After all, IGI Expressions valued innovation, uniqueness, and talent.
While she might have a bit more talent than the average person, it wasn’t enough to stand out in such a prestigiouspetition.
Only the best of the best jewelry designers could participate in, and she would likely be a small fish in a sea of giants who wouldn’t even notice her.
So why not make use of this opportunity to form an alliance with someone who could be the sleeping dragon capable of sweeping away thepetition?
Hera already had a strong sense of fashion, thanks to Athena.
She also developed an appreciation for painting through her high school, which encouraged students to be well-rounded or specialize in one field, Hera chose to be an all-rounder.
Hera had chosen this path, knowing that as the sole heir to the family, she needed to be versatile.
She understood that having a diverse set of skills would give her a strategic advantage—hidden cards she could y when necessary, whether for business negotiations or handling her enemies.
Socializing, after all, required more than just knowledge of business and finance.
She also needed to be well-versed in subjects like jewelry, sports, politics, economics,nguages, and more.
This was why the Avery family always ensured their descendants gained life experience outside of their family’s sphere, but neverpromised on education.
They believed in sending their children to top schools with enriching learning environments.
They had learned the hard way that ignorance in key areas—whether in business, current events, or various subjects—could lead to being looked down upon by potential partners.
More dangerously, it could make them vulnerable to maniption, which could ultimately lead to their downfall.
They wouldn’t even realize they had already been sold, still counting the money for others without understanding the full extent of it.
With this in mind, Hera took her grandfather’s advice to heart, prioritizing her education.
Fortunately, her strong ability toprehend allowed her to absorb knowledge like a sponge, remembering what was taught to her.
While she may not have a photographic memory or be a genius, her capacity to learn and retain information made her just as capable.
Having a good friend like Athena, who constantly encouraged her to try new things and discover her strengths, helped Hera learn more about herself.
This support shaped her into someone who wouldn’t shy away from opportunities, even if she wasn’t fully prepared for them.
So, after agreeing with Liz, and true to her words, she raced through every red light she encountered on the way to Green Dragon Manor.
Fortunately, Hera had already informed the security team to grant her visitor ess, ensuring Liz wouldn’t be dyed at the gate.
When Liz arrived, everything was seamless.
At the front desk, she was handed a special visitor’s ess key authorized by Hera.
The system was straightforward—if Hera decided to revoke Liz’s ess, a quick call to the front desk would handle it instantly. The process was convenient and efficient.
However, as Liz held the ess card in her hand, she stood there in stunned silence.
The realization hit her like a thunderbolt—Hera lived in the most exclusive area of the city, possibly the entire country, in the penthouse of the most luxurious building.
Her body seemed to move on autopilot, following the mission, while her mind reeled from a series of mental explosions.
The sheer magnitude of Hera’s status was almost too much to process all at once.
Even then, Liz had no idea what Hera’s true status was.
Everyone who lived in Green Dragon Manor was a major figure in their respective fields, making the ce a proverbial den of hidden dragons and phoenixes.
For Hera to have a residence there suggested aplex and influential background.
The mere thought sent a chill down Liz’s spine, prompting her to block her curiosity immediately.
If Hera was truly someone of such stature, Liz knew better than to dig into her affairs.
After all, as the saying goes, ’<i>curiosity kills the cat’</i>—and Liz had no intention of bing that unfortunate feline.
She shuddered slightly at the thought, deciding it was safer to focus on her purpose rather than entertain dangerous questions.
By the time the elevator neared the penthouse, countless thoughts had already racedps inside Liz’s mind.
She barely had time to process them all before the soft ’<i>ding’</i> of the elevator announced her arrival.
As the doors slid open, Liz quicklyposed herself, erasing any trace of her inner turmoil and schooling her expression into calm neutrality.
But the moment her eyesnded on the penthouse hallway, she froze, stunned once again.
The space before her radiated opulence, as if she had stepped into a grand, modern-day pce.
The sheer elegance of the decor left her momentarily speechless, a reminder of just how far this world was from her own.
Liz took a deep breath, steadying herself as she slowly made her way down the luxurious hallway, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
By the time she reached the grand, imposing door of the penthouse, her face was a carefully nk te—not because she had managed to calm herself, but because she waspletely overwhelmed.
The sheer disparity between the modest wealth she had grown up with and the opulence standing before her was staggering.
Even the penthouse door alone was a masterpiece, clearly worth millions.
The thought made her throat tighten, and for a fleeting moment, she fought the absurd urge to cry.
<i>Dingdong...</i>
The door opened after a single ring of the doorbell, as if her arrival had been anticipated.
When she was led inside, the overwhelming opulence of the space hit her like a tidal wave.
She couldn’t handle it anymore; the grandeur of Hera’s world was far beyond anything she had imagined.
Her earlier proposal now seemedughable, almost absurd—like she was offering an olive branch to someone who owned the entire forest.
Standing amidst this disy of wealth, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was the one riding Hera’s bandwagon, trying to seize an opportunity that she had no business asking for.