The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Class Reunion
As they reached the ground floor, Rafael couldn’t help but notice an increasing crowd gathering near the entrance of their building. Irritation prickled at him, suspecting the paparazzi were swarming once more. He swiftly directed his security team to clear the unrelated individuals from the entrance of the premises.

Rafael and Hera remained stationary as the security team dispersed the crowd congregating near the entrance. It soon became apparent that the people were snapping pictures of Hera’s sleek car parked nearby. Word had spread like wildfire after it was shared in the company group chat, drawing car enthusiasts eager to catch a glimpse firsthand.

Hera considered telling Rafael he could leave and didn’t need to wait for her, but she caught a glimmer of something in his eyes, a spark of interest perhaps, despite his composed exterior. His expression remained unchanged, seemingly unaffected, yet his eyes revealed a different story, betraying a hint of emotion he tried to conceal.

“Do you have a passion for collecting cars?” Hera inquired, studying Rafael’s face for any subtle reactions. Indeed, she noticed a slight twitch in his lips as she mentioned cars, suggesting he might be holding back on something he wanted to say.

The arrival of one hypercar at the entrance was sufficient to captivate the attention of car enthusiasts. However, their astonishment grew as another hypercar pulled up, prompting the onlookers to part like the seas did for Noah in the Bible, allowing the vehicle to pass through and park beside the Bugatti La Voiture Noire.

Rafael, typically disinterested in anything beyond work, now sported an excited gleam in his eyes, akin to a child spotting their favorite toy waving at them. Witnessing this rare display of enthusiasm from Rafael, Hera couldn’t help but chuckle and remarked, “What a cool and handsome car.”

Rafael cast a sidelong glance at Hera before returning his gaze to the cars at the entrance. “Do you have a passion for cars?”

“I may not be a car enthusiast, but I certainly appreciate a good car,” Hera replied, joining Rafael in admiring her stylish new cars.

The two of them stood there for a while, Athena growing impatient with Hera’s lingering inside the building while staring out. Eventually, Athena had enough waiting and stepped out of her car, striding directly toward Hera.

As soon as she reached her best friend, Athena inquired, “Babe, what’s taking you so long?” She then turned to Rafael and greeted him with a polite nod. “Good afternoon, Mr. Briley. We’ll be setting off now.”

Upon seeing Athena’s car, Rafael finally understood why his sister was so insistent on acquiring it—it truly was an impressive ride.

He assumed Athena was there to pick up Hera, so he nodded at them both before saying, “Thank you for your time, Miss Ainsley. Safe travels.”

Hera nodded back at him before walking off with Athena. When they were a considerable distance from Rafael, Athena couldn’t resist a teasing remark, “I see you’re really going for the humble and modest look today.” She glanced at her watch and added, “So humble that even your watch costs a million dollars.”

“Don’t exaggerate things; I know I got carried away with dressing up,” Hera replied defensively.

“Well, yeah, maybe not a million, but close enough, right?” Athena retorted with a teasing smile plastered on her face.

“You’re not one to talk; that necklace you’re wearing looks equally expensive,” Hera shot back.

“Alright, we both got carried away. I simply found it stunning and it matched my dress perfectly,” Athena said briskly, making a quick exit to her car, eager to avoid Hera’s rebuttals.

As Athena’s car was parked beside the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, Rafael initially assumed Hera would join her in the passenger seat of the Bugatti Chiron. However, he was surprised to see Hera enter the even more expensive matte black Bugatti.

Momentarily stunned, Rafael watched as both cars drove off in tandem, following each other’s lead. He mused that Athena likely wasn’t aware of the true value of the cars, allowing her best friend to freely pick one from their garage. Hera, by chance, selected one of the most expensive and rare models. Nodding at this realization, he returned to his office on the top floor.

The two Bugattis roared through the streets, turning heads as they sped towards the Dragon Palace Hotel. Fortunately, the roads were clear, granting them the freedom to relish in the thrill of driving their new cars.

At the hotel, attendees of the class reunion gathered at the entrance, eagerly anticipating the arrival of each guest in their high-end sports cars. Dressed to impress, they showcased their finest attire, paired with the most extravagant cars from their garages. It seemed less like a class reunion and more like an opportunity to flaunt their possessions.

Most importantly, they awaited the arrival of the worst of the bunch. Over the past year, as they witnessed each other’s progress in their respective universities, achieving milestones and successes, few genuinely celebrated each other’s accomplishments. That’s precisely why they decided to include Hera and Athena in the gathering, ensuring no one would feel like the least accomplished among them. They understood that having someone perceived as doing worse would alleviate their own insecurities.

As they eagerly awaited everyone’s arrival, anticipation grew for Hera and Athena’s expected arrival in a taxi, dressed in less extravagant attire.

Growing weary from waiting for the final three individuals, one of them couldn’t help but whistle as a car approached. Should I say cars?

At the forefront was the stunning Mint Green Bugatti Chiron, leisurely making its way towards the hotel entrance. A valet hastened over to assist the driver and ensure the car was properly parked to make way for the next arrival.

As the driver’s side door slowly opened, all eyes turned expectantly toward Athena’s emerging figure. Those outside were filled with anticipation, wondering whether the person stepping out was one of their peers or simply a hotel guest. Regardless, their attention was captivated by the sleek hypercar before them, particularly the men among the group.

However, as Athena drew nearer, the atmosphere shifted. The expressions of anticipation turned to disbelief as they took in her appearance. It was not what they had anticipated. Smiles faded as they scrutinized her from head to toe. She wore a simple black dress, yet the necklace adorning her neck gleamed conspicuously. Moreover, the car she had just emerged from far surpassed the luxury their families typically afforded.

Athena couldn’t help but notice each of their reactions and found herself inwardly amused. With a content smile, she greeted them, “It’s been a while, everyone.” Her smile widened as she continued, “Hera’s just ahead.” With that, she turned her gaze toward the car behind hers.

Meanwhile, the valet skillfully maneuvered the Bugatti Chiron out of the entrance, making room for the matte black Bugatti La Voiture Noire. As it approached with a subtle rev of the engine, it came to a smooth halt, commanding attention with its presence.

Athena’s words seemed to go over everyone’s heads as they anticipated a taxi pulling up behind her. Instead, their attention was entirely captured by the sleek hypercar before them, momentarily forgetting about Hera’s impending arrival.

Meanwhile, Hera was stunned to see everyone huddled outside. She hadn’t expected everyone to be waiting outside, assuming they would gather in the reserved room. If she had known, she might have opted for a less conspicuous car from her fleet of hypercars—but then she remembered that there was no such thing among her collection.

She sighed, resigning herself to the situation. ‘What did it matter if they knew?’

Pushing her concerns aside, she resolved to address whatever challenges came her way. With a determined mindset, she opened the car door and stepped out slowly, offering a polite smile to the valet who stood ready to assist her with parking.

After ascending a few steps, she headed straight for Athena, linking their arms in support as they made their way inside. It was only then that their former classmates seemed to snap out of their daze, eager to ask questions but unsure where to begin. They trailed behind Hera and Athena as they entered, completely forgetting about the absence of one person.

Meanwhile, Hera and Athena were oblivious to the missing individual amidst the crowd, assuming everyone was present in the bustling gathering.

Hera didn’t bother putting on a facade with her former classmates; she was well aware of their judgmental attitudes towards her and Athena. Instead, she allowed the class monitor to take the lead, guiding them to the private room reserved for gatherings.