When Hera woke up the next day, she found Athena already seated in the living room, brimming with excitent as if she were about to unwrap Christmas presents.
She engaged in a spirited conversation with Old Master Avery, recounting Hera’s experiences that she had kept from him, fearing it might cause him heartache.
Sure enough, the old master’s face was creased with frowns as Athena recounted Hera’s experiences of injustice at the hands of her classmates over the years, all because she pretended to be poor. His indignation was palpable.
Yet, amidst his concern, he felt gratitude that Hera had found a loyal friend like Athena, who stood by her through both hardship and happiness.
On the other hand, Athena was chattering non-stop, as if recounting her own tales of injustice. She was so energetic, it was as if she had caffeine coursing through her veins. So engrossed was she in her storytelling that she didn’t even notice Hera standing just a step behind her with folded arms.
Old Master Avery watched with interest and amusent until Hera gently knocked on Athena’s head, prompting her to realize that Hera was awake.
Athena rubbed her head slightly and flashed Hera a cute smile as if nothing had happened. "Good morning, babe!"
Hera raised an eyebrow and teasingly remarked, "You’re quite the tattletale, Athena."
Realizing she couldn’t escape Hera’s playful teasing, Athena turned to Old Master Avery with an exaggeratedly aggrieved expression. "Grandpa Avery, just look at your granddaughter. All she does is bully and intimidate ," she complained lodramatically.
The Old Master chuckled in delight at the sight of their close relationship. "Now that my little princess is awake, why don’t we all have breakfast together? Join us, Athena," he suggested warmly.
Athena flashed her bright smile, revealing her white teeth. "Okay!" she chirped, then leaned into Hera’s side as if to appease her.
"Babe, do we head straight to the venue after breakfast?"
"Excited, aren’t we?" Hera chuckled knowingly. She understood that her best friend relished the opportunity to get back at those who wronged her, and she certainly enjoyed witnessing their misery.
"What?! I’ve been waiting ages for this opportunity! I can’t wait to get back at those online bullies! I’ve screenshot their usernas and comnts," Athena exclaid eagerly.
"Okay, okay... How was Auntie?" Hera asked nervously, hoping that whatever the internet had said about her hadn’t spoiled her mood.
"Mom? Well, she’s just as eager as to see you get justice. She was the one who woke up faster than a rooster early this morning," Athena replied with a grin.
"It’s good to know that she’s not letting the comnts get to her," Hera said, releasing a sigh of relief.
"I’ll tell you what. Mom created an alter account and joined in the online trash-talking," Athena giggled, whispering to reveal her mom’s little secret.
Hera chuckled and playfully pinched her friend’s palm as a form of scolding for snooping around in people’s secrets. But curiosity got the better of her, so she asked, "How did you find out?"
Athena gave her a side glance, laughing as she recounted, "She got sneaky when I ranted to her about the derogatory comnts aid at you. She soon excused herself, and later that night, she forgot to log off her account on her office computer. I just happened to stumble upon it while looking for the fashion magazine she had placed on her desk. Before I knew it, I had already scrolled down and read everything."
"And let tell you, she can be really an when she wants to be. I burst out laughing at the poor souls she went after; they practically choked on their own rage and spat venom," Athena exclaid, still amused.
Just by observing Athena’s facial expression, Hera could already imagine how amusing it must have been to witness her mother’s sharp-tongued comnts. She felt a twinge of regret for missing out on the spectacle.
Athena glanced at Hera and sensed what she was thinking. Fortunately, she had saved a screenshot of her mother’s comnts and sent it to herself. She then forwarded it to Hera to share in her mother’s ’heroic act.’
When Hera heard the ’DING’ sound from her phone, she imdiately checked the ssage, only to find Athena had sent her screenshot after screenshot, totaling about 30 in all.
Hera chuckled as she saw that her friend hadn’t forgotten to save so evidence to share with her. "Don’t tell you’re planning to use this against Auntie during your next disagreent?"
Feeling that she’s been seen through, Athena beca a little flustered. "Not really! I just want to use it as bargaining chips so mom won’t force to go on blind dates anymore."
"Perhaps she just wants you to enjoy so youthful experiences, like going out with cute boys," Hera suggested with a teasing grin.
