Upon hearing Hera’s words, Athena’s rm was evident as she swiftly seized Hera’s arm just as she reached for her phone in her bag. Drawing her close, Athena initiated a conversation to divert Hera’s attention from the topic at hand. "You know, now that we have a moment to reflect and talk about it, wasn’t Rafael quite the catch?" Athena remarked, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.
"You’re fangirling again," Hera chuckled.
"Oh,e on, don’t try to deny it. I caught you ogling at him when he arrivedst night," Athena teased with a knowing smile.
"Ogling?!" Hera’s voice rose a few octaves. "I absolutely was not!"
"Don’t even try to deny it! I saw you," Athena insisted, her grin yful.
"What?! Are your eyes splitting in two different directions to see my expression? You were the one clearly captivated the moment he stepped in. You even forgot to breathe," Hera chuckled, remembering Athena’s reaction from the previous night.
"Haha! Unlike you, I won’t deny it. I openly ogle at someone’s face and body!" Athena teased, unabashed.
"You were so eager to meet the male leads you’ve been moring about from the novel. Aren’t you thrilled to see one now?" Hera whispered yfully to Athena.
"Absolutely! He matched the description from the book perfectly. Handsome doesn’t even begin to cover it. Now I’m even more eager to see what the charming first male lead looks like. If Rafael was the bad guy version, then the first male lead must be theplete opposite, like the sun and the moon," Athena gushed, pausing briefly before adding, "I couldn’t help but envy the female lead for having her own buffet of vors to choose from every day among her five leading men."
"Why don’t you get a man then?" Hera said with a yful smirk. "Maybe I could ask Auntie to find you one now?"
Athena gasped dramatically and pouted. "You wouldn’t dare!"
"Why wouldn’t I? Weren’t you just looking forward to having your own selection of vors?" Hera teased.
"No! That’s just a figure of speech!" Athena protested.
"How about six, then you’ll have more than the female lead?" Hera teased, chuckling.
"No way! Do I look like I can handle more than one with my body?! I’d be shredded and skewered to death," Athena repliedically.
Hera couldn’t contain herughter at the mental image of Athena’s petite frame surrounded by tall, muscr men. It was almost tooical to bear, she wouldn’tst long in such a scenario.
"Stopughing!" Athena yfully tapped Hera’s head.
"Sorry, I can’t help it. I just keep picturing you in that scenario. With Rafael’s athletic build and towering height of 185 cm, you’d be like a child among giants. And if even more of those body masses crowded around you... Hahaha. I can’t handle it, God!" Hera chuckled between breaths.
"Shut up! I didn’t even say I wanted to be like the female lead. I was merely pondering how she manages to handle all five of them and the endurance she must possess tost all night with such a crowd. It’s entertaining to read about, but the thought of experiencing it is downright terrifying," Athena stated, crossing her arms defensively as a shiver ran down her spine.
Hera ceased teasing Athena and inquired, "But why is your reaction different from what I anticipated?"
"What did you expect, exactly?" Athena queried, arching her eyebrows in curiosity.
"Well, I was half-expecting you to be swooning over him throughout the entire dinnerst night," Hera confessed.
"Oh, that?" Athena chuckled. "I suppose I’ve grown immune to good looks after being subjected to your face almost every day. You could say you’ve be my new benchmark of beauty."
"Then I suppose no one would meet your impable beauty standards anymore," Hera quipped, anticipating Athena’s yful retort. However, to her surprise, Athena simply nodded in agreement, momentarily catching Hera off guard. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Hera fell silent, chastising herself for her unintended boast. The once light-hearted banter now felt ufortably egotistical to continue, causing Hera to withdraw, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.
Athena knew this well, so she wore a smug smile on her face after ensuring Hera stopped making fun of her.
With a defeated sigh, Hera couldn’t help but inquire, "What’s on your mind?"
"If only their intentions weren’t solely focused on your family’s wealth, we might have considered befriending them," Athenamented. "The character in the book was described as diligent, virtuous, the epitome of an exemry female protagonist. Readersuded her for herpassion and generosity."
Hera chuckled softly, herughter tinged with an unspoken undertone. She refrained from vocalizing her thoughts, cautious not to prematurely assume anything. Yet, she also recognized the importance of not growingcent or needlessly fretting about whaty ahead. Instead, she resolved to take proactive steps, ensuring she was adequately prepared and maintaining a watchful eye on the future.
Their conversation dwindled as they reached the entrance of the car dealership, where Athena confidently guided them inside. Stepping into the upscale establishment, they were met with warm greetings and a level of respect that stood in stark contrast to their usual encounters. Hera couldn’t help but ponder the situation. ’<i>Appearances truly hold sway,’</i> she mused silently. Witnessing the significant disparity in treatment based on outward appearance left her torn between finding it somewhat amusing and feeling deeply frustrated.
"Wee to A&D Car Dealership Co. My name is Jess; please let me know what you’re in the market for, and I’ll be happy to assist you," the man at the entrance introduced himself.
"Hello, I wasn’t nning on browsing today; I’m actually here to pick up a pre-ordered car," Hera exined.
"Ah, I see. Please provide me with the details of your order, and I’ll check on it for you," Jess responded courteously, ready to help.
"Hurry up, Babe! I heard the customized mint green Bugatti Chiron has just arrived," a woman’s voice interrupted, demanding Jess’s immediate assistance.