The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Plans for the Reunion
“What?! Are you badmouthing me to my face?!” Athena exclaimed, feigning anger.

“Haha, no, I’m just saying you’ve got some serious verbal firepower when it comes to taking down opponents,” Hera laughed.

Despite Athena’s initial skepticism, she decided to let the questionable compliment slide, recognizing its underlying truth.

“So, when’s the big day?” Hera inquired casually, taking a delicate sip of her tea.

“They’ve set it for tomorrow,” Athena replied calmly.

Hera nearly choked on her tea at the suddenness of the news. “Tomorrow? Why the rush?” she exclaimed.

“Well, I don’t think it’s rushed. In fact, I have my own theory,” Athena said mysteriously, inspecting her nails.

“Don’t tell me… they hadn’t planned to include us initially?” Hera guessed, dabbing her mouth with a tissue.

“Ugh! Why bother asking if you already knew?” Athena retorted, slightly exasperated.

“I didn’t, but considering they didn’t invite us last year, it seemed a plausible possibility,” Hera explained.

“Don’t you get the feeling something’s happening tomorrow?” Athena inquired, her intuition tingling.

“Quite likely. They wouldn’t suddenly warm up to us after a year of neglect, would they?” Hera responded, her tone unwavering despite the suspicion. “Did you happen to inquire about the venue for the reunion?” she added.

“Yes, they mentioned it’ll be at the Dragon Palace Hotel,” Athena confirmed.

Hera chuckled softly before remarking, “Then why fret? Remember, they’ll be stepping into our territory.”

It was only then that Athena grasped Hera’s implication. “Don’t tell me…” Her eyes widened with excitement, her curiosity piqued.

Hera nodded knowingly. She had meticulously reviewed the list of companies under their jurisdiction the previous night, ensuring she could identify her own associates while out and about. The task was daunting, the list seemingly endless, but Hera was determined to familiarize herself with each entity, one step at a time.

Athena could barely contain her excitement. “We’ll definitely be there. I’ll inform them right away,” she exclaimed, her grin stretching from ear to ear.

“Good plan. I’ll also have Gerald keep a watchful eye tomorrow, just to ensure we’re prepared for whatever they’re up to,” Hera declared with a smirk. She was determined to maintain her composure; after all, she knew better than to provoke unnecessary conflict. ‘As the saying goes, even cornered rabbits will bite – and a sleeping lioness even more so.’

Hera wasted no time and promptly texted Gerald her instructions. True to his duties, Gerald didn’t disappoint; he swiftly replied with his agreement and immediately sprang into action. It was evident that he was eager to prove himself with this initial task.

The previous night, after adding their boss to the group chat and exchanging greetings, everyone expressed their enthusiasm. They were all committed to completing their respective tasks, regardless of their location around the globe, in order to meet with their boss in person.

As they chatted over tea, the time waiting for their ordered dishes seemed to slip away effortlessly. To cleanse their palates after indulging in heavily seasoned spicy seafood and beef dishes, they opted for a refreshing vegetable soup. The dinner proved to be truly delightful, and they continued eating until they could manage no more.

“Babe, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Athena began, savoring the lingering flavors of their meal as she sipped her tea.

“Hmm? What’s on your mind?” Hera replied, glancing at Athena before taking a sip and settling back comfortably.

“I’ve noticed we’ve been eating quite a bit lately, yet I haven’t seen you gain any weight, whereas I’ve gained a few pounds,” Athena remarked, studying Hera thoughtfully. Then, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she added, “Maybe all that food you’ve been consuming has decided to settle in your… um, assets?”

Hera erupted into laughter before responding, “Girl, you’re lucky you transmigrated as a woman; otherwise, you’d be facing charges of sexual harassment.”

“If I were a guy, I could easily snag a girlfriend and tease her endlessly, and she’d adore it. You catch my drift,” Athena quipped with a mischievous grin. “But on a serious note, my waistline seems to be expanding rapidly, whereas your curves are just perfection. I’m green with envy.”

“Why envy me? With your figure, you could rock any outfit effortlessly, whereas I’d be second-guessing every time I wear something revealing, fearing judgment,” Hera lamented.

“You make a valid point. A woman’s body is incomparable; it’s all about confidence and finding someone who truly values them,” Athena remarked thoughtfully.

“Is this wisdom from your days of pillaging in another world?” Hera teased, a playful glint in her eye.

“Whatever…” Athena responded, rolling her eyes good-naturedly.

After their enjoyable conversation and a leisurely stroll around the mall to aid digestion, they decided to head home to prepare for tomorrow’s reunion. Athena dropped Hera off at the Avery mansion before continuing on to her own home.

