The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 374

Chapter 374: Chapter 374 My Fiancé?
“Besides, even my family can’t control me. So why do you think you can?” Dave shot a pointed glare at the Korean Dignitary and his granddaughter, clearly indicating his awareness of their intentions. If they believed that his laid-back demeanor and disinterest meant they could waltz into his territory and manipulate him, they were seriously underestimating him and overestimating their own selves.

Even his own grandfather had failed to control him and had long since given up trying. And now, a few deluded individuals from other countries thought they could bind him with a marriage alliance? He would be out of his mind to allow this, especially in front of the woman he was trying to court.

Especially now, with his frustration from failing to make a good impression on Hera, he was on edge. The two of them had arrived just in time to become his stress reliever, and frankly, they were asking for it.

The girl who had been pitifully sobbing in front of them suddenly fell silent, too stunned to process Dave’s words. Doubt crept in as she questioned whether she had heard him correctly. She stared at Dave, dumbfounded, but his mocking grin made it clear that he wasn’t joking—he was speaking the truth.

She hesitantly glanced back at her grandfather, only to find the same shock etched on his face. He, too, hadn’t anticipated that Dave would speak so bluntly and without regard for their feelings. It was clear that Dave was deliberately trying to embarrass them. Meanwhile, a growing crowd had begun to gather nearby, subtly eavesdropping while pretending to be occupied with their own affairs.

As members of the upper circle, they had to maintain their image. Despite their eagerness to join in the fun and openly listen to the confrontation, they couldn’t do so without compromising their facade. Instead, they settled for pretending indifference, all the while brimming with excitement to hear the latest juicy gossip.

Seeing that the Korean Dignitary’s side was losing and that a crowd had gathered to listen, Sienna seized the opportunity to cast herself as the victim, aiming to sway public opinion in her favor and apply pressure on Hera. “Hera Ainsley! You really succeeded in seducing men huh?! Not only did you steal my fiancé, but now you’re even trying to take someone else’s marriage partner, which would have strengthened ties between our nations. Are you so desperate to be fucked by men that you don’t even care about what’s best for the country?” Sienna’s sneer and mocking remarks were delivered with such volume that everyone eavesdropping felt the gossip practically vibrate through their ears.

At the same time, they felt a sense of discomfort after hearing Sienna speak so vulgarly in public. Her crude language was difficult for them to process, as it was far from the decorum expected of their social standing. Such behavior was deemed inappropriate and contrary to their upbringing, causing them to view Sienna as the one who was truly beneath them, rather than Hera.

Upon hearing Sienna’s claim, Hera slowly turned to face Zhane. He met her gaze with a calm, doting smile, as if he were entirely unconcerned by the situation and the focus of Sienna’s accusations. It was clear that Zhane was leaving the matter to Dave, who was already standing ready to address all the issues.

Hera raised an eyebrow at Zhane, questioning him silently, but chose not to speak. A teasing smile slowly spread across her lips. Zhane, remaining calm, gently rubbed Hera’s cheek with his thumb before responding. “You know how much of a workaholic I am. I’ve been so focused on my work and research to improve myself that I haven’t had time for anything else—definitely not romance.” He shrugged as if it were of no concern to him, showing no regret. “But unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for my mom and family.”

“As the sole heir of my clan and a distinguished doctor who has brought much pride and honor to my family, they were concerned that I was too focused on my work and neglecting my future. My mother, in particular, was frantic in her search for a suitable and reputable marriage partner for me, who’s sensible and kind-hearted.”

“Although I didn’t agree, I also didn’t actively oppose it because I simply didn’t care. My mom took my indifference as consent and went ahead to find a match. The Lennon family showed vague interest but acted as if it were my family and I desperately seeking to marry their daughter. Fortunately, when my family discovered that I was already interested in someone else, they ceased their efforts, and my mother stopped pursuing other families.” Zhane made sure to explain the situation clearly, ensuring Hera wouldn’t misunderstand his position.

Hera nodded in understanding, already familiar with this from the novel. Zhane was indeed a workaholic, rarely going home, let alone seeking out a woman to date. When he wasn’t working, he would only go out with friends to unwind briefly before diving back into his work, which consumed so much of his time that he often couldn’t even get a full eight hours of sleep.

His family members were all worried about him. They believed that if he had a wife, she might take care of him, help him unwind from work, and encourage him to take things easier. They hoped that having a family might help him learn to balance his work and personal life.

After Zhane’s explanation, his voice, though not as loud as Dave’s during the confrontation, cut through the eerie silence that had settled around them due to Sienna’s uncomfortable remarks. His words were delivered with clear precision, and the impact was like a bombshell in the tense atmosphere. Most of the eavesdroppers heard him, and his remarks hit with such force that it left their minds reeling.

Everyone had believed there was a genuine arranged engagement between the Lennons and the Everetts, given the Everetts’ constant sending of expensive gifts to the Lennons to ensure they wouldn’t back out. However, if what Zhane said was true, it meant that the Lennons were actively fueling the gossip about this non-existent engagement. They had been pretending that the Everetts were eagerly pursuing the match, which led many smaller families to fawn over the Lennons in hopes of gaining favor. These families anticipated that once the Lennons and Everetts were officially united, they would benefit from the resulting favors and opportunities.

Even prominent families had chosen to collaborate with the Lennons to forge alliances before the union of the two families. They hoped to secure their place in the social hierarchy by aligning themselves with the Lennons, anticipating that they would benefit once the Lennons rose higher in the social ranks and be easily connected with the Everetts as well.

It seems that the Lennons played the Everetts, using their influence to partner with numerous businesses. This strategy allowed them to gain a strong foothold and accumulate wealth from the seemingly endless opportunities that the Everetts’ connections provided.

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