As the food was served, Alexi found himself focusing too much attention on Hera, instinctively wanting to cater to her preferences as he always had. However, Hera promptly stopped him, asserting her independence. "Mr. Ford, I am perfectly capable of serving myself. I’d appreciate it if you maintained a distance from to avoid any misconceptions or rumors," she stated firmly.
As the conversation flowed and the mood lightened, the others at the table found themselves imrsed in more pleasant topics, thanks to Alexi’s adept managent of the situation. This shift allowed everyone to engage in lively discussion and enjoy each other’s company. With the tension dissipated, targeting Hera and Athena beca a thing of the past.
However, Claire, who had remained silent since their arrival, suddenly spoke up, once again directing her words at Hera. "Yes, Alexi, perhaps it’s best if you refrain from serving her. It might be difficult for Hera to explain to her new boyfriend if rumors start circulating," she remarked, her words dripping with subtle malice.
All heads turned towards Claire, curiosity piqued, silently urging her to divulge more details about Hera’s supposed new love life. anwhile, Alexi’s reaction to the news of Hera’s new relationship simred with anger. "Was it truly that effortless for her to move on from our relationship?" he seethed inwardly.
With a glare directed at Hera, Alexi’s eyes burned with indignation, prompting Hera and Athena to exchange a glance, their eyebrows raised in silent inquiry, attempting to decipher Claire’s intentions.
Maintaining her composure, Hera delicately tapped her napkin against her lips before setting it back on the table. "Pray tell, who is this mysterious boyfriend of mine, of whom even I am unaware?" she inquired calmly, her tone laced with subtle amusent.
Claire, still harboring resentnt over the incident at the Golden Dragon Pavilion, sought to retaliate against Hera, conveniently overlooking the fact that she had brought the humiliation upon herself.
Feigning surprise, Claire raised an eyebrow and glanced around the table, emitting an aura of mystery to capture everyone’s attention. "Oh! Is it still a secret?" she began cryptically. "Or perhaps it’s because you’re sailing in two different boats?" she added, her tone dripping with insinuation.
The revelation ignited a storm of heated discussion, with so individuals resorting to slanderous remarks. "Hera played us for fools all this ti. She enjoyed stringing multiple guys along, and who knows how many others she’s been playing with while she was with Alexi," they exclaid, their words dripping with disdain.
Amidst the chaos of speculation, Alexi’s anger surged to new heights. Clenching Hera’s arm tightly, he gazed at her with a mixture of hurt and frustration, yearning for answers. The re thought of Hera being in soone else’s arms besides his own ignited a fierce wave of jealousy within him.
Through gritted teeth, Alexi demanded, "Hera, care to explain what’s going on?"
Hera t Alexi’s gaze with a contemptuous snort. "There’s nothing for to explain to you," she retorted, her tone laced with disdain. Turning her attention to Claire, whose triumphant expression irked her, Hera couldn’t help but feel exasperated by the woman’s relentless need to slander others for a false sense of superiority.
It was evident that Claire was likely seething with jealousy, especially as she observed Alexi’s attempts to please Hera and the lingering gazes of the other n in the room. Despite their attempts to be discreet, their admiration for Hera was transparent to everyone present.
Hera remained keenly aware of the dynamics unfolding around her, silently observing each individual’s actions. She couldn’t shake the suspicion that they had been invited to serve as entertainnt, allowing others to feel better about themselves at her expense.
However, Hera had no intention of allowing anyone to slander her, especially considering the repercussions not only for herself but also for her loved ones and her family. With a firm resolve, she pressed the issue, her tone devoid of gentleness and imbued with commanding authority. "Would you care to reveal the identities of these supposed individuals you’re referring to?" she demanded, her voice calm yet weighted with gravity.
Claire remained steadfast, refusing to yield. In her mind, why should she worry about slandering Hera? After all, there was no evidence to substantiate any claims against her. Besides, Claire could always turn the tables, blaming Hera for spreading rumors and tarnishing the reputations of those n she had nad. This way, they wouldn’t direct their anger at Claire, but instead at Hera, leaving her to bear the brunt of their fury.
It seed like the perfect plan to Claire. With Hera lacking influential connections, Claire believed she could easily get away with her sche. anwhile, Hera would suffer the consequences, branded as a woman without dignity, a kept woman whose reputation would be irreparably tarnished. Once the rumors reached her fans, admiration would turn to disdain, leaving Hera feeling like nothing more than a fallen idol.
