The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 390

Chapter 390: Chapter 390 Calling His Mom
Dave began to reconsider, having always assumed it was Leo leaking his location to keep him away from Hera. But now, after Zhane’s comment, a new thought took root—it was entirely possible that his own mother was behind it all.

Without wasting a moment, Dave called his mom right then and there, catching both Hera and Zhane off guard. Gerald, on the other hand, found the whole situation amusing, as he began to see the true colors of Hera’s suitors. Their antics entertained him on entirely different levels.

As soon as his call was answered, Dave jumped straight to the point. “Mom, I need to ask you something.” The tone of his voice must have given away his mood, as the person on the other end hesitated, sensing his urgency.

“What is it, sweetie?” came the gentle response. It was always a wonder to those around how such a sweet woman could have a son like Dave. People often joked that he must’ve hit his head as a child or fallen out of his crib without anyone noticing, considering how different his temperament and personality were from his brother’s—and even the rest of the family.

“Mom, are you the one giving my location to the Korean Dignitary or that woman?!” Dave’s tone, though phrased as a question, came off more like an accusation to anyone listening. He didn’t blink or waver, standing firm as he awaited her response.

Without any warning, a roar erupted from the other side of the phone.

“You brat! Do you really think I’d go around giving my goblin of a son’s location to just anyone? You’re already a pain in my ass! I’ve been trying to set you up with girls who have good upbringing, hoping they could turn you into a proper man! Hmph! If that had worked, I would’ve done it long ago, you goblin!”

The call abruptly ended. Dave, having pulled the phone away from his ear midway through the tirade, winced—his eardrum felt like it was about to burst from the deafening rant.

Hera was momentarily taken aback. She had always imagined Dave’s mother as sweet and gentle, coming from a scholarly family, just as she was portrayed in the novel. But now, it seemed clear where Dave had inherited his fiery temperament and bluntness.

It was kind of hilarious seeing Dave stumped and speechless after talking to someone else, and guess that the only person who could put him in his place was his mother.

Dave glanced back awkwardly at Hera and Zhane, but Zhane didn’t seem surprised at all—it was as if he was used to this. If only Dave had known he’d be scolded so harshly without gaining any useful information, he would have walked a bit farther before making the call. It dawned on him, though, that Zhane had deliberately led him into this, setting him up to call his mother and be reprimanded, all as payback for speaking ill of him in front of Hera and exploiting the situation.

Dave glared at Zhane, but he found himself at a loss for words. He couldn’t even muster a response to argue with Zhane, realizing that Zhane hadn’t forced him to believe anything—he had merely made a valid point and planted a seed of doubt. Yet that small doubt was enough to make Dave’s confidence falter quickly.

Reflecting on it more carefully, Dave realized it was highly unlikely that his mother even knew where he was. If she had known, she wouldn’t have spent months organizing blind dates and working so hard to find suitable matches for him. And if he hadn’t attended those dates, she would have definitely shown up in person to drag him to the meetings herself.

Dave’s eyes narrowed as the realization hit him, and frustration welled up inside him. He had walked right into Zhane’s trap without even realizing it. He hadn’t expected Zhane to be so sly, which is why he had taken his words at face value.

Dave gritted his teeth and pursed his lips, his gaze fixed sharply on Zhane. The usual mischievous glint in his eyes had turned serious. He had to admit that Zhane had outmaneuvered him. Dave had let his guard down, frustrated by the constant, seemingly coincidental appearances of the Korean Dignitary and his granddaughter, which, in hindsight, had been anything but random.

In his eagerness to shake off the two of them, he hadn’t paused to think. But judging by his mother’s reaction, it was clear she wasn’t the one tracking his location either. This only confirmed that his initial suspicion had been correct.

And that, my friend, is the reason why Leo hasn’t been showing up his face all this time even when he really wanted to see Hera so much, more than anyone.

Due to the suspicions surrounding his scheme against the male leads, he found himself inundated with trouble, having to handle the fallout from every direction without respite. However, it wasn’t just a matter of retaliation. They were also determined to uncover Leo’s true background—whether he was indeed just a manager as he claimed or if he was something entirely different, as they suspected.

After a moment of surprise, Hera burst into giggles. In the novel, not even Alice could manage to put Dave in his place, so it was quite amusing to see his mother achieve it so effortlessly. Hera’s laughter delighted her, and Dave, realizing she was laughing at him, could do nothing but slump his shoulders in defeat as he looked at her smiling.

Gerald bade them farewell, and Dave drove Zhane back to the hospital to discuss the plan Zhane and Leo had been working on. Meanwhile, Bry and his father parted ways with Hera and the manager. Bry, brimming with energy, chattered incessantly with his father on their way home, while the manager stayed at the Pavilion to catch up with Gerald.

Once everything was wrapped up, Hera drove her Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail back to the university. As usual, the car drew attention wherever she went, making heads turn as she arrived on campus. Her high-profile arrival only reinforced the rumors about her being a missing heiress or an illegitimate child.

Hera and Betty let the wild speculation swirl online, understanding that, despite its negativity, it still served as publicity. Betty had complete confidence in Hera’s ability to turn this attention to her advantage, trusting that Hera would make the most of the situation one way or another.

Following the incident between Hera and Alice at the campus revote for the new campus Bell, which escalated into a slander case, no one wanted to revisit the past. Everyone acted as if nothing had happened and continued to treat Hera as the campus Bell. In fact, the controversy only boosted Hera’s popularity at school.

Previously, her busy schedule with part-time jobs had left her looking haggard and her beauty often overlooked. Now, with the increased attention, her popularity soared as she became more prominent and noticed.

Now that Hera was practically glowing and dressed impeccably, her beauty was even more pronounced. The saying “clothes make the man” proved true, as she was treated like the celebrity she had become. Her fanbase continued to grow steadily, with students frequently stopping her for autographs or photos. Hera handled these encounters with patience, offering polite nods and smiles, which were warmly received by everyone.