The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Chapter 62 What is this Situation?
Athena’s past role as chief editor at Vogue afforded her a deep understanding of the workings of high society. Yet, beyond this familiarity, she harbored a genuine desire for Hera to serve as the ambassador for her designs, she has long aspired to craft stunning dresses with Hera as her model in mind throughout the years.

While Athena’s personal interests are undoubtedly intertwined with her efforts to propel Hera into celebrity status, her underlying motivation is to ensure Hera’s safe escape from the confines of the novel’s storyline, allowing her to live a long and fulfilling life.

“Baby girl, you’ve finally arrived,” Athena’s uncle, Sebastian, greeted them warmly, approaching with a smile. He gently ruffled Athena’s hair, a gesture of their evident closeness observed by everyone in the venue. Curiosity swirled around Athena’s identity, with some even speculating that she might soon become Sebastian’s fiancée.

Some of the guests, who had been observing from the sidelines, discreetly approached to inquire, masking their curiosity with polite greetings to Sebastian. Unperturbed by their covert questioning, Sebastian proudly introduced his niece to everyone who approached, basking in the opportunity to showcase her to the gathering.

Before long, others also approached without hesitation, eager to ask him directly. Yet, their curiosity shifted to the stunning woman beside Athena, whose silent smile intrigued them further.

As the chatter faded and all eyes turned to Hera, confusion etched across her face at the sudden attention. Sebastian caught up in his conversation with Athena, finally noticed Hera’s presence, his focus previously fixed solely on his niece.

Athena promptly intervened, introducing her best friend to the people gathered. Initially, the guests were merely curious about the newly returned daughter of the Lowry family. However, upon catching sight of Hera, their interest was piqued, some perhaps considering potential matches for their single sons.

The mothers at the venue began to gravitate towards Hera and Athena, eager to ascertain their relationship statuses. None of them seemed to suspect Hera’s financial background, as she exuded an air of elegance and sophistication, adorned in luxurious attire and in close company with the daughter of the esteemed Lowry family.

They were eager not to miss the opportunity of potentially having a beautiful daughter-in-law with connections to the prestigious Lowry family. Each mother with a son present was determined to make a favorable impression on Hera, hoping to secure her interest and approval.

Hera hadn’t fully grasped the situation yet, but Athena was inwardly chuckling with mischief. While she welcomed the idea of Hera mingling with the male leads, she also relished the opportunity to showcase her friend to potential love interests beyond the male lead circle. Playing the role of a discerning mother eyeing fish in an aquarium, she sought to select the finest and most promising match for her dear friend.

Athena had long desired to play this role in Hera’s life, so she enthusiastically introduced Hera to the interested madams. Despite Athena’s good intentions, Hera couldn’t shake off the feeling of embarrassment. She felt like a wild animal on display, being auctioned off for all the mothers to scrutinize.

She excused herself and made her way to the ladies’ room, seeking respite from the enthusiastic bunch of madams eager to match their sons with her. With a sigh, she traversed the silent hallway. ‘I guess I can hide in the ladies’ room for a while before the auction starts,’ she thought to herself.

A few ladies of Hera’s age dashed around the hallway in a state of panic, seemingly eager to find someone. “Have you seen him?” They asked each other after they regrouped near the ladies’ room.

Hera paid no mind to the frantic ladies and proceeded directly to the ladies’ room. She gently pushed the door open, taking a moment to lift the hem of her dress. As she stepped inside and raised her head, her eyes fell upon a handsome man seated on the floor, his back against the wall. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his breathing was labored and irregular.

She didn’t dwell too much on why he was in the ladies restroom, as it was evident he wasn’t in a good state and was hiding.

Hera remained calm and approached the man cautiously to assess his condition. Drawing nearer, she gently extended her hand to touch his forehead, feeling for any signs of fever, as his complexion appeared flushed and his breathing was erratic.

As Hera’s hand made contact with his face, she felt the intense heat radiating from his skin, causing her to flinch slightly. Concerned, she couldn’t discern the cause of his condition or determine whether he was suffering from a high fever.

As Hera’s cold hand made contact with his cheek, the man felt a coolness spread through him, prompting a sigh of relief. He struggled to open his eyes, gradually meeting her amber gaze with his own blue orbs.

With a frown and a scowl, the man scanned Hera’s face for a moment, his eyes struggling to focus. It took him a while to finally discern the image of the person in front of him. Once he identified Hera, his expression softened considerably.

