The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 758

Chapter 758: Chapter 758 Mr. Fletcher
“Thank you, Athena…” Hera said softly, her voice weak but sincere as she finally managed to calm herself. However, now that she fully realized they were right in the middle of the story, she knew she had to prepare herself for what lay ahead.

She also had to keep a close eye on Alice, especially since Alice’s role as the female lead was slowly slipping from her grasp. It wasn’t uncommon for the female lead’s path to falter, but right now, Alice’s actions were diverging drastically from what was expected in the novel.

If this continued, they could easily consider Alice to be running amok, straying further from the narrative’s original course or her original character setting.

‘Or maybe this is her original character setting? Her life was so smooth sailing before, nothing ever triggered her enough to bring out this side of her…’ Hera thought, sinking into deep contemplation. But she quickly snapped herself out of it, realizing she was starting to overthink again.

“No problem, babe. As long as it’s you.” Athena’s voice broke through the silence. “Alright, I’ll let you go now. I’ve got things to take care of. You take care, okay?”

“Alright, take care.” Hera responded before restarting her car and resuming her drive back to the penthouse. Her schedule was packed, and she had a long list of things to do.

The movie’s filming would begin soon, and while the Director just had a few final preparations and location clearances to secure, Hera knew she had little time to spare. She still had to review her script, which was a priority.

In addition to her acting, Hera was juggling her online classes, jewelry design work, and making detailed notes on her character’s emotions and thoughts.

With Xavier absent, there was no one to read the script with her and dig deeper into her character’s psyche. So, she called her tutor through Betty and sent her the script along with her notes for feedback.

Her tutor was impressed. Despite Hera’s natural talent and dedication, she wasn’t overly confident or arrogant.

She knew when to seek help and when to rely on herself. Her tutor happily accepted the script, reading it over and over, comparing it with Hera’s notes and adding her own insights.

Meanwhile, Hera’s other tutor for business administration and finance, Mr. Fletcher, added to her busy schedule, coming by to teach her as she worked through her classes.

“Hera, I’m really happy to see that you haven’t forgotten about your studies, even with all your involvement in the entertainment industry and the racing competitions,” Mr. Fletcher said with a smile, rubbing his chin as he looked over her written answer. “At first, I was worried that you’d let your academics slip once you experienced the thrill of life outside. It’s something that tends to happen with most students.”

When he first arrived, Mr. Fletcher hadn’t immediately begun teaching. Instead, he threw a few random questions at Hera, based on the advanced material she was supposed to cover while he was away, along with some topics from previous lessons.

He wanted to make sure that studying hadn’t been pushed to the back of Hera’s mind as she embraced the excitement of her new life.

Even though he had these thoughts, Mr. Fletcher hadn’t put too much hope into it. He had already prepared a lecture about thinking ahead, planning for the future, and all the usual advice professors give their students.

But to his surprise, Hera already understood what was important to her.

Not many in her generation had the same mindset. Most would take the easier path if given the chance, choosing whatever offered the least resistance.

With Hera’s rising success in both the entertainment industry and the racing community, she had two solid paths ahead of her—whichever she chose would undoubtedly lead to a great future.

But seeing that she continued to keep up with her studies and stayed true to her promise to the university’s dean—never letting her academics suffer—made Mr. Fletcher genuinely happy.

It meant he wasn’t losing a bright student, one he had hoped to take under his wing as his disciple.

After all, although he was a professor at a university, he was also a grandfather—to a rebellious granddaughter who was impossible to reason with. She spent most of her time brooding at home, obsessing over a man.

Not that he could entirely blame her. That man was supposed to be her fiancé, but instead of honoring their engagement, he had grown too close to other women and even attempted to break their arranged betrothal.

The union had been decided long ago by Mr. Fletcher’s father, and the other family had no choice but to comply—their young master’s life had been saved by Mr. Fletcher’s family, and this engagement was a repayment of that debt.

Perhaps that young master had never truly accepted the arrangement, trying instead to settle the life debt in other ways. But his granddaughter refused to let go so easily, clinging to the engagement and tormenting both herself and the other party.

