye. ‘Brave enough to pick a fight so early in the morning, despite being at fault for the accident,’ she thought to herself. ‘I wonder if I’ve done more to damage to him than to help him grow into a better person?’ As she stared at him, she felt a strange twist of frustration and disappointment.

Noticing the strange expression on Hera’s face, his own grew tense and flushed. He didn’t know where to put his hands, realizing his earlier mistake. Instead of making a positive impression on his idol, he had only managed to leave a negative one.

He wanted to say something, but Hera had already walked away, leaving him rooted to the spot. Despite his frustration, he followed her a few steps, only to see her meet up with the man he had just verbally abused—someone he had unfairly treated as a target for his morning anger and frustration.

He felt his body grow tense and cold as the blood drained from his face.