"Haha! Tell about it! They don’t fit my aesthetic at all. Seeing your face every day has made immune to good looks. When I see them, they look like squids in comparison," Athena said with a pout. "I think you’ve ruined my beauty gauge. I can’t be satisfied by just looking at a few good-looking boys anymore! You have to take responsibility for !"
Hera burst out laughing, acknowledging that her best friend was indeed so fixated on good looks that it sotis beca a qualification for friendship. "Okay, okay, I’ll do my best to find you a boyfriend who ets your exact standards."
"Hmph! You better!" Athena grinned, feeling satisfied with the agreent.
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, Old Master Avery excused himself, stating that he was heading out to play golf with his good friends, leaving Hera and Athena to spend ti at ho.
Hera guided Athena for a leisurely stroll through the maze garden, where they enjoyed their snacks in the gazebo. Later, they spent ti playing in the greenhouse’s pool, passing the ti until 6 PM.
At 6 PM, Athena encouraged Hera to change into a white off-shoulder dress that gracefully fell below her knees. The dress accentuated Hera’s toned collarbone, exuding a blend of allure and elegance but at the sa ti, delicate.
She then released Hera’s long, curly hair, allowing them to cascade down her back, with so stray strands gently framing her shoulders.
Athena paid the most attention to Hera’s light makeup. She didn’t apply much; instead, she focused on giving Hera a slightly aggrieved look, as if she had just finished crying all night long.
Their aim was to evoke pity from anyone who laid eyes on her.
After ensuring Hera was fully prepared, they boarded a black van arranged by Cindy and were driven to the Green Dragon Manor, where the TV show’s host awaited their arrival.
As per Hera’s request, the show was being broadcast live. The entire crew had set up a small stage near the fountain at the center of the garden in the Dragon Jade Building. Given the discreet location, only residents of the building were aware of the event. Nonetheless, Cindy took extra precautions by stationing additional guards around the building to ensure Hera’s safety and prevent any potential attacks.
Before long, the van carrying Hera pulled up near the garden entrance, where the first cara crew awaited her arrival. As the door slid open, a female crew mber stepped forward to assist Hera as she disembarked. Hera appeared distressed and visibly apprehensive about the unfolding events.
As soon as Hera appeared on cara with stunning resolution, netizens erupted into a frenzy online. Screenshots of her were quickly taken and shared across various social dia platforms, accompanied by captions like ’The birth of a Goddess on Earth.’ Within minutes, the show began trending, drawing significant attention and viewership, much to the delight of the closely-watching producer.
As Athena closely monitored the show from inside the van, she eagerly sent a barrage of supportive comnts to Hera as the interview progressed.
[Athena_Lowry: Oh my! She looks pitiful, she must have been bullied really bad.]
Athena took the lead among the netizens, framing Hera’s appearance as pitiful and aiming to portray the situation as a re misunderstanding. Soon, others followed suit, chiming in with their own sentints. It’s a well-known fact that humans, particularly n, are visual creatures, easily swayed by the sight of a beautiful woman appearing powerless and pitiable. This visual trigger often ignites their natural instinct to protect.
Hera intensified her performance, portraying herself as scared and fidgety as she made her way toward the fountain where the entire crew awaited her. Even during this brief walk, n on social dia were already going wild, captivated by her performance.
No one had suspected that she was rely acting.
[Iam_superman: Baby, don’t cry! She must have been crying all this while because of the bullies going after her without giving her a chance to explain.]
[Freddie: Dude upstairs, you bet! She was maliciously wronged by jealous won who painted her black without proof. I bet that Sweet Dumpling user is just trying to ride in the trending popularity without actual proof. She never showed any proof anyway, not even a picture of the said apartnt where her supposed brother lived.]
[NotMybusiness: 1]
[youAreyou: 1]
[Allof: Now that I see what her state is, I feel bad for berating her on her social dia yesterday. I’ll try to find my comnt and delete it. I hope I can still make it up for our poor Goddess Hera.]
[toYou: Bro upstairs. I agree 1]
[IlovemyKitty: 1]
[Auntienextdoor: 30]
Now that the tide of public opinion was slightly shifting, Hera approached the host and obediently took her seat, facing the cara. Her hands fidgeted nervously in her lap, a forced smile gracing her lips while her eyes betrayed a hint of redness as if she were holding back tears.
Athena who’s sitting inside the van could only give her best friend a thumbs up for her seamless acting.
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