They held each other’s gaze for a moment until the man grunted in discomfort. “Please, don’t get too close. I can’t guarantee that I won’t do anything harmful to you right now,” he managed to say, his voice strained with effort.

Veins bulged on his temples, betraying the effort he put into keeping himself upright against the wall.

“Hey, are you okay?” Hera asked with concern, noticing his struggle to maintain composure.

“I am not,” he responded, his gaze dark and somewhat misty. He regarded Hera as if she were his prey, poised to pounce at any moment. Hera’s heart pounded fiercely as she observed him, a sudden realization dawning on her in conjunction with the commotion of the ladies searching for someone outside.

She swiftly pulled him to his feet with all the strength she could muster. He attempted to push her away, clearly concerned he might inadvertently harm her, but Hera firmly interjected, “If you wish to be caught by them, then continue struggling.”

He instantly stopped and did his best to drag himself to where she wanted to bring him.

In a swift motion, Hera guided him into the inner cubicle of the restroom, seating him on the closed lid of the toilet seat. Retrieving her handkerchief from her bag, she dampened it with cold water before returning to his side. With a firm twist, she locked the cubicle door, ensuring no unwelcome interruptions from the girls outside.

With gentle persistence, Hera pressed the dampened handkerchief against his face, coaxing him to hold it despite his struggles to lift his arms. Then, she retrieved the medicine she always carried and offered it to him. Initially resistant, he hesitated to open his mouth, his eyes still red and wary as he glanced at Hera.

He appeared strikingly handsome, his disheveled hair adding to his allure. Whenever his unfocused gaze met Hera’s, her heart raced and her stomach fluttered uncontrollably. She attempted to avert her eyes from the obvious bulge below his navel, but despite her efforts, her gaze occasionally strayed in that direction.

‘Why is it so big?!’ she exclaimed as her heart beat violently.

Unbeknownst to her, the man’s eyes remained fixated on her face, allowing him to notice her occasional glances. A devilish smile played on his lips as his eyes turned dangerously hungry, his thoughts veiled in mystery. Even with his unfocused gaze, he could still discern Hera’s face and expressions. Despite his compromised state, he remained conscious and rational, relying solely on his sheer willpower to maintain his composure.

Observing his reluctance to take the medicine, Hera offered reassurance. “I understand your caution after what you’ve been through, but this is an anaphrodisiac. It will counteract the effects of the aphrodisiac you’ve ingested.”

That’s right, he had been drugged by the aphrodisiac, likely linked to the women searching outside. As for why Hera carried an anaphrodisiac, Athena often warned her about such schemes from the novels she read before transmigrating. It was common for women to resort to such underhanded tactics to capture the powerful men they desired.

Therefore, she made it a habit to carry one with her at every party for her own safety. She had instructed Cindy to find an antidote effective against any type of aphrodisiac, and Cindy had diligently ensured that Hera always had a supply of tablets on hand, just in case.

It was fortunate if she never needed to use it, but having it on hand meant she was prepared for any unfavorable situation that might arise. Little did she anticipate that she would actually need it this time.

He still refused to take the antidote, so Hera attempted to pry his jaw open. In a sudden move, he pulled her onto his lap, catching her off guard. Hera found herself sitting on his lap, her legs on either side. She couldn’t ignore the hardness pressing against her, and he groaned again. Resting his head on her neck, he inhaled her scent deeply.

Hera felt a shiver run down her spine as his hot breath grazed her skin. ‘What did I get myself into?!’ she thought, beginning to scrutinize herself as she attempted to pull away from him.

He scowled slightly and said, “Don’t move. Let’s stay like this for a while. Or else, don’t blame me for not being able to control myself and taking you here and now,” he threatened.

Hera froze, her entire body stiffening at his threat. ‘What a hooligan!’ She couldn’t employ any of the self-defense techniques she’d learned because he had her in close proximity, his strong arms around her, making her feel trapped.

By now, Hera regretted ever helping the ungrateful bastard. Before she could make another move, the ladies’ room’s door swung open, and the ladies from earlier barged in, pushing every cubicle door as they entered.

They seemed frantic, as if worried someone might snatch away the prize they had meticulously prepared for themselves. Their urgent search suggested they were determined to secure him for their own before anyone else could lay claim.