The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Charity Auction 2
As Hera’s chauffeur opened the door, she was engrossed in exchanging text messages with Athena, passing the time as they waited. When she finally stepped out of the car, she was in for a colossal surprise.

The car came to a halt in front of a long red carpet, flanked on either side by reporters conducting live broadcasts on the internet, showcasing the ongoing Charity Auction led by the Lowry Family. The event aimed to raise funds for victims of natural disasters worldwide, with all proceeds from the auction dedicated to the cause.

Hera stood momentarily rooted to the ground, her gaze fixed absentmindedly ahead. Despite her internal disarray, she maintained a composed facade, her face betraying none of the turmoil within. Fortunately, Athena had foreseen this moment and positioned herself nearby, ready to intercept Hera as she disembarked from the vehicle. With Athena stepping out ahead, Hera was spared the need to face the crowd directly as she gathered her composure.

As Hera stood there, lost in her thoughts, she felt a sudden arm hooking around hers. Startled, she glanced down at her own arm, then followed it up to see Athena standing beside her, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

It dawned on Hera that she had been set up by her best friend. Athena had intentionally brought her to the upscale Charity gala without informing her beforehand, ensuring Hera wouldn’t have the opportunity to decline the invitation upon realizing the magnitude of the event.

Hence, Athena had only informed Hera about the event three hours prior, ensuring she wouldn’t have the opportunity to investigate or inquire about the specifics. By then, Hera would be preoccupied with preparations, leaving her no chance to decline.

Hera’s gaze narrowed as she scrutinized Athena’s expression. Athena, feeling guilty, avoided Hera’s gaze and attempted to diffuse the tension by pouting her lips, adopting a cute facade in hopes of averting Hera’s potential anger.

As they strolled arm in arm along the red carpet, Hera couldn’t shake off her confusion about Athena’s tactics. She leaned in and whispered firmly, “What tricks are you playing at?” Her voice conveyed a mixture of curiosity and reproach, demanding an explanation.

“I knew you wouldn’t agree to join me here,” Athena confessed, her voice tinged with regret. “But given that we’ve shared the same life for so long, I could only hope for your support by having you here. I feared you might refuse, so I resorted to underhanded tactics.” She pouted slightly, her sincerity evident. On the screen, they appeared close like sisters, radiating beauty and warmth.

Hera’s heart softened upon hearing Athena’s explanation. She felt grateful for Athena’s sacrifices, akin to those of a real sister. However, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the story than Athena had let on. Despite her appreciation, Hera couldn’t resist her curiosity, pressing Athena for further details, determined not to be easily swayed.

Athena had no choice but to spill the beans. “Well,” she began, nervously touching her nose before continuing, “I just wanted you to walk the red carpet wearing the dress I designed.” Athena’s confession came with a hint of apprehension, unsure of Hera’s reaction.

Hera’s brows raised, her expression remaining mostly unchanged. But as Athena’s words sank in, she trembled in surprise. She knew Athena had talent in fashion design and was following in her mother’s footsteps, but she hadn’t realized Athena had designed the dress she was wearing. “This dress was designed by you?” she confirmed, her voice betraying a mix of shock and curiosity.

“Didn’t I ask you to be my muse?” Athena regained her usual proud attitude and continued. “I created this dress with you in mind, as my constant inspiration. In fact, all the dresses they brought over to your place were made by me,” she boasted with a smug smile plastered on her face, unable to refrain from seeking her friend’s praise, eagerly awaiting Hera’s reaction.

Observing Athena’s eager and proud expression, Hera couldn’t help but let out a hearty chuckle, which was caught on the live broadcast, arousing curiosity among viewers about the duo’s whispered conversation as they strolled down the red carpet. Although the audience had no way of finding out the details, the host of the broadcast began to notice a significant increase in traffic as Hera and Athena continued their walk.

Excitement filled the air as everyone eagerly anticipated Hera’s appearance on the screen once more.

[AuntieNextDoor: Oh my! My little sister Hera is on the screen again, and she looks absolutely stunning! She’s taken my breath away!]

[HeraIsMySister: I’m turning gay for you sister Hera!!!! Please be my wife!!!]

