"No, I’ll address my sister’s actions. But considering the ordeal you endured, shouldn’t you seekpensation for the mental and reputational damage?"


    "Oh, that." Hera paused, contemting. "I don’t requirepensation as long as Minerva doesn’t trouble me again."


    "Are you certain? I heard you lost your job. How about employment instead?"


    Hera shook her head once more. "No need. I no longer require an expensive apartment, so there’s no need for me to work tirelessly."


    Hera’s words were sincere, only disclosing partial truths, allowing her to maintain a clear conscience.


    "Very well, I’ll have mywyer draft a contractter. If my sister causes trouble for you again, I’llpensate you with $100 million. However, if it’s discovered that you provoked her to extort money from me, you’ll be liable to pay double the amount stated in the use." Rafael’s smirk intensified as he fixed his gaze on Hera.


    "No problem, I always prefer to have agreements in writing rather than relying on verbal assurances," Hera replied, returning Rafael’s smile.


    "Let’s see how long you can keep your sister from causing trouble for me. If you manage to persuade her to cease targeting me, we can all look forward to a harmonious future. But if she persists, all hell would break loose. I just hope this agreement will afford me some breathing room to prepare," Hera thought to herself, steeling her resolve.


    "Alright, now that negotiations are settled, let’s dine," Rafael dered, pressing the button under the table to summon the server and request the menu.


    In a matter of seconds, the server arrived, presenting the menu to the four of them.


    With the tension eased, Hera took a moment to appreciate the intricate designs of the private room. They were seated at arge round table intended for twelve people, surrounded by an ambiance adorned with ancient Chinese carvings and ceramics showcased in wooden cabs against the walls. Additionally, old Chinese paintings adorned the room, adding to its traditional charm.


    Near the window, several bonsai trees provided a refreshing touch to the room, their verdant foliage adding a sense of tranquility. The expansive window offered a breathtaking view of the outside scenery, with a plum blossom tree standing proudly near arge pond that resembled more of ake. Lotus flowers adorned the serene waters, lending an ethereal charm to the surroundings. It felt as if the diners were transported back to ancient times, immersed in the beauty of nature and history.


    The fusion of ancient aesthetics with modern design elements created a harmonious ambiance, captivating diners with its ingenious blend. Hera took a moment to absorb the picturesque scenery, while Athena and Cindy finished selecting their dishes from the menu.


    "Miss Ainsley, why don’t you indulge yourself and order whatever you want? Don’t hold back; tonight, it’s my treat," Rafael generously offered, his attention still focused on the menu before him.


    "Oh! It’s his treat? I should order more," Athena whispered as she nced back at the menu.


    "Thank you, Mr. Briley," Hera acknowledged before nudging Athena. "Don’t be greedy. If you can’t finish the food, there’s no need to add more just to spite him," she whispered back.


    "What?! You didn’t even ept anypensation from him. Why are you stopping me?" Athena retorted.


    "Okay then, if we can’t eat it all, let’s take it out and give it to the homeless," Hera suggested with a sigh.


    "Good idea!" Athena eagerly turned her attention back to the menu.


    When Hera opened the menu, she was taken aback to see that the cheapest item was $10,000 for just one dish. ncing at Athena, who was enthusiastically selecting more food, Hera realized she had already pointed at no less than seven additional items. <i>’Doesn’t that mean it will be no less than $100k for just a single meal?’</i>


    She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. <i>’Once again, I find myself thinking with the same mindset I used to have. It seems Athena, unlike me, has effortlessly assimted back into her status and is doing better.’</i>


    Little did Hera know, Athena hadn’t even looked at the prices, choosing instead based on the visual appeal of the dishes.


    After calming down, Hera selected two dishes that looked appetizing to her, ones that Athena hadn’t yet chosen.


    In total, a dozen dishes were served to them after half an hour. The table was full of three types of soup and an array of dishes ranging from seafood and vegetables to pork, beef, and chicken. Athena had truly spared no expense in ordering whatever caught her eye.


    Hera could only offer Rafael an apologetic smile, but he didn’t seem to mind the abundance of dishes before him and began eating withoutment.


    Meanwhile, Athena smirked triumphantly, as if she had won a battle, and cast a smug nce at Hera before serving her some soup that she knew Hera would enjoy.


    They all ate in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. It wasn’t until then that Rafael noticed the other girl seated with Hera and her friend. It came as a surprise to him because Cindy was just as famous as him in the upper circle, owing to her connection to the Avery family. In their circle, it wasmon knowledge that Cindy was being groomed to serve the Avery heiress, much like her father had served the Old Master.


    It wasmon knowledge that she only dined out with her older brother and was rarely seen with friends others even said that she had no friends.


    Discovering Hera’s connection to Cindy came as a surprise to Rafael, akin to finding a treasure trove in a junkyard. His mind immediately began to strategize how to leverage Hera’s connection to get closer to Cindy. Despite their arrival, Cindy hadn’t uttered a single word, leading Rafael to specte that she might have invited Hera and her friend to the Golden Dragon Pavilion and had a close rtionship, <i>’maybe friends.’</i> That could very well have been the reason why Hera and her friend were in the establishment. After all, Rafael couldn’t fathom any other reason for them to dine there, given that they were just average college students with part-time jobs.


    Then Rafael remembered that the interview Hera took part in was filmed in the Green Dragon Manor where Cindy was currently stationed. <i>"So that must be it,"</i> he spected. "They must have crossed paths there, and she’s probably just entertaining Hera and her friend for whatever reason that’s known only to them." Rafael dismissed the notion that they were closely rted to each other because, for him, that seemed entirely impossible.


    He cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the others, and directed an apologetic smile toward Cindy. "I’m sorry, Miss Brent if I neglected to greet you earlier. Please forgive my oversight."


    Cindy maintained a poker face and nced at Hera before responding. "It’s okay. I was just here to eat out..." Before she could continue, Hera nudged her foot while keeping a nk expression and kept on eating her food, signaling for her to stop talking.


    Undeterred, Cindy attempted to speak again. "I was just out eating with..." Once more, Hera nudged her foot, prompting Cindy to clear her throat and take a sip of water. "I’m sorry, my throat feels a little itchy."