On the other side of the city…

Upon arriving home from a night out with his friends, Rafael was immediately greeted with a confrontation from his own sister. She sat on the sofa, her expression livid, as though she were ready to devour someone with her anger.

Having just managed to unwind from work and other concerns, Rafael found himself thrust into trouble the moment he stepped through the door. Attempting to ignore his sister and head upstairs, she intercepted him, blocking his path to the stairs.

“What is it now?” he asked, rubbing his temple in an attempt to keep his composure and refrain from lashing out at his sister.

“Why did you help her?” Minerva asked through gritted teeth, her frustration palpable.

“Help who? What are you talking about?” Rafael’s confusion deepened at his sister’s accusations.

“Don’t play dumb! You scolded me this morning for standing up against Hera’s friend!” Minerva’s voice rose accusingly.

“Hera? Her friend? I didn’t do anything of the sort,” Rafael countered, his frustration evident in his furrowed brow and simmering temper. Seeing his agitation, Minerva felt a pang of fear and retreated slightly, attempting to cut to the chase.

“You were upset with me this morning because I was trying to buy Hera’s friend’s car!” Minerva’s voice trembled as she fought back tears. She couldn’t shake the feeling that her brother had chosen an outsider over his own sister, and it hurt deeply.

“Hera? Her friend? I never said a word about that,” Rafael insisted, hoping to put an end to his sister’s unfounded accusations.

“Didn’t you send me this text after I had an altercation with her friend?!” She confronted him, displaying the message on her phone as evidence.

As Rafael pieced together Minerva’s accusations with the recent call he had with the general manager from A&D Car Dealership Co., mentioning their CEO’s niece returning from experiencing life outside, he realized she was referring to Hera. With this connection made, he gently approached Minerva, who was now shedding silent tears of frustration, attempting to calm her before seeking clarification.

Once Minerva had composed herself somewhat, Rafael gently inquired, “So, just to confirm, you’re saying that Hera’s friend owns the car? Are you certain?”

Minerva nodded, still bewildered. “Yes. Hera was even there with Athena.”

“Ah, you’re referring to the petite girl who never seems to stop talking?” Rafael sought further confirmation.

Minerva could only manage a nod, recalling Athena’s annoyingly loud nature.

Rafael sank into deep contemplation, reflecting on the luxurious attire and upscale dining choices of Hera and her friend. If Hera’s friend truly was CEO Jackson’s niece, it would explain their presence in such an opulent place. Rafael couldn’t help but speculate that perhaps Hera’s friend had provided her with the lavish clothing and accessories. However, even as he pieced together these details, Rafael couldn’t shake the nagging concern that his sister’s actions may have unwittingly placed them in a precarious situation.

As the head of their family, CEO Jackson wielded significant power, backed by the formidable support of his sister’s in-laws, the influential Lowry family. This alliance posed a formidable threat, particularly if Hera’s friend turned out to be the sole daughter of the Lowrys. Given their family’s comparable standing to the Jacksons, Rafael couldn’t ignore the potential implications of his sister’s conflict with Hera’s friend.

He glared at his sister. “Were you aware of the identity of that girl with Hera?” He asked, his voice laced with deep anger.

Minerva trembled in fear as she noticed her brother’s tone shift, becoming noticeably colder. “N-no,” she stammered, shaking her head vigorously. Despite her fear, she attempted to defend herself, even though she was unsure of what had triggered her brother’s anger. “I heard she’s just a regular college student, working at a fashion magazine and driving her modest Honda Civic to work and school. She’s never been one to spend extravagantly, but earlier she seemed to be behaving differently,” she explained, a flicker of realization crossing her mind. “It might have something to do with Hera and her sugar daddy,” she concluded with a hint of certainty.

Rafael was utterly taken aback to learn of Hera’s alleged sugar daddy, a revelation that could potentially explain her extravagant lifestyle. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment upon hearing that about her.

With a heavy tone, he added, “Despite my warnings, you’ve chosen to involve yourself in her affairs. Starting tomorrow, consider yourself grounded. Should you attempt to leave this house against my orders, don’t bother returning. You’ll be cut off from the family.”

Determined to instill a lesson and rectify his sister’s misbehavior, Rafael inadvertently stoked her animosity toward Hera.

Unable to dwell on the situation for long, Rafael retreated to his study, where he promptly instructed his assistant to launch an investigation into both Hera and Athena. Recognizing the danger of blindly trusting his sister’s accusations, especially given her previous misjudgment of Athena’s background, Rafael felt a profound sense of confusion. He hoped to mitigate any potential harm his sister’s actions may have caused, striving to protect their family from the fallout.

Despite his attempt to unwind, Rafael found himself already overwhelmed with stress. With a heavy sigh, he reluctantly returned to his work.