Her frustration had fueled her rebellious streak, leaving Mr. Fletcher unsure how to reach her.

He couldn’t help but compare his rebellious granddaughter to Hera, who was as busy as a bee. His granddaughter had once been studious, with great aspirations of becoming a distinguished professor like him.

But after experiencing the thrill of life outside, she changed. No matter what he did, she only seemed to stray further from the path she once worked so hard for.

The only thing that ever got through to her was the mention of her supposed fiancé. Just hearing his name was enough to make her stop her reckless behavior—at least temporarily.

But when she discovered that he had someone he truly liked, she became hysterical, shutting herself away in her room.

Lately, managing her had taken up so much of his time that he hadn’t even been able to teach Hera as frequently as he wanted.

“Alright, everything looks good. Why don’t we start today’s lesson?” Mr. Fletcher said, gesturing for Hera to take her seat.

As usual, Amy entered the study after receiving permission and carefully laid out an assortment of snacks alongside a pitcher of iced tea. Once everything was set, she quietly left, allowing Hera to focus on her studies while having something sweet to keep her energy up.

However, as Hera glanced at her professor, concern flickered in her eyes.

“Sir, you look exhausted. Why don’t you sit and rest for a bit? Maybe you could just assign me a self-study task while you monitor me?” she suggested worriedly.

Mr. Fletcher looked like a shadow of his usual self—haggard and drained. His hair was unkempt, his skin dry, and dark circles lingered beneath his eyes. In short, he looked like a mess.

Even his movements were sluggish, as if he were running on nothing but sheer willpower.

“Haaah…” Professor Fletcher let out a heavy sigh as he collapsed into the chair behind him.

“Tell me, how do you stop a girl in her rebellious phase?” he asked, his voice laced with exhaustion. He had to admit—he was out of ideas and running on fumes.

With both of her parents constantly busy with work, always caught up in one thing or another, the burden of raising his granddaughter had fallen entirely on him.

Over time, it had become harder to juggle his responsibilities as a professor while also trying to rein her in. And the most frustrating part?

She wasn’t some teenage girl going through a fleeting phase—she was a grown woman. Yet, in his eyes, she was still an immature, stubborn child, refusing to outgrow her rebellious streak.

“Are you troubled by your daughter’s rebellious streak?” Hera asked awkwardly. She didn’t mean to judge, but she genuinely wasn’t sure if Mr. Fletcher was talking about his daughter.

After all, some older couples had children later in life, so it wouldn’t be unusual for a man his age to have an adult daughter.

Mr. Fletcher, who had just taken a sip of iced tea, choked violently.

“Cough! Cough, cough! You naughty child! That’s my granddaughter! My granddaughter, you hear me?!” he roared, his voice full of exaggerated indignation.

Hera flinched at his outburst, pressing her lips together to stifle a laugh. It was indeed her mistake to assume, but seeing Mr. Fletcher’s unusually animated reaction was a rare sight.

In fact, it was the first time she had seen such color return to his face, breaking away from his tired, haggard expression.

She couldn’t help but chuckle, and sure enough, as he watched the youthful joy on Hera’s face, Mr. Fletcher found himself reminiscing. He recalled the days when his granddaughter had been just like Hera—hardworking, dedicated, and full of ambition, often studying beside his office desk while he worked.

Those had been some of the most beautiful memories of his life, and for a moment, lost in nostalgia, he smiled.

“Sir, it’s hard to give a solid advice since every person goes through a rebellious phase—not just teenagers. The reason behind it usually ties back to their environment, unresolved psychological factors, emotional struggles, or other personal matters.”

“So, I think the key is to first understand why your granddaughter is acting out. Once you get to the root of the problem, you can address it properly and find a better solution. Isn’t that the same approach you taught me when handling business and finances?”

“The way people think and behave isn’t all that different, is it?” Hera said cheekily, flashing a wide grin. But despite her playful tone, her words held truth.

“You cheeky child!” Mr. Fletcher huffed, pretending to be annoyed, but the smile tugging at his lips betrayed him. He nodded, clearly considering her words with newfound understanding.