Given that there would inevitably be spections about her connection to Phantom after this race, Hera realized it was best to prepare the audience in advance.


    By showcasing thebination of Phantom’s car, Phantom’s skilled mechanics, and her unique driving style, she could let the truth speak for itself.


    This way, she could transform what could be seen as an unfortunate incident into a positive oue that would benefit both the NRT and her career significantly.


    Hera’s new sponsors and Betty were all seated in the VIP spectator lounge alongside Larry and Gerald, much to Betty’s surprise.


    They had never anticipated such a delightful revtion; after all, meeting Larry and Gerald was notoriously challenging.


    Yet, here they were, loungingfortably and warmly inviting everyone to sit down and engage in conversation.


    The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as they beganworking, each person carefully managing their expressions to avoid breaking into foolish grins.


    While everyone else assumed Gerald was there as a new sponsor to support Hera, Betty couldn’t help but feel puzzled about why Gerald and Larry had chosen to join her in Hera’s guest lounge.


    Thanks to Gerald and Larry’s warm reception, all the sponsors who chose to support Hera felt they had made a brilliant decision.


    They even managed to snag Gerald and Larry’s highly coveted phone numbers, a feat that left them pleasantly surprised.


    Now, they regarded Hera as their lucky star and began brainstorming new promotions and coborations to further their partnership as they continued to sponsor her in the race.


    Not only would Hera help promote their brands by racing with their logos prominently disyed on her car, but it would also enhance their image as loyal supporters who believed in her potential through thick and thin.


    After all, they had all received the footage of Hera’s previous race that Betty sent, and even those who weren’t racing enthusiasts could see how she had decisively defeated the former Ace of NRT.


    They were confident that Hera would surprise everyone once the race began, and eagerly shared this sentiment with Gerald and Larry, praising Hera non-stop to ensure they felt secure in their decision to support her.


    Little did they know, their enthusiastic words of respect for Hera were earning them an invaluable coboration with the Avery family—a partnership worth hundreds of millions that would elevate theirpanies to new heights.


    Before long, Hera would be seen as their "goddess of wealth," and one could only imagine their astonishment when her true identity were finally revealed to the public.


    They could only silently thank their ancestors for the wisdom and foresight that guided them to back Hera, recognizing her potential even when others doubted her.


    As they engaged in lively conversation with Larry and Gerald, ke—Hera’s former sponsor during her time as Phantom—arrived at the venue and was directed to the garage.


    With an hour remaining before the race, the head mechanics from both teams were enthusiastically exchanging insights and fine-tuning the car, reviewing engine specs and performance stats on their tablets.


    Hera and her men kept a low profile, staying out of the way as the bustling garage staff moved efficiently around them, focused and determined like a hive of bees.


    Daisy returned with a food container in hand, weaving her way through the bustling garage to find Hera.


    She still felt a whirlwind of nervousness, struggling to fully grasp how she’d ended up here and what was about to unfold.


    Unlike Betty, who had a clear purpose and solid vision for the race, Daisy felt a bit lost and overwhelmed, her nerves palpable as she approached Hera.


    "Sister Hera, please eat first so you’ll have energy topete. I got you a spinach and mushroom omelette with cheese. Or if you want something else, I can go get it for you."


    Daisy’s voice wavered as she nced around at the men surrounding Hera.


    Each had an air of power and sophistication, clearly from prominent families.


    Their mere presence made Daisy feel tiny and out of ce, her nerves showing as she waited for Hera’s response.


    "No, really, this is perfect! I love eggs," Hera replied reassuringly, giving Daisy a warm smile.


    She could see how tense Daisy was, looking almost as if *she* were the one preparing to race under the scrutiny of the public eye.


    Hera felt a pang of sympathy for her assistant.


    Daisy, not knowing the truth of Hera’s Phantom identity, couldn’t fully understand the confidence Hera had in her abilities and might even think she was putting on a brave front.


    Determined to calm Daisy, Hera gave her an encouraging look, hoping to ease her fears, if only a little.


    Hera reached for the juice Xavier handed her, but her attention was caught by Zhane’s face, which was flushed as he tried to maintain hisposure.


    When he nced her way, their eyes met, and he looked at her with a shy yet meaningful expression.


    Hera froze, a string of questions forming in her mind.


    She couldn’t quite ce why Zhane was acting so uncharacteristically bashful, but the way he looked at her seemed as if he wanted to say something—only to immediately push the thought away.


    <i>’Did I say something weird?’</i> Hera wondered, ncing around.


    Suddenly, a vivid memory hit her, and she choked on her drink.


    Juice sprayed out of her mouth just as Dave was approaching with a mic, ready to interview her after chatting with other staff around the garage.


    He stopped in his tracks, wide-eyed and frozen, as the juice sshed over him.


    Staring at Hera with a pitiful expression, he pouted, looking utterly wronged.