[ImAHero: Oooooh! Who’s that breathtaking Goddess?! Is she a new celebrity???!!!!]

[MeMyselfAndI: Bro upstairs, she’s Hera Ainsley and she is not a celebrity but I was hoping she becomes one so I can often see her on the screen… My phone screen has already grown callous after I lick and kiss Hera’s photos every second. Heheheh. (side_eye_grinning_emoji)]

[AlexiIsMyHusband: What’s so good about her?!!! She was just a stalker anyway!!!]

[PasserbyGod: Hey, sissy upstairs. It was already proven that she was not your idol’s stalker and had never harassed him. Besides, our Hera was too good for your idol…]

[AlexiIsMyHusband: What did you say?! Are you looking down on my husband?!]

[PasserbyGod: “Husband,” my foot! You’re just simping for him, and he doesn’t even know you… Gross! Like idol, like fans…]

[AlexiIsMyHusband: Look man, I’m gonna find you and smash your head!!! (smirk_emoji)]

[PasserbyGod: You can try, I have taken a screenshot of your comment including your profile’s info, so if anything happened to me. I’ll pin the blame onto you. (evil_grin_emoji)]

After that, the Alexi fan fell silent, and no one dared to verbally attack Hera again. Each time someone attempted, they were swiftly shut down by Hera’s growing legion of fans, who had become increasingly savage in their verbal rebuttals.

[AnnaL: Why isn’t anyone mentioning Hera’s stunning gown?! It was absolutely dreamy, and she looked like a goddess in it!!!!]

[BeautyMe: Absolutely! I was holding my breath from the moment she stepped out of her car!!!! It was breathtakingly beautiful! And was it just me, or did she seem to have a glowing halo over her head?!]

[CarEnthusiastMe: Not only that, I actually didn’t know about Hera before, but after typing her name in the search bar, I found multiple searches about her, and she seemed to be from a poor background. But how come she’s riding a Rolls-Royce Cullinan that costs half a million dollars?!!! I’m so confused! If riding such an expensive car is considered poor, then I’d rather be a poor homeless guy too, rather than a white-collar worker. (crying_emoji)]

[Hardlife: Dude, I was thinking the same thing!!! And have you seen this too?! (url//link)]

The last commenter left a link in his message that led to a trending topic from the other day. It showed a picture of a matte black Bugatti La Voiture Noire. Next to it was another picture of the same car, but this time with the person who got in and out of the car on two separate occasions.

Another heated discussion ensued as Hera and Athena continued walking the red carpet toward the entrance of the banquet hall at the Lakeside Pavilion Auction House, an international auction house.

Hera and Athena strolled leisurely through the entrance, devoid of any nerves or stage fright. Athena was accustomed to attending parties from her previous life, while Hera wouldn’t have pursued an acting career if she harbored any fear of the spotlight. They maintained their composed demeanor, radiating a gracious elegance that resonated with their individual personalities.

Athena exuded a proud and mischievous aura, while Hera carried herself with a refreshing and gracious elegance. Whenever someone approached them to greet them, Hera remained humble, responding with nothing but a graceful smile and a straightforward answer.

Charity auctions often attract affluent individuals who see it as a battleground to display their wealth and philanthropic spirit. While the competition is fierce, participants engage in bidding wars to secure top items, subtly showcasing the depth of their power and pockets without resorting to unethical tactics.

This way, they will gain the title of philanthropist and will gain a good image that will be good for their own businesses. How many of them are truly sincere in doing some help to those unfortunate souls who have lost their homes in flash floods, how many of them truly pity those who have lost their families in tsunamis?

Only a fraction of these individuals genuinely care, viewing such events as mere opportunities to boost their public image and forge connections with other influential figures who are sincerely committed to helping. For many, it’s all part of the business game, a chance to promote themselves as the face of their company.

They serve as the living embodiment of their company’s ethos, understanding that maintaining the moral high ground reflects positively on their brand. Eager to leverage every opportunity for visibility, they enthusiastically participate in events like the Charity Auction, seeking to secure live broadcast coverage if possible. Athena saw this as a chance to demonstrate to her best friend the lengths to which the affluent will push their business strategies to achieve greater success. It was a valuable lesson she wished to impart to her best friend as they both prepared to enter the business world.