Luke said. "How long are you going to stay here? How about I wait for you in the lobby and drive you home after you are done?"


    Hera declined, stating, "I have drama, dancing, and singing sses scheduled untilte tonight, but thepany has already arranged for bodyguards to escort me home afterward. I don’t want to impose on all of you, knowing how busy you are with your own work." Her words were a mix of truth and lies: while the sses were real, thepany had not actually arranged for bodyguards.


    The bodyguards were the same ones as yesterday, part of the security detail Cindy had arranged to discreetly follow her outside. Hera saw no reason to decline Cindy’s thoughtful offer. Unlike characters in novels who often mislead their guards for a moment of freedom only to find themselves in danger or abducted, Hera wasn’t foolish enough to take such risks.


    She didn’t want to invite harm upon herself, so she obediently allowed the bodyguards to apany her, provided they respected her personal space and didn’t make her ufortable.


    And most importantly, she knew her limits. Despite being skilled inbat, she understood she wasn’t omnipotent and could still fall victim to the wicked.


    "I understand. Are you also having dinner inside thepany?" Luke asked, still smiling gently at Hera, though a hint of disappointment flickered in his eyes, which he tried to shake off. Rafale and Zhane mirrored this disappointment in their own expressions. Even without speaking, Hera could tell they genuinely wanted to spend more time with her.


    She felt her heart soften seeing them like this; she didn’t even need to turn around to know what Leo and Dave were feeling too. So she offered, "How about this: I’ll rearrange my schedule and invite you all to a meal. You’ve been a big help to me today on the campus. If it weren’t for you, things could have gotten much uglier, especially with Alexi determined to cause a scene."


    "Regarding that, would you like me to handle it?" Rafael offered. Being in the entertainment industry and managing numerous artists, he was experienced in dealing with such matters. He felt he could do a better job to protect Hera’s reputation, especially since the issue stemmed from his sister and her scumbag of a boyfriend.


    Rafael felt a deep sense of responsibility for the incident,pounded by his intense animosity towards Alexi. Not only did Alexi continue to desire Hera and cling to her like a flea, but he also led Rafael’s beloved sister down a destructive path, leaving her deeply ensnared in a toxic rtionship that even drove her to oppose her family’s wishes. Rafael was grateful that he had banned gadgets around his sister; otherwise, he dreaded to think what Minerva might have done upon learning of Alexi’s statements in the livestream while trying to get Hera back with him.


    Despite appearing harsh with his sister’s punishment, Rafael deeply loved and cared for her, having protected her throughout most of their lives. Currently, he grappled with internal turmoil, torn between his loyalty to his sister and his newfound romantic feelings for the first woman he had ever cared for romantically.


    He didn’t want to jeopardize either rtionship, but Hera had a valid concern: Minerva was spiraling out of control, and Rafael feared that if she continued down this path, she could not only get hurt but also put her life at risk.


    Soon, Minerva might not only endanger others but also be a danger to herself. Rafael understood that this stemmed from his sister’s arrogance, influenced by her societal status. He himself had been simrly arrogant and prideful in the past, but meeting Hera had humbled him on multiple asions. Initially furious at being treated differently, he eventually realized that continuing on that path would be detrimental to his family’s well-being.


    He could only thank Hera for it. She didn’tpliment him to stroke his ego; instead, she challenged him, showing that sitting in a golden chair and being fed with a golden spoon didn’t make him truly great.