Claire boldly asserted, "Wasn’t it Mr. Gerald Troy of the Golden Dragon Pavilion and Mr. Rafael Briley? I even spotted you dining with Mr. Briley just the other day at the Golden Dragon Pavilion." She shot Hera a knowing look before pressing on, "Mr. Troy and Mr. Briley crossed paths there. Did they have any inkling that you were with both of them at the sa ti?"
Athena struggled to suppress her laughter, her amusent evident as she listened to Claire’s absurd accusations. The idea of Hera being portrayed as an insatiable seductress seed utterly ridiculous to Athena. The notion beca so ludicrous to her that she almost found it comical. She couldn’t help but imagine herself breaking into a celebratory dance if Hera were to suddenly find herself in the midst of a reverse harem scenario.
Hera’s smile widened into a knowing grin as Claire ntioned Gerald. It appeared Claire still hadn’t learn her lesson about fabricating stories. With a composed deanor, Hera gently extricated herself from Alexi’s grip, which had tightened in response to Claire’s accusations.
"Claire," Hera began, her tone carrying a hint of disappointnt, "it appears that being blacklisted from the Golden Dragon Pavilion wasn’t sufficient to deter you from spreading baseless rumors. It’s truly disheartening to witness such behavior." She shook her head in mild exasperation. "TSK!" she concluded, emphasizing her disapproval with a subtle click of her tongue.
The room fell into a collective gasp, eyes widening in astonishnt as they turned toward Claire, who had once proudly flaunted her gold mbership card at the Golden Dragon Pavilion but now found herself blacklisted from the establishnt.
The revelation that Claire had offended Gerald Troy only added to the shock, leaving many feeling a sense of pity for her apparent lack of judgnt and stupidity.
"Don’t attempt to divert attention when it was your actions that led to my blacklisting," Claire accused, her voice laced with bitterness. "Wasn’t it because you were seeing him behind Mr. Briley’s back that you didn’t want there because I found out?" Her accusations left Hera and Athena bewildered, unsure of the origin of Claire’s sudden outburst and the hysteria that accompanied it. It was evident that Claire had faced severe consequences from her father for losing the mbership card he had worked so diligently to obtain.
"Hera! Are you attempting to retaliate against by dating Minerva’s older brother?!" Alexi’s voice thundered with fury, his teeth gritted as he struggled to contain his anger. Both of his hands clenched into fists, his veins pulsating prominently on his forehead and arms. It was the first ti Hera had witnessed Alexi lose control of his emotions to such an extent, and she couldn’t help but feel a mixture of shock and fear. Despite his loss of composure, Alexi still carried the aura of a male lead, albeit slightly less prominent than the real male leads.
Hera remained silent as Alexi pulled her closer, his grip tightening on her wrist to the point of leaving a bruise. A sharp wince escaped Hera’s lips, betraying the pain she felt, while Athena attempted to intervene to aid her friend, only to be t with a nacing glare from Alexi.
"Don’t you dare interrupt us, Athena! This is between Hera and !" Alexi’s voice bood with authority as he asserted his dominance.
"You’re mistaken, Alexi. This is no longer your concern. You are no longer my boyfriend," Hera calmly stated, attempting to extricate herself from Alexi’s vice-like grip. However, he refused to release her, leaving Hera feeling increasingly frustrated. Desperately seeking support, she cast a glance at Claire, who seed to be reveling in Hera’s distress, enjoying the spectacle unfolding before her.
Hera fired back, her voice cutting through the tension. "If your accusations hold any truth, then why don’t we involve all parties concerned?" she challenged.
Claire’s deanor shifted noticeably at Hera’s suggestion, and she quickly offered an excuse. "Aren’t they preoccupied with their own lives? Besides, aren’t you rely a plaything to the wealthy? Would they truly spare much attention for you?"
Hera chuckled lightly and replied, "Well, I suppose we’ll only find out if we give it a try, won’t we?" She cast a aningful glance at Athena, silently signaling for her to summon the staff to locate Gerald. With their long-standing friendship, Athena imdiately grasped Hera’s intention and swiftly exited the room in search of assistance.
Claire observed the exchange between Hera and Athena, her apprehension mounting as a sense of unease began to gnaw at her